Technology Briefs - May 24 - May 31
The Latest Headlines:
- Xata Unveils New-Generation Fleet Technology
- New Hampshire Delays E-ZPass Vote
- Canada May Export Oil From Tar Sands Fields
- XM Reportedly Chooses New Satellite Provider
- New Hampshire Delays E-ZPass Vote
Xata Unveils New-Generation Fleet Technology
Xata Corp. Tuesday unveiled Xatanet 3.0, a fleet-management system that will allow fleets to improve fuel economy, automate compliance reporting, increase driver productivity and help customer service.The company said that the new version of its software includes Smart Route, which plans trips from start to finish without paper, buy using satellite and digital cellular technology.
Xata president Craig Fawcett said the system was the “most significant product development milestone since the release of our flagship OpCenter product line.”
New Hampshire Delays E-ZPass Vote
New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D) held up a vote by the state’s legislature scheduled May 18 on getting an automated highway toll system running by July 4, the Associated Press reported.Lynch said he wanted more financial information to make sure neither in-state nor out-of-state drivers lose in the plan, AP reported.
Data should be available soon and the council may be able to vote on the plan to incorporate E-ZPass at its next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday. But the delay has put the July 4 target in jeopardy, AP said, citing state officials.
Many drivers use tokens sold at a 50% discount instead of cash at New Hampshire’s toll booths. The legislature was ready to vote on giving E-ZPass users a 30% discount and getting rid of the tokens, but Lynch asked for more information on discount options. Transport Topics
Canada May Export Oil From Tar Sands Fields
Several Canadian companies are competing for contracts to build networks of pipelines that will export oil extracted from tar sands in Alberta province to the West Coast of United States, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.The paper reported companies that win the construction contracts could also expand their businesses into China.
Canadian oil companies plan to invest nearly $63.6 billion to develop the oil sands, which some experts say have the second largest source of oil outside of Saudi Arabia.
Last month, Enbridge Inc. of Alberta, announced a $2-billion deal to build a pipeline in cooperation with PetroChina Co., the newspaper said. Terasen Inc., a Vancouver company, announced a separate $1.58 billion plan to build to a pipeline network from the tar sands. Transport Topics
XM Reportedly Chooses New Satellite Provider
XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. has dropped plans for Boeing Inc. to deliver a new satellite and instead placed a $200 million order with Loral Space and Communications Ltd., the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.Two satellites that Boeing built for XM that were supposed to produce electricity from solar power were defective, the Journal said.
The decision is a setback for Boeing as it tries to revive its struggling satellite business, the paper said. Transport Topics
