Trucking Technology Report - Dec. 15
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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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A Satellite Company's Second Chance
Iridium Satellite plans to offer commercial satellite users calling rates of under $1.50 a minute, according to Chairman Dan Colussy. In comparison, users of the original Iridium service paid $7 per minute. In addition, Colussy said the new company will have a smaller budget for operations and marketing than its predecessor.
But Iridium Satellite will have to carefully evaluate the success of its new services since it will have to replace some of the aging satellites in several years at a cost of roughly $1 billion if it wants to continue operations, according to Armand J. Musey, and analyst with Banc of America Securities in New York.
Iridium Satellite also plans to offer the owners of 30,000 phones used with the original service free phone upgrades and a reduced rate if they sign up for the new commercial services, said Colussy. Washington Post (12/15/00) P. E5; Noguchi, Yuki
Panalpina Offers New Web-based Platform
Panalpina has launched an e-business platform for the client market. According to Panalpina officials, the platform integrates the firm's forwarding and logistics systems.The system, which currently goes by the name e-net, offers a comprehensive approach for connecting Panalpina's internal company applications with outside e-platforms. Monika Ribar, the forwarder's chief information officer, notes that the service is comprised of two elements: an e-portal, which is called the Logistics Management System, and the company's information technology applications, used in its internal operations. By connecting both internal and external systems, the service allows the interchanges of functions and data.
In addition, Ribar says the system provides an electronic marketplace, along with a gateway to portals operated by carriers. The LMS e-portal also allows clients to get help creating supply-chain management ideas, connecting to Panalpina's warehousing and management programs, linking with the company's tracking and tracing applications, and connecting to other systems offered by Panalpina for managing orders. Journal of Commerce (12/14/00); Koenig, Robert
High-Profile Lawyer Takes on Cell Phone Cancer Suit
Trial lawyer and owner of the Baltimore Orioles, Peter Angelos, has decided to take on the cell phone industry.Angelos has decided to represent Baltimore physician Christopher Newman, a victim of brain cancer, according to the Microwave News. Angelos will be co-counsel along with lawyer Joanne Suder.
Suder has filed a $800 million lawsuit against Motorola (MOT), Verizon (VZ), SBC Communications (SBC), the Cellular Telecommunications industry association, and the Telecommunications Industry Association. The suit alleges that Newman's tumor is the result of cell phone use. An attorney working in Angelo's office corroborated the report.
Angelos was successful in sewing both the tobacco and asbestos industries. He won billions in damages from both industries. USA Today (12/14/00) P. 11D
British Gas Stations Offer Web Access
Drivers who stop for a refuel at BP (BP) petrol stations in the London areas of Hammersmith and Southgate have a new reason for dropping by: Internet access. The two filling stations have been refitted with Internet kiosks and cafes in BP forecourt shops."It's all about convenience," says BP's Wendy Silcox. "They can use the Internet and get something to eat." By next year, BP plans to offer Internet access in 80 more stations throughout Britain. Roughly 1 million pounds (US$1.47 million) is being spent to upgrade each station.
Motorists who use the kiosks have the option of paying to access the Internet or accessing it for free. One of the services available through the free access option is the BBC News Online Web site. AA Roadwatch is providing online traffic updates for the service.
BP plans to bring its Internet offering to some 300 other stations across the globe. BBC News (12/13/00)
Searching for Refrigerated Truck Bodies Online
Long the exclusive domain of local or regional companies, the truck body building industry has begun to see a few companies stretching for a national reach. Many of them have begun offering Web sites providing information on their companies and products - though the depth of that information varies from company to company.Hercules Manufacturing Co.'s site, www.herculesvanbodies.com, is basically a one-page site describing the history of the company with some pictures of its products. Meanwhile, Johnson Truck Bodies site at www.johnsontruckbodies.com offers both detailed company history and separate pages for the industry categories it targets, with information on truck bodies and parts.
Kidron Inc. (www.kidron.com), Morgan Corp. (www.morgancorp.com), and Supreme Industries Inc. (STS) (www.supremeind.com) all offer sites that are dense with product and contact information; Kidron's and Morgan's sites have a simpler presentation, while Supreme's site has a more complicated layout. Refrigerated Transporter (11/00) Vol. 38, No. 6, P. 42; Macklin, Gary
Phones on Steroids
Jeffrey Beard, a legal technologist at Quarles and Brady, maintains that cell phone makers need to design phones with more convenient data entry features. Beard believes manufacturers should adopt keyboard and stylus-based handwriting recognition features.While voice recognition may become the primary input technology for cell phones, current systems can only be used with simple commands. Some new phones employ organizer features, including calendars, memos, and address books. Among these new phones are the $179 NeoPoint and the InfoComm LGI-3000W, which will cost between $250 and $350. But since these phones do not use the Palm operating system, they will not be able to use the thousands of add-on programs available.
A fierce battle between Palm (PALM), Symbian, and Microsoft (MSFT) for the leading share of the OS market is expected. With the slow speeds of current Web phones, wireless users accessing the Web are unlikely to use traditional methods. Both WAP and i-mode permit users to move around on the Internet via phones' up and down arrow keys, and strip Web site graphics for easier viewing of data. National Law Journal (11/27/00) Vol. 23, No. 14, P. B9; Beard, Jeffrey
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