Trucking Technology Report - Feb. 8
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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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AT&T Chief Says Baby Bells May Price Company Out of Local Service
AT&T Chief Executive Officer C. Michael Armstrong warned he would terminate the company's efforts to establish a presence in the local phone market and said the country's telecom industry required more hands-on government regulation. Armstrong alleged that the regional Bells are involved in anticompetitive practices intended to hurt competition.
AT&T has grabbed 750,000 local phone subscribers in New York and 330,000 subscribers in Texas. Armstrong noted, however, that the company takes a loss on each customer. Officials with SBC and Verizon contend their access charges are established by state regulators and denied the allegation that their companies seek to hamper competition.
i>Wall Street Journal (02/08/01) P. A8; Dreazen, Yochi J.; Solomon, Deborah
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Study Finds No Cellphone-Cancer Link
Today's edition of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute contains findings from the largest study ever conducted to determine cancer risks to cell phone users.The study involved researchers from the Danish Cancer Society and researchers for the International Epidemiology Institute in Rockville, Md. The research had 420,095 people participate from 1982 through 1995. All the participants were cell phone users. The researchers concluded from the study findings that cell phones do not pose a cancer risk to users.
The study's conclusions are consistent with the results of two other major studies released recently. Francis Slakey with the American Physical Institute says the recent study's results make a strong case for the safety of cell phone use. John Boice, one researcher involved in the study, said the findings involved long-term cell phone users, with over 15 years of use, and more short-term users. USA Today (02/07/01) P. 8D; Manning Anita
Nokia Chief Looks Forward to Wireless Net Opportunity
Nokia's president, Pekka Ala-Pietila, announced yesterday that the firm plans to move intensively into the wireless Web market. The announcement was made during a San Francisco conference held by Banc of America Securities. Ala-Pietila also said the company would focus most of those products on the teen market.While just five years ago professionals were the most profitable market for handset makers, the teen market has taken precedence. By marketing to the teen market, Ala-Pietila says Nokia can gain loyal customers for years to come. Meanwhile, the company was recently forced to reduce its cell phone sales forecast for the year from 550 million to between 550 million to 500 million. Reuters (02/08/01)
Deutsche Telekom Closer to $35 Billion Mobile Deal in U.S.
Deutsche Telekom's $35 billion planned acquisition of VoiceStream Wireless and Powertel may get U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approval by Friday or Monday, according to sources familiar with the situation.In the meantime, the FCC is still trying to decide if the merger would hurt competition, though many industry observers believe it will decide in Deutsche Telekom's favor. Should the deal be completed, Deutsche Telekom would become the top provider of GSM service in the world. The GSM wireless standard is used in Europe and Asia and segments of the United States.
Once the SEC approves Telekom's proxy statement, observers will await the FCC staff recommendation. A source familiar with the situation said an FCC recommendation could be made by the end of this month. Wall Street Journal (02/08/01) P. A16; Wessel, Rhea
What's on the Horizon: Slight Gains Seen in Plant-Floor Software Sales for 2001 and Beyond
The plant management market's total revenue for 2000 was $2.7 billion, and is only expected to reach $3 billion in 2001 and $4.2 billion by 2004, according to AMR Research.Many analysts insist that the anemic growth is the fault of thin clients, but others also maintain that the woes of automation vendors are also due to factory-floor technology getting more sophisticated and less costly. This is the year when Web and IT standards are integrated with factory automation, according to industry-watchers, because automation vendors can finally deliver standards-based products ripe for integration.
Industry analysts also allege that because no one wants to be known as a PLC firm anymore, many automation suppliers will provide consulting and integration services so that they can be known as a 'solution provider.' Managing Automation (01/01) Vol. 16, No. 1, P. 34; Neil, Stephanie
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