Technology Briefs - Aug. 2 - Aug. 8
The Latest Headlines:
- Delphi to Build Transceiver for GE Tracking System
- Iowa Co. Expanding Biodiesel Plant
- Ariz. City Plans Wireless Traffic Network
- Iteris Reports 1Q Loss; Revenue Reaches Record
- Sirius' Income Drops; Revenue, Forecasts Rise
- Iowa Co. Expanding Biodiesel Plant
Delphi to Build Transceiver for GE Tracking System
Delphi Corp. said Wednesday it will make a new satellite transceiver unit that GE will use with its trailer-tracking and monitoring system.Delphi said its satellite transceiver unit would enable GE’s customers to two-way data sharing using the low-earth orbit satellite network.
GE’s VeriWise tracking system was developed initially for trailers in 2003. Transport Topics
Iowa Co. Expanding Biodiesel Plant
/h4>A company announced plans to expand its biodiesel plant near Sioux City, Iowa, the Associated Press reported.
Ag Processing board approved the project, which it said would be completed in the fall of 2006, AP reported.
The project would increase the plant’s capacity, allowing it to make 30 million gallons of biodiesel a year.
Ag Processing also owns and operates soybean processing plants, vegetable oil refineries and a corn ethanol plant. Transport Topics
Ariz. City Plans Wireless Traffic Network
A Phoenix suburb could become one of the first cities in the country to connect all of its traffic signals through a wireless network by early next year, the Associated Press reported.Avondale, Ariz., Mayor Ron Drake said the signal system would help reduce pollution from idling vehicles at red lights and also fit a growing “smarter initiative” for the city, AP said.
Officials said the system could be put in place without tearing up intersections or creating construction traffic jams.
Under the plan drivers would be able to hit all green lights as they move through the city if they are traveling the speed limit, AP said.
If approved by the city’s council, small antennas could be perched on the city’s 28 traffic lights to interconnect signals by January. Transport Topics
Iteris Reports 1Q Loss; Revenue Reaches Record
Iteris Inc., a provider of traffic optimization and safety technology, reported a loss of $726,000 or 3 cents a share for its first fiscal quarter ended June 30, compared with earning $966,000 or 4 cents a year earlier.The company Thursday reported record revenue of $12.1 million, up 6.1% from the prior year’s first quarter.
Iteris makes lane-departure warning devices that alert drivers when changing lanes. The company said separately that its technology enabled two major commercial truck companies to log a combined 60 million miles of driving with no lane departure-related accidents.
Chief Executive Officer Jack Johnson said in a statement that Congress’s recent passage of the federal highway bill will help “longer-term projects which are the lifeblood of this segment of our business.”
Iteris began trading on the American Stock Exchange last December. Previously, it had traded on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board. Transport Topics
Sirius' Income Drops; Revenue, Forecasts Rise
Sirius Satellite Radio Tuesday posted a larger second-quarter loss than a year earlier but raised its full-year forecasts for revenue and subscribers.Sirius' lost $177.5 million or 13 cents a share, compared with $136.8 million or 11 cents a year earlier.
The satellite radio provider’s revenue grew to $52.2 million for the quarter, from $13.2 million last year. Average monthly churn — the percentage of customers who cancel subscriptions —was 1.4% versus 1.6% last year.
As of June 30, Sirius had 1.8 million subscribers, including second-quarter net additions of 365,931 subscribers, more than double last year's 128,678 net additions.
For the third time this year, the company raised its 2005 year-end subscriber guidance to 3 million subscribers, up from its previous estimate of about 2.7 million subscribers. Transport Topics
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