Trucking Technology Report - Jan. 23
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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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Bush Taps Michael Powell to Head FCC
On Monday, President Bush appointed Michael K. Powell as the FCC's chairman. Powell, son of Secretary of State Colin Powell, has been a FCC commissioner for the last three years. He will have to be confirmed by the Senate.
ells.
Departing Chairman William E. Kennard oversaw the commission's establishment of several guidelines intended to require the regional Bells to share network elements with their competitors. Powell favors simpler regulations and competition defined by the markets.
National Association of Broadcasters President Eddie Fritts believes Powell fully understands public policy issues. But Gene Kimmelman, co-director of the Consumers Union's Washington office, believes Powell is reluctant to regulate in the face of a lack of competition in the cable and local phone markets. Washington Post (01/23/01) P. E1; Goodman, Peter S.; Stern, Christopher
Stinnes Logistics Building Worldwide Intranet Network
Stinnes Logistics Group, which has revenues of over $10 billion, is investing approximately $5 million to create and install IBM middleware applications that enable in-house IT systems and highly diverse electronic-business platforms to integrate into aorldwide network or intranet.
The objective is to create a system that provides diverse companies with connections to electronic marketplaces around the world and offers a one-stop solution for managing information flows and logistics for products purchased and sold online.
In the initial phase of development, Stinnes and IBM will institute a prototype of the planned middleware for Stinnes' biggest subsidiary, Schenker AG, a global logistics provider and freight forwarder. After that, Stinnes will provide its other divisions with the product, and according to Stinnes, when it is finished the company will have a worldwide intranet for its own IT systems and the ability to connect those systems to various online marketplaces.
The system will offer a number of different online services, ranging from online pricing for distribution to electronic consignment tracking. According to Stinnes, the company will ultimately provide one-stop shopping for a complete range of logistics services, including packaging, warehousing, and customs clearance, as well as air, sea, and land transportation.Traffic World (01/22/01) Vol. 265, No. 4, P. 18; Parker, John
Companies Get Started Using Wireless
The wireless industry is probably at the same stage where the personal computer market was 20 years ago, but a major difference is that wireless technology is not expected to take 20 years to make a major market impact. Some businesses are choosing not to wait to adopt wireless technologies.For instance, Cybex International, a maker of exercise equipment, provides its field reps with PCS phones and wireless applications. According to Cybex's manager of e-commerce, Brian Lyman, the system allows the firm's field reps to answer calls from customers without having to contact the office. Businesses have the option of choosing from two kinds of wide-area wireless networks: cellular and packet radio. Cellular networks are designed to handle voice being sent to and transmitted from mobile phones.
Meanwhile, packet radio networks, such as CDPD, are designed to transmit data. Packet radio systems have been in use for close to a decade. The majority of cell phones that are Web-enabled run browsers based on the WAP standard. For users of handhelds and laptops, wireless modems can be connected to the devices to provide Internet access.
Unlike cell phones and PDAs, a laptop can display an Internet page in its entirety using regular browsers. But speeds are excruciatingly slow. A major problem confronting the industry is standardization. Companies wanting to offer an application on various wireless devices have to either create several versions of the application or create one application capable of identifying different browsers and outputting data accordingly.PC Magazine (01/16/01) Vol. 20, No. 2, P. iBiz 6; Metz, Cade
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