Trucking Technology Report - July 13
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PNV Adds Williams to List of Truckstop Outlets
PNV is now making its information and communication services available to truckers at 326 truck stops, and a deal with Williams TravelCenters means the company has signed exclusive contracts with all but one of the 15 top U.S. truckstop operators. PNV is also allied with America Online. Commercial Carrier Journal (06/00) Vol. 157, No. 6, P. 32Truckinguniverse Industry Shopping Site Goes Live
Truckinguniverse.com, an Internet Service Provider portal site, is now live on the Internet. A joint production of Spectra Inc. and Galaxy Online Inc., the site provides a one stop information access and e-commerce shopping site for the trucking industry, including information such as road conditions, whether, fuel prices, driver recruitment, and load matching. Truckinguniverse.com will also offer wireless Internet connectivity and future audio/video products and services to its subscriber base. Canadian Corporate Newswire (07/12/00)Distribution System Takes Off for American Eagle
Youth-oriented clothing retailer American Eagle Outfitters recently enhanced its in-house warehouse management system in order to make the system more efficient and faster.
Within the next year EDI documentation, especially advance shop notices (ASNs), will ideally be able to be transferred between the company and vendors, although a fax form of the ASNs is already in use, according to Steve Lyman, director of distribution systems at American Eagle Outfitters.
The PkMS and the allocation systems can work with American Eagle's Island Pacific core business systems. The new system provides American Eagle Outfitters with real-time knowledge of its receipts. "Now we're receiving anything that's delivered much faster, and with the ASNs the merchandisers can make better planning decisions," says Lyman.
Some changes had to be made for successful implementation. The labels had to be moved to the side of the shipping cartons, for instance, causing stores to have to rethink how stock was stacked and stored so that the labels could still be seen.
Yet Lyman says that the issue has been resolved, and shipments are now larger because inventory flows faster through the warehouse. "Any store will take over-shipments versus under-shipments just to fill up the sales floor," says Lyman. "Now they appreciate it." Midrange Systems (06/26/00) Vol. 13, No. 9, P. 38; Dickey, Sam
Sony to Launch Handheld Computer in Japan, U.S.
Sony will begin competing with Microsoft and Handspring on September 9 when it launches two new handheld computers in Japan. It intends to enter the U.S. market later in the year.The new devices operate using application software that was developed by Palm, a pioneer in the handheld computer industry. Sony believes it will have a market for about three million to four million units in the United States and just over 1 million units in Asia, with Europe good for another two million to three million units.
Hiroyuki Iba, an analyst for IBJ Securities, said, "I see a slim chance of the new product becoming a mega hit in a country [Japan] where people are getting used to sending e-mails by phones." Reuters (07/13/00); Shimogori, Miki
Complaints Rise About AT&T, WorldCom Long-Distance Bills
A study by state regulators uncovered that subscriber complaints against AT&T and WorldCom tripled over two years. The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissions said regulators in 28 states were sent 37,000 complaints about long-distance carriers in 1999, three times the number for 1997. The majority of complains were the result of bills that included inaccurate charges.Of the 37,000 complaints, 18,000 were made against WorldCom, while 19,000 were made against AT&T. AT&T attributed the increasing number of complaints to growing competition and said it is moving toward resolving billing problems. WorldCom said last year that it would expand its customer service staff and alter incentives that could result in complaints. Philadelphia Inquirer (07/13/00) P. C3
ID Theft Becoming Public Fear No. 1
The Federal Trade Commission is receiving a record number of consumer complaints and concern about misappropriation of Social Security numbers, fraudulent loans taken out in someone else's name, and bogus credit-card accounts. The FTC says that it has logged 20,000 telephone calls concerning identity theft in the eight months that its toll-free identity theft hotline has been in operation.Experts say that while identity theft can be accomplished in many ways, such as stealing information out of the trash or mail, the Internet is responsible for the explosion in the number of cases of such fraud, because of the sheer volume of personal information available and the ease with which a criminal can obtain it.
