Trucking Technology Report - April 11
 |  |
Both the online report and e-mail are sponsored by @Track Communications, a supplier of wireless communications and dispatch services.
Today's Technology Headlines:
- Wireless Industry Opposes Cell Phone Bans
- 3-G Wireless Test Succeeds for Sprint, Lucent
- Palm, Handspring Continue Strong PDA Sales
- Lack of Standards Block Supply-Chain Automation
- Qwest Finds Voice Portals Rising in Popularity
Wireless Industry Opposes Cell Phone Bans
The wireless industry's lobbying efforts have been successful at hindering legislation to prohibit or restrict the use of cell phones while driving a vehicle, according to state lawmakers.The industry argues that no reasons have emerged for implementing cell phone bans and say lawmakers should concentrate on encouraging the safe use of cell phones by drivers.
Many proposed bans have already been defeated or face stiff opposition. However, proposed legislation has made progress in New York. New York's governor, George Pataki, along with members of the state senate, expressed support for mobile phone restrictions just last week.
Roughly 85% of the 112 million cell phone users in the United States use their devices while driving. USA Today (04/11/01); Halladay, Jessie
3-G Wireless Test Succeeds for Sprint, Lucent
Sprint and Lucent Technologies reported Tuesday positive results from their first field test of third generation wireless (3G) [the next generation of wireless communications beyond today's digital PCS technologies].The network was able to transmit a phone call at 2.4 Mbps, roughly 165 times faster than speeds offered by current wireless networks in the United States. The successful test follows joint lab tests conducted by Lucent Technologies and QUALCOMM, which also proved successful.
Some industry observers believe such tests indicate the significant progress made by carriers recently in preparing for 3G services. Sprint and Verizon are getting ready to launch a partial 3G network in the latter part of this year. According to Sprint PCS spokesman Dan Willinsky, the trial will aid the company in offering phone service speeds of 2.4 Mbps by 2003. ZDNet (04/11/01); Charny, Ben
Palm, Handspring Continue Strong PDA Sales
Despite their falling stock prices, Handspring and Palm continue to post strong personal digital assistant (PDA) sales.According to Gartner Dataquest, over 10 million handheld computers were purchased worldwide last year, nearly double 1999's figures. And 33 million more PDAs will be sold by 2004 as the market increases its revenue to $8 billion, the research firm says.
While many observers predict that the PDA market will continue to grow, there is debate over which manufacturers will benefit the most. Palm, with 60% of the retail PDA market, was the overriding favorite just a year ago to keep the top position. But its decision to license its operating system has resulted in more competition.
Handspring, one of a group of companies using Palm's operating system, has acquired a 30% share of the PDA retail market in just one year. Palm may face an even bigger threat from Microsoft, which has launched its own operating system, called Windows CE. Time (04/03/01); Hamilton, Anita
Lack of Standards Block Supply-Chain Automation
Attendees at the Supply Chain World Conference and Exposition in New Orleans say that Web-based supply-chain automation is hampered by a profound absence of standards.Some were hopeful that initiatives such as the RosettaNet's extensible markup language-based business-to-business protocol mapping project would lead to standardization efforts from other industries, but others harbor doubts that any projected standards will be widely accepted.
Members of the conference's sponsor, the Supply Chain Council, expressed differing opinions on the standards issue and the RosettaNet effort in particular. Supply-chain standards "will be determined by the marketplace," said AMR Research analyst Larry Lapide. "We don't advise [users] to wait for standards [committees]. Don't wait, or you'll never get there." Computerworld Online (04/05/01); Songini, Marc L.
Qwest Finds Voice Portals Rising in Popularity
Wireless subscribers have responded more favorably to Internet voice access than to the launch of data applications.Wireless voice portals are becoming more popular with carriers. Qwest Wireless and partner BeVocal launched the first voice browsing and voice dialing service last fall. And AT&T Wireless, teaming with TellMe Networks, launched its own voice portal service.
According to Qwest Wireless' senior vice president for marketing and services, Sue Schaefer, the company is satisfied with consumer response to the voice services. Schaefer reports that roughly 50% of Qwest subscribers purchase the service. Schaefer says most customers use the voice portal to obtain such information as the latest weather and flight schedules. Wireless Week (04/02/01); Smith, Brad
Previous Trucking Technology Report
© copyright 2001 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
| ||||
| |
7101
