Trucking Technlogy Report - Dec. 7
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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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Kintetsu World Express Joins Capstan Network
Capstan Systems has announced its formation of an alliance with Kintetsu World Express, combining Capstan's Web-native global supply chain infrastructure with Kintetsu's global logistics services. The union, Capstan says, will streamline the international shipment and compliance process for their customers.
Capstan offers Web-native - Internet-friendly - global landed cost, global logistics management, and import and export management services. Companies using the Network will be able to link directly into Kintetsu as their global transportation and logistics provider. Journal of Commerce Online (12/06/00); Armbruster, William
Web Retailers Impose Deadlines for Delivery
Online retailers are doing everything they can to make sure customers' orders are delivered on time and before Christmas Day."We actually take UPS' (UPS) drop-dead date for deliveries and make that our very own," says Crate & Barrel's Mary Schueler. "So we'll do whatever we have to get the packages out, and we're only restricted by UPS as our standard shipper and their agreement to deliver by Christmastime."
Most sites, including Amazon.com, Borders.com, Ashford.com, Sears.com, CDNow.com, Etoys.com, and Toys 'R' Us, are giving customers dates by which they must have ordered gifts if they want them delivered by Christmas. Most are offering expedited shipping options for those willing to pay, although even that option is limited by the fact that Christmas falls on a Monday this year - no one delivers on Sunday and
ertainly not on Christmas Monday. Knight-Ridder (12/04/00); Malone, Hermione
FCC Trying to Stretch Dwindling Supply of Telephone Numbers
The government is making an effort to conserve U.S. phone numbers, which are running out as a result of an increasing number of pagers, cell phones, and fax machines. However, regulators say they will not require consumers to resort to 10-digit dialing for local calling within the same area code.At its current rate, the system could run out of numbers in 10 years. But the FCC may enact regulations today that would make more efficient use of the 2 billion numbers currently allocated and the several billion that have yet to be used.
The commission is seeking opinion on whether it should charge phone companies for numbers they are currently provided for free. As a result, carriers would be forced to use all their supply before asking for new numbers. But industry officials are concerned that a fee for numbers would be passed on to consumers. The FCC is also considering the terms telcos should meet before they are granted additional numbers.
The commission hopes its efforts will allow it to avoid moves such as requiring that consumers across the country dial area codes for local calls. However, the telecom industry is in favor of 10-digit dialing because it would establish a uniform system across the country. Such a system would also expand the numbering pool, considering that seven-digit numbers cannot start with zero or one, but could if they followed an area code. Philadelphia Inquirer (12/07/00) P. C1; Srinivasan, Kalpana
E-Government Evolves
The Federal Emergency Management Association was one of the first federal agencies to embrace e-government in its most elemental form, as the overwhelming amount of applications for disaster relief following the 1994 Northridge earthquake in Southern California forced it to reconsider its paper transactions. After that incident FEMA employed an automated response system over the telephone - primitive e-government, but e-government nonetheless.Today, the rising presence of the Internet in American's daily lives has caused many to think that e-government refers only to Web-based government applications, but it is a broader idea than that. Although experts have differing ideas of all that the term encompasses, they agree that e-government is about a fundamental change in the way government delivers services to all of its customers, whether they be a citizen, a business, a government employee, or another government.
The federal government, despite President Clinton's call for e-government last year as well as several pieces of e-government-related legislation, is generally regarded as not being as capable with e-government as local and state governments. However, a wide range of information and services on the federal level are now available online.
Still, the sheer number and sprawling authority of federal agencies and sub-agencies has made it difficult to bring e-government solutions as quickly as the states, where e-commerce transactions such as driver's license renewal and traffic-ticket payment already are available. A key step in managing the vast amount of information related to the federal government was the introduction this summer of FirstGov, a portal to act as a gateway to all other federal sites, allowing users to find what they need without having to know which agency they have to search for.
Although early federal e-government options such as online social-security information have attracted much attention, the government is also introducing services meant for business customers, including a Department of Transportation site that allows truckers to apply for and receive permits online, and also for states and local governments, which can now apply for grant money over the Internet. Overall, the federal government must implement the Internet through multiple stages. Government Executive (11/00) Vol. 32, No. 13, P. S-3; Dean, Joshua
Cell Industry Experts Discuss the Wireless Revolution
Communications News conducted interviews with some of the cellular industry's leading experts during the Fall 2000 Networld+Interop event. Bonnie-Jeanne Gerety, an expert in infrastructure deployment and integrated solutions; Mark Perry, a specialist in Web security and infrastructure-enabling technologies; and Stephen Davis, a senior systems architect at Chrysalis, were among the participants in the discussion.Davis' work focuses on present and next-generation security processors for wireless and wired technologies. Gerety says the largest dilemma facing wireless operators right now is determining the best solutions to be offered to consumers. Meanwhile, Perry emphasized how the continuing growth of anywhere, anytime technologies will continue to be the crucial component of the industry.
When the topic turned to security concerns, Davis said users are most concerned with keeping information private. They want to be assured that their wireless e-mail or credit card information is not being eavesdropped on. Davis also noted the difficulty of providing secure transmissions over wireless systems. However, he maintains that current technologies can provide secure transmissions.
When the topic turned to wireless carriers, Davis said that higher wireless access speeds and a wireless content concept are the primary needs of the industry. Meanwhile, Perry said mobile technology represents unparalleled opportunities for enterprises and service providers. But he cautioned that security is likely to remain an issue for wireless users in the immediate future. Communications News (11/00) Vol. 37, No. 11, P. 48
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