Trucking Technology Report - April 23
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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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Texas Instruments Developing Quick Data Chip
Texas Instruments has announced its development of a chip that can transmit data through the air at 100 Mbps, more than 10 times faster than what is offered today for indoor use.
Cell Signal Ban Spreads Outside Canada
The Canadian government's pending decision on whether to permit public venues, such as theaters, churches, and hospitals, to jam cell phone signals could have repercussions in other countries.Some wonder if jamming devices could inadvertently block critical messages to emergency personnel, such as firefighters, who are in the area. While the United States and Britain have strongly opposed measures to permit jamming devices, Australia and Japan regulate jamming devices through government licenses. In most countries, including Canada, only law enforcement and emergency services are authorized to block radio signals.
Canadians are largely divided on the issue, which remains in its 90-day public debate period. Meanwhile, other technologies, such as Bluetooth, could provide an alternative to jamming by automatically switching a Bluetooth phone's ringing mode to vibration. Associated Press (04/23/01); Smith, Tony
N.J. Cancels New Area Code
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has decided to scrap the area code that was set to be implemented for northern New Jersey next year.The utilities board determined that the new area code, 356, was too close to the 856 area code already being used in southern New Jersey. As a result, new phone numbers for northern New Jersey will get the 862 area code.
This is the first time an area code has been terminated after it was announced to the public, according to the North American Numbering Plan Administration, which allots area codes. The number was among three new area codes for the state that must go into affect by Jan. 1. New York Times (04/23/01)
New Handheld Features May Burden Users
Handspring Visor and new Palm personal digital assistants (PDAs) offer better functionality than other handheld computer models, but can be troublesome.Users can purchase a variety of add-on modules, including a GPS positioning module and a wireless modem.
However, switching modules can produce undesired results, including the erasure of the handheld's memory, says Jimmy Guterman. He points out that while modules can provide users with a wide range of applications, travelers may not want the trouble of lugging around the modules, which weigh three pounds each. In addition, users will have to carry extra batteries because of the devices' high power consumption when the modules are in use. Fortune (04/16/01); Guterman, Jimmy
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