Trucking Technology Report - Jan. 10
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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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Outtask to Offer Wireless Portal
Wireless decision support services provider agentGO and Outtask announced yesterday an alliance, which is predicted to provide $5 million in sales.
Outtask Mobile will allow mobile workers to access various enterprise data, including contracts, files, and sales documents from any wireless device. Outtask said the MobileDASH wireless portal will become part of its "digital dashboard" solution. InternetNews.com (01/09/01)
Internet Technology Enhances Vehicle-Tracking Capabilities
Transportation firms are pairing remote programming with Internet technology to better track and communicate with their fleets. The trend, called in-vehicle computing or mobile device computing when coupled with cellular technology, allows logistics firms to transmit information from trucks to warehouses, creating greater tracking and efficiency capabilities.In one case, Hollywood Car Carrier was able to track one of its tow trucks as the vehicle was being stolen, and alert police to the thief's whereabouts before any damage was done.
Internet technology allows smaller fleets to afford and access remote programming services. While more basic than custom-made systems, Web-enabled systems are cheaper and more compatible with other technologies.
"You simply go to the Internet, specify your vehicle and you will see what's happening," explains Michael Dennis, telematics manager at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America. "That has made the technology less expensive, particularly at the host/centralized end." Supply Chain Technology News (01/01) Vol. 3, No. 1, P. 26; Zuckerman, Amy
Growth Enabled by Technology
Bangor, Maine, is home to Hartt Transportation Systems, a fifty-year-old trucking company that began with one vehicle, now a technological savvy company sporting 100 company tractors, 450 trailers and subcontracts with 50 individual owner/operators.Company network administrator Donna Darling attributes the company's growth over the last ten years to a new software networking suite, The Trucking System (TTS), which has enabled the company to expand and become more efficient and more productive without being overstaffed.
TTS, a product of TMW Systems, is designed to interface with @Track, a mobile communications and satellite positioning system. It also interacts with the Comdata fuel card system and the Rand McNally and PC Miler mileage tracking package.
Darling says the key value of the system is in the use of its integrated management and operating functions, which enables a single entry in one database to trigger responses in others virtually tying all aspects of the business together electronically. Darling credits company president Billy Hartt with having the foresight and knowledge to understand that technological growth is essential for the company. Fleet Equipment (12/00) Vol. 26, No. 12, P. 38; Skydel, Seth
Coordinating Location Services
The growth of wireless location services will not only depend on location technology companies, but also on infrastructure providers, mapping firms, content owners, and leading online brands.Infrastructure platforms are vital to location services. The platforms' principle role for location services is to interface with location gear to offer a location context, says Maptuit's senior vice president of marketing, Max Stevens-Guille.
Besides Maptuit, AirFlash, Go2 Systems, ObjectFX, InfoSpace, and Mapquest offer these systems. Maptuit's system can offer easy directions or complex routing schedules to wireless device users. Meanwhile, AirFlash's use of application templates allows operators to put their own content into the system. The company's CEO, Rama Aysola, also notes that some content-based platforms are being modified to handle location services.
InfoSpace's launch of location-based purchasing services, in coordination with EyeOnMarket, for merchants and national service providers is indicative of this trend, adds Rama. Meanwhile, MapQuest and Vicinity.com provide location content mostly for other content providers. Wireless Week (01/01/01) Vol. 7, No. 1, P. 26; Dziatkiewicz, Mark
Wireless Data: New Choices and Challenges
Business professionals are starting to choose their mobile devices over their wired connections. The surging popularity of wireless e-mail and messaging applications in Europe, the success of i-mode in Japan, and U.S. venture capitalist funding for the continuing development of wireless applications are key factors in this shift.The success of the industry is indicated by the over 200 start-ups in the wireless market. But European-type messaging applications or Web surfing, as offered in Japan, are not likely to be very popular in the United States because many U.S. wireless services are not compatible with each other. In addition, fixed-line Internet access remains relatively inexpensive in America. However, wireless WAN technologies have continued to become faster, while falling in price.
Many new handhelds, such as those offered by Palm (PALM) and Research in Motion, have more memory, offer more applications, and link easier with other applications. New handhelds typically range in price from $300 to $800. But most handheld device manufacturers, such as Palm and RIM, do not have plans to integrate wireless Web access with their devices.
Vinnie Luciano, vice president of product management at Symbol Technologies (SBL), admits that employing handhelds for corporate network access still has a ways to go. Viewing applications made for PCs on a handheld leaves much to be desired, Luciano adds.
Meanwhile, security and data format techniques for adapting corporate data applications for handhelds are still under development. Luciano asserts that companies interested in using wireless enterprise applications do not have to rely on WAP technologies.
Many analysts believe that the industry should focus on providing messaging first, followed by financial data, wireless transaction technologies, entertainment, and location-based services. Business Communications Review (12/00) P. 28; Borthick, Sandy
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