Trucking Technology Report - Aug. 30
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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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Smooth Ride Expected for Trucker-Oriented Wireless Service
Service provider Galaxy OnLine and Spectra, a supplier of trucking supplies, aim to provide mobile Web access to over 25,000 truckers by mid-2001. The Internet service will be available at truckinguniverse.com.
Surveys conducted by Spectra indicate that over 55% of truckers use mobile computing devices on a regular basis. The firms hope the portal will create a substantial customer base through specialty Internet sites operated by Galaxy.
Moby Dark is responsible for the wireless technology for the service. This technology will facilitate high-speed video, accessible through wireless devices. National Post (08/29/00) P. C7
Motorola to Pay $160 Million for Printrak
Motorola is purchasing software manufacturer Printrak International in a $160 million deal intended to increase Motorola's fire and police dispatching capability on its two-way radios. According to the agreement, Motorola will pay $12.14 per Printrak share. Printrak had sales reaching $109.9 million last year, while Motorola's sales climbed to $33.1 billion in 1999. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter, the company said. New York Times (08/30/00) P. C4
AT&T to Offer Free Cable Telephony in Campaign to Hit Subscriber Goals
In an effort to meet its pledge to sign up thousands of new cable telephony subscribers by the end of the year, AT&T intends to offer up to five months of free local and long-distance service to customers. AT&T is expected to begin the new marketing campaign in several large cities on Friday as a way to increase its number of cable voice subscribers. Those who sign up will also be provided with free installation. AT&T verified details of the campaign, which extends an existing marketing strategy that includes free installation and service. Wall Street Journal (08/30/00) P. A3; Solomon, Deborah
Sony Hand-Held Computer to Hit Stores in September
Sony today will announce plans to release its Sony CLIE, a handheld device that serves as an entertainment platform, by the end of September.The CLIE, short for Communication Linkage for Information and Entertainment, is based on the Palm operating system and includes a number of multimedia capabilities. The device includes multimedia software PictureGear Pocket and gMedia to let users store digital images and play digital videos. The device is expected to heat up competition in the handheld market now dominated by Palm.
Sony's choice of the Palm operating system is bad news for Microsoft, which would like to have a major manufacturer such as Sony partner with Microsoft's PocketPC, says Forrester analyst Bruce Kasrel. Wall Street Journal (08/30/00) P. B4; Tam, Pui-Wing
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