Trucking Technology Report - Feb. 14
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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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E-Commerce May Target Logistics
Logistics and inventory are likely to be the next targets of e-businesses looking to reduce expenses, as companies begin deploying technology to allow "merge-in-transit" logistics.
Right now, Cisco has to maintain several warehouses around the country to collect components from certain suppliers, then ship them to a central site where the customer's order is put together and sent on to the customer.
The merge-in-transit system would allow Cisco to find a FedEx warehouse near the customer's location and have all the different suppliers' components shipped to the FedEx site and held there until the customer's complete order is ready. This would enable Cisco to reduce the need to keep a parts inventory or to expand its warehouse network further.
Another type of merge-in-transit initiative is being put together by GroceryWorks.com, which is using EXE Technologies' Exceed software to increase visibility and ease product movement throughout its entire inventory network. InfoWorld (02/05/01) Vol. 23, No. 6, P. 1; Schwartz, Ephraim
Slowing Sales Could Curb New Wireless Products
Slowing mobile phone sales, a lack of consumer interest in new models, and diminishing profit margins are among the key issues affecting wireless phone makers.These difficulties will likely prompt manufacturers to reduce the number of new products, postpone the debut of smart phones, and delay the deployment of new networks. European and North American cell phone makers have been hit hard by the market downturn.
Recently, both Nokia and Ericsson posted disappointing financial results. Gartner Group analyst Bob Egan predicts the cell phone market will continue to decline and many manufacturers will focus more on infrastructure in the future.
Motorola's decision in December to close down its domestic cell phone manufacturing plant and hand over its cell phone making operations to foreign manufacturers appears to back Egan's forecast. Ericsson decided this month to outsource its mobile phone manufacturing business to Flextronics. eWeek (02/05/01) Vol. 18, No. 5, P. 16; Nobel, Carmen
Bird Deaths Could Limit Cell Tower Construction
While state and local government authorities are concerned that the deployment of cell towers in their regions diminish the beauty of the area, there may be a greater problem. Cell towers are causing the deaths of many birds.Each year, about five million warblers, sparrows, and other kinds of birds die when they collide with communications towers, reports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The major factor is the height of the towers, with 50,000 towers reaching two hundred feet or higher.
These towers must have red lights so pilots can see them when flying at night. However, migrating birds are attracted by the lights. Thousands of birds can collide with a single tower during a foggy night. In order to save more birds, the Fish and Wildlife Service has encouraged tower owners to make several modifications, including the use of white lights instead of red, and the construction of towers in the future that do not require lights.
Some communities have also responded by choosing not to grant more cell tower permits in certain areas. For instance, water managers in south Florida refused to authorize the construction of a 1,600-foot tower in a Palm Beach County wildlife refuge. Meanwhile, officials in Connecticut required a mobile phone firm to determine how much of an impact its proposed cell tower would have on migrating birds before granting approval. Governing (02/01) Vol. 14, No. 5, P. 120; Swope, Christopher
AT&T Begins Marketing Broadband Ahead of Launch
AT&T Wireless has begun marketing its broadband services, which will be launched later this year.The marketing effort is part of the company's umbrella campaign to create market awareness for its wireless Web services.
It is unclear if company spokesman Paul Reiser will be featured in the branding effort, which seeks to create awareness for the broadband service via TV and print ads.
This year's ads will feature a special AT&T logo, according to AT&T's director of advertising, Stephen Block. Brandweek (02/05/01) Vol. 42, No. 5, P. 4; Wasserman, Todd
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