Trucking Technology Alert - Nov. 13
 |  |
Both the online report and e-mail are sponsored by @Track Communications, a supplier of wireless communications and dispatch services.
Today's Technology Headlines:
- Economy's Slide Deepens Uncertainty for Wireless
- Defense Dept. Revamps Supply Chain
- Kalmar Seeks New Intermodal Handling Solutions
- Fixed Wireless Broadband Hits Speed Bumps
- Defense Dept. Revamps Supply Chain
Economy's Slide Deepens Uncertainty for Wireless
The expansion of the wireless financial services industry, which is already facing a number of obstacles, including device limitations and network incompatibility, including device limitations and network incompatibility, is now facing a further challenge in the guise of a slowing economy.According to Joe Laszlo, a senior analyst at N.Y.-based Jupiter Media Metrix, a technology consulting company, it is hard to predict how exactly the economic slowdown will affect the U.S. wireless financial services industry. Laszlo says consumers could start using such devices to keep an eye on their financial positions in a topsy-turvy market, or the uncertainty engendered by the state of the economy could deter them from purchasing high-end phones and devices that support data capabilities and other features.
Phillip Redman, an analyst at Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner, a worldwide consulting company, says that wireless will probably establish itself as a supplement to other channels, and this is something financial services companies are starting to understand. Many technology companies and industry-watchers have also started to realize that financial transactions and information are easier to deal with on a personal computer than on the small screen of a personal digital assistant or mobile phone. Analysts say that even though wireless devices can be used to obtain information like stock prices and alerts, most people are still unwilling to go through the sometimes difficult procedures required to conduct transactions. American Banker (11/13/01) P. 8A; Bach, Deborah
Defense Dept. Revamps Supply Chain
The Defense Department is moving forward with plans to replace complex and inefficient procurement and logistics systems with Web-based supply chain management procedures and software, thus hoping the effort will cut DOD procurement and logistics costs by millions of dollars yearly.The war in Afghanistan has further accelerated the initiative, dubbed the Collaborative Defense Department. The collaborative is intended to encourage strategic sourcing, demand planning, collaborative planning forecasting and replenishment, order management, among other features. The new program is also expected to distribute equipment to fighting forces within days, instead of the current weeks or months needed for gearing up for a battle. eWeek (11/05/01) Vol. 18, No. 43, P. 1; Moad, Jeff
Kalmar Seeks New Intermodal Handling Solutions
Kalmar Industries, a manufacturer of mobile container handling equipment for intermodal terminals and ports, is currently working on the creation of new and improved container handling solutions for the intermodal industry.Recent developments include the installation of remote monitoring interface on Kalmar rail-mounted gantry cranes. This system enables a single operator in a terminal control room to remotely monitor the operation of a large number of machines. The new system is shortly expected to go into operation with New Jersey-based Global Terminal and Container Service. Kalmar manufactures a number of different products that can be used for intermodal applications, including rubber-tired gantry cranes, rail-mounted gantry cranes, ContMaster and ContChamp terminal tractors, forklift trucks, and reachstackers. eyefortransport (11/13/01)
Fixed Wireless Broadband Hits Speed Bumps
Broadband access technology may be ahead of its time with AT&T Wireless Group's announcement, which ends its fixed-wireless operations, since the technology may not be concrete for a few years, according to industry analysts.This explains why AT&T Wireless, separate from its former parent AT&T, has decided to initiate a $1.3 billion write-down of its fixed-wireless business since expanding the Digital Broadband business is just too costly for AT&T Wireless. The digital broadband service, which claimed 47,000 users, was established to give customers an alternative when they were unable to link to DSL or not hooked up to AT&T Broadband's cable network, said Forrester Research senior analyst Maribel Dolinov.
AT&T Wireless will still be able to claim PCS spectrum in Dallas and San Diego to ensure the introduction of its 3G mobile wireless technology. Network World Canada (11/12/01); Pappalardo, Denise
Previous Trucking Technology Alert
© copyright 2001 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
| ||||
