Technology Briefs - June 17 - June 23
The Latest Headlines:
- UPS, eBay Reach Deal on Online Shipping Tools
- Amazon Developing Online Food Store
- Sacramento Police Issuing Wireless Citations
- Eaton Awarded DOE Contract
- APP, ATA Extend Recording Devices Deal
- New York Ban on Internet Cigarette Sales Begins
- Metro One Receives Patent for Driving Directions Method
- Bax Launches Import Management Service
- Amazon Developing Online Food Store
UPS, eBay Reach Deal on Online Shipping Tools
United Parcel Service said Monday it had reached an agreement with eBay Inc. to provide the online auction site with online shipping tools that will compare the delivery prices of UPS and the U.S. Postal Service.Previously, users bidding on items on eBay usually had to steer from the auction pages to a package carrier's Web site to figure shipping costs, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. However, UPS will now provide eBay sellers with a shipping calculator that can be displayed directly on their auction Web pages.
The deal prevents eBay from striking similar deals with FedEx Corp. and Airborne Inc., the Journal said.
(Click here for the full press release.)
Amazon Developing Online Food Store
Online retailer Amazon.com Inc. is developing a large food store for consumers that could open as early as August, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.The Journal said Amazon will take a cut of the orders processed through its site but will leave the warehousing and shipping of goods to its retail partners. Trucks would be used to deliver groceries to consumers who place orders online.
Market watcher Forrester Research Inc. estimates that food and beverage sales on the Internet will total $3.7 billion this year.
Although several Web grocers such as Webvan Group Inc. failed in recent years, companies that use the Internet as an extension of their current business have been finding success, the article said. Transport Topics
Sacramento Police Issuing Wireless Citations
Police in Sacramento, Calif., are using wireless technology to issue traffic citations, television station KRCA reported on its Web site.The handheld devices allow officers to write virtually error-proof tickets. The devices can also take pictures, record audio and read fingerprints at the scene.
About 18% of traffic citations in Sacramento County have to be thrown out because of illegible handwriting, the article said. Transport Topics
Eaton Awarded DOE Contract
Eaton Corp. said Friday it was awarded a $3.1 million contract from the Department of Energy to develop hybrid propulsion systems for heavy-duty vehicles."The contract provides funds for a research and development program aimed at doubling the fuel efficiency of conventional truck engines, while at the same time increasing reliability and durability of components and meeting new, lowered federal emissions standards for 2007," the company said in a release.
Hybrid propulsion systems generally consist of a smaller internal combustion engine augmented by an electric drive, a power storage system and regenerative braking or other energy recapture systems, Eaton said.
Eaton's truck operations are based in Galesburg, Mich. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
APP, ATA Extend Recording Devices Deal
Accident Prevention Plus Inc. said Thursday that it entered into a new contract with American Trucking Associations to conduct tests of recording devices on trucks in the United States.In 2002, the Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based technology firm conducted tests with ATA involving driver and vehicular performance in Canada. The company said in release that the trucks fitted with recording devices provided data every second that truck was running.
The company also said the recording devices can help improve fuel consumption. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
New York Ban on Internet Cigarette Sales Begins
New York's ban on Internet cigarette sales, which prohibits private trucking companies from delivering Internet and mail-order shipments to consumers, took effect Wednesday without apparent incident, the Associated Press reported.The legislation, passed in 2002 but never previously enforced because of legal challenges, does not prevent vendors from using the U.S. Postal Service for cigarette deliveries, a loophole some businesses were taking advantage of, AP noted.
Native Americans and other online vendors are trying to overturn the ban, claiming discrimination, AP said. Transport Topics
Metro One Receives Patent for Driving Directions Method
Metro One Telecommunications Inc. said Friday that it had been awarded a patent for its method of providing driving directions through its Enhanced Directory Assistance system and Infone service.The method allows drivers to get directions in multiple segments, allowing for easier navigation, the company said. If requested via telephone, drivers can disconnect and reconnect at any time, resuming the directions at the point where they left off.
Metro One said it handled about 544 million requests for information in the United States last year. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
Bax Launches Import Management Service
Bax Global said June 16 it had launched a Web-based import management service called MyBrokerage that assists with the daily management of U.S. imports.By using MyBrokerage, Bax said customers can view all product details and costs associated with an import transaction, retrieve current import data and review all service-related costs.
The company said in its release that in the near future, customers would be able to retrieve historic import data and view U.S. Customs messages. Transport Topics
(Click here for the full press release.)
