Trucking Technology Report - May 8
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Both the online report and e-mail are sponsored by @Track Communications, a supplier of wireless communications and dispatch services.
Today's Technology Headlines:
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Yahoo! Begins Charging for U.S. Voice Calls
Yahoo! has imposed a fee on U.S. subscribers that place voice calls over their computers in an effort to offset a decline in Web-based advertising.
The new rates come after Yahoo and Net2Phone renegotiated a deal in March. Net2Phone, which provides Yahoo with the IP telephony service, said it would not continue to pay a fee to Yahoo to be its only provider and that it was forced to subsidize the cost of the service because of its surprising popularity. Wall Street Journal (05/08/01) P. B10
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U.S. Customs Starts Computer Modernization
The U.S. Customs Service has named IBM as contractor to modernize the agency's computer system, including replacing all legacy systems and updating enforcement and internal administrative systems.The Customs Service's 17-year-old Automated Commercial System (ACS) will be replaced with the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). Among the other partners in the modernization effort are Lockheed Martin, KPMG, Computer Sciences Corp., Booz-Allen & Hamilton, and Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services.
The ACE system will enable 98% of imports to be handled electronically. Traffic World (05/07/01) P. 41; Hickey, Kathleen
FCC Chief Stresses Phone Competition
FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell is trying to persuade Congress to allow his agency to impose higher penalties when the regional Bells block competitors from accessing their networks.Powell sent a letter to the Senate and House leaders of the Commerce and Appropriations committees, saying stiffer fines are crucial to local competition. He requested that Congress up the maximum fine the FCC could impose from $1.2 million per infraction to $10 million.
Powell said competition in the local phone market might have been hurt by the regional Bells' efforts to slow such competition. His request for stiffer penalties comes as many upstart telecom firms fight to continue operating. However, the competing operators say the FCC has not done enough to guarantee their access to the regional Bells' networks. Washington Post (05/08/01) P. E1; Goodman, Peter S.
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U.S. Subscriptions to Online Services Fall in 1Q
The number of U.S. households connected to the Internet declined for the first time last quarter, according to Telecommunications Reports International.The Online Census report showed some shift in the online market as many free Internet Service Providers (ISPs) folded, the DSL market faced near-zero growth, and cable modem access grew by 18%. Traditional dial-up ISPs saw their base grow by 7.6%--49.6 million of total 68.5 connected households--with Microsoft and AOL leading the field. DSL providers, which had grown by 86% two quarters ago, slowed expansion to only 2% due to the collapse of several firms in the market.
Online Census managing editor Amy Fickling says that cable modem providers benefited from the shakeout in other ISP sectors, and that @Home and RoadRunner tallied the most users. CyberAtlas (05/08/01); Pastore, Michael
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Wireless Web Slow to Grow
The billions of dollars of investments in wireless technologies and infrastructure have spurred little interest in the wireless Web.Sprint and Verizon Wireless are racing to introduce new wireless services in the United States before the end of the year. Verizon expects to invest $5 billion this year to complete its upgrades.
However industry critics, such as Eddie Hold of Current Analysis, say carriers erred when they promoted the wireless Web as a true alternative to the traditional Internet. According to Matt Scheuing, president and CEO of voice technology company Conversay, a shortage of meaningful applications has slowed the uptake of wireless Web services among ordinary consumers.
Other analysts believe carriers should invest more in upgrading current wireless infrastructures. These analysts also say manufacturers should design wireless devices that are easier to use and offer more flexibility for different applications. U.S. News & World Report (05/07/01) P. 32; Yang, Dori Jones
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