Trucking Technology Report - March 6

The Trucking Technology Report and Alert are compiled by Information Inc., a supplier of news summaries for vertical markets. Information Inc., subscribes to nearly 7,000 news sources, including: major newspapers and magazines; regional, national, international, and business wire services; weekly and monthly trade journals; business periodicals; legislative sources and non-industry sources.

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Today's Technology Headlines:

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  • General Mills Saves Millions By Sharing Information
  • Groups Aim to Refurbish Old Cell Phones
  • Wireless