Trucking Technology Report - Dec. 13
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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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Samsung to Put Palm OS on New 'Smart' Phones
Samsung Electronics has agreed to use the Palm (PALM) operating system in its new line of smart phones being developed.
Samsung said the first of the smart phones with the Palm technology should become commercially available in North America during the second quarter of next year. Palm called the Samsung deal a step forward in its battle for dominance against Microsoft in the market for hand-held operating systems. New York Times (12/13/00) P. C7; Gaither, Chris
Executives See Three Mega-Trends Revolutionizing Logistics
Three mega-trends are reshaping the logistics processes in companies. Over 90% of consumer goods executives interviewed by Consumer Goods Technology said that SCM and logistics play a large part in determining future corporate success. Updating warehouse management systems will be crucial to handling the growing number of consumer direct sales and 48-hour store-level shipments.The first trend, Inter-enterprise integration, will demand that suppliers have inventory availability online, as well as the 48-hour time cycle installed. A second trend will force companies to manage inventory in order to deliver precise store-level shipments and household direct shipments generated from Internet sales. In the third trend, firms will move their fulfillment process to an e-marketplace to take advantage of the increased efficiency and lowered procurement costs.
Each of these trends poses challenges to the existing logistics systems of companies, but great benefits to those companies that embrace them first. Consumer Goods Technology--Supplement (12/00) Vol. 9, No. 9, P. 4
The Wireless Future
Technology limitations and a lack of a common wireless standard have forced many business travelers to carry several mobile devices. Roy Want, a principal engineer at Intel (INTC), says the situation is likely to remain the same until at least 2003. But some wireless technologies are expected to make an impact in the interim.Bluetooth chips will enable various electronic and computer devices, such as cell phones and PCs, to communicate with one another within a range of 10 meters. Bluetooth could be used for applications such as wireless transmissions to a fax machine or printer. IBM (IBM), Epson America, and Hewlett-Packard (HWP) are among the companies developing Bluetooth products. And for notebook users, some equipment manufactures, such as IBM, offer a Bluetooth card that is designed to be inserted into a notebook to communicate with other Bluetooth devices.
Wireless synchronization software is also likely to be in high demand to accommodate users of multiple wireless devices. FusionOne plans to introduce its synchronization software during the first quarter of 2001. The software will enable users to wirelessly revise shared documents by accessing the fusionOne Web site.
And Wi-Fi, which stands for wireless fidelity, is expected to hit the market in 2001. The technology will allow travelers to wirelessly access the Web in their destination city through an always-on connection. Travelers using Wi-Fi services will be able to download pages at 11 Mbps. However, the service does require the purchase of a laptop card at between $150 and $200, and many providers will charge about $10 per day for the service. Business Week (12/03/00) No. 3710, P. F.34
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