Trucking Technology Report - Feb. 12
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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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FCC Auction Hit With Unfair Bid Claims
Some smaller companies that participated in the FCC's auction of wireless licenses are claiming that large bidders were given an unfair advantage during the bidding process.
Telecom entrepreneur George D. Crowley invested $50 million to create Salmon PCS after he was approached by an SBC representative in the fall about forming a new company with SBC Communications' wireless unit, Cingular Wireless. Cingular acquired an 85% stake in Salmon for $285 million. SBC Communications was interested in circumventing auction rules that prohibited larger companies from placing bids on many of the licenses.
Deals like this became common before the auction began. But smaller participants that did not have the support of major players are mounting legal challenges to the auction.
In addition, some people say the larger companies were able to acquire the licenses because their intense lobbying efforts pressured the FCC to modify rules benefiting smaller participants, providing the larger companies a window to bid under the cover of small partners. New York Times (02/12/01) P. A1; Labaton, Stephen; Romero, Simon
Nasdaq Conditionally Extends @Track's Listing
@Track Communications reports that the company's common stock will continue to be listed on the Nasdaq Small-Cap Market via an exception from the requirements on net tangible assets, market capitalization, net income and bid price.While @Track failed to meet those requirements as of Dec. 6, 2000, the company was granted a temporary excep-tion from the standards subject to @Track meeting certain conditions. The exception will expire on April 23, 2001. @Track News Release (02/11/01)
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UN to Adopt Electronic Signatures Model Law
The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) revealed that it plans to use a draft model law for electronics. The measure is scheduled to go into effect this June.The draft promotes a universal legislative standard, which is hoped to increase the use of electronic signatures for global business transactions.
According to the UN Commission, the draft model is intended not to allow discrimination regarding electronic signatures. In addition, the draft model is hoped to support the creation of digital signature certification bodies. Journal of Commerce (02/09/01)
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The Quest For Mobility
Manufacturers are finding emerging wireless technologies helpful in managing factory floor operations. While terminal emulation applications often do the job, browser-based data collection devices have great potential as bandwidth and interoperability barriers break down.Alcoa uses Symbol Technologies' Spectrum24 Web Client to monitor in near real-time its plant operations. On its 128-acre Riverdale, Iowa site, Alcoa houses 8,000 specifications of alloys. Where the company used to manually track the heavy rolls of sheet metal, it now has equipped its forklifts with long range bar code scanners that identify inventory.
Using the bar code readout, a wireless device connects with the company's intranet via a 2.4-gigahertz connection and then tells the forklift driver where to place the materials. This is just one application of the Symbol wireless solution that allows Alcoa track its inventories accurately and efficiently.
Abaco is a software development and consulting firm that offers a open platform for manufacturers to build their own applications using Java or Visual Basic.
Abaco CEO Fernando Alvarez sees the manufacturing market for mobile applications increasing dramatically in the next two years, especially as bandwidth limitations are overcome. He says that access to the Internet as a data re-source will change the way manufacturers view data collection. "It will be very focused . . . using the Internet as a big server. And that completely changes the value proposition of the data collection system within the supply chain," he says. MSI (01/01) Vol. 19, No. 1, P. 53; Nesdore, Paul
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Supply Chain Chiefs Eye Wireless
Wireless technology is becoming more popular among supply-chain managers. AMR Research's Dennis Gaughan says wireless systems can significantly aid the efforts of technology companies focused on developing more effi-cient supply networks and keeping their inventory low.In addition, an AMR report released last fall concluded that wireless technology could have a major influence on many operations involved in supply-chain management, such as design collaboration.
Many high-tech firms try to encourage contact among their different divisions involved in product development and manufacturing, the report states. Often, the various facilities are located on different continents. Wireless communi-cations between a company's divisions could result in faster product introductions.
The report also suggests that supply-chain managers inquire about several factors, including what company provides security for the vendor's technology, and whether the vendor supports different wireless devices. EBN (01/29/01) No. 1247, P. 62; Lewis, Nicole
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