A new proposal, known as the Kyl-Feinstein bill, would make the sale of Social Security numbers illegal, require credit-card issuers to investigate any cardholder's change of address within 10 days, mandate that "fraud alerts" be noticeably affixed to credit reports after a consumer alerts a credit bureau about an identity theft, and allow consumers to obtain a free copy of their credit reports every year. Washington Post (07/13/00) P. E1; Mayer, Caroline E.; Schwartz, John
AOL to Use RealNetworks Software for Audio, Video Streams
AOL has agreed to implement RealNetworks software for streaming audio and video over the Internet across its network, in an "unprecedented deployment" that will bring streaming media to the mainstream, says AOL's Barry Schuler. RealNetworks software will be installed on AOL servers, allowing AOL to stream audio and video to consumers.Furthermore, the upcoming AOL 6.0 service will offer multimedia software based on RealNetworks' technology, says AOL. Also as part of the deal, AOL's Netscape unit will integrate RealNetworks' RealPlayer with its Web browser software.
Meanwhile, RealNetworks has agreed to equip RealPlayer with software that facilitates subscribing to AOL. RealNetworks will also promote AOL services, such as the Spinner Web radio service. Wall Street Journal (07/13/00) P. B14; Clark, Don
GM Plans to Take Custom Orders Via Net
General Motors is working on a system that will allow consumers to purchase customized vehicles online, significantly reducing delivery time on custom orders while cutting costs for the automaker.Customized cars now take from six to eight weeks to deliver, and only 10% to 15% of buyers ask for custom orders. However, GM believes that by facilitating custom orders, the company could have 80% of buyers custom ordering by 2003 or 2004, which in turn would raise customer satisfaction and increase profits.
The GM system would let consumers select options for their car online, sending the request to a central data bank within seconds. After ensuring that the order is an approved combination, the system would email suppliers and arrange for assembly. The car would then reach the customer within one or two weeks. GM also plans to install cameras that would allow consumers to watch their car move through production.
Other automakers such as Toyota are working on similar systems, as experts say the automaker with the fastest
rder-to-deliver system would likely win a significant edge over competitors. Investor's Business Daily (07/13/00) P. A8; Eisenstein, Paul A.
Broadband Satellites Promise High-Power Reach to Isolated Areas
During the next few years advancements in satellite technology are expected to result in a steady progression away from conventional transponder systems to such advanced technologies as on-board switching. Advanced satellites and services are being developed for easy customization to keep up with technologyhanges for prolonged duration of service.
Makers of future satellite technology are focused on providing increased bandwidth for greater market flexibility, improved functionality, and less expensive costs to consumers.
Although other wireless or ground-based broadband services can provide many of the high-speed services offered by satellite companies, many residents of isolated or economically deprived areas will not be targeted for such services. Providers of satellite services hope these customers can become a prime source of revenue. With prices projected to be competitive with land-based broadband systems, satellite services may have a mass market appeal.
There are four primary broadband satellite services expected to be launched in the next few years. Some of the first technologies offered will be based on transitional technology that can provide faster Web access than PCs. These technologies will use current Ku-band satellites, which allow for quick deployment but are not adaptable to newer technologies.
The third-generation systems, which are scheduled to enter the market in 2001, will have features for a broader and more efficient application of broadband. The satellites will use the high frequency Ka-band, which along with on-board switching, will allow for providing services to entire continents at competitive prices.
The fourth-generation technology focuses on providing a more efficient downlink, which can be affected by large amounts of users using the previously mentioned satellite technologies. These satellites will have on-board processing for high performance delivery of such services as videoconferencing, ATM services, and Web surfing. The central part of the technology is a fast packet switch placed on-board the satellite to route traffic. Satellite Communications (07/00) Vol. 24, No. 7, P. 28; Melnick, Martin; Hadinger, Peter
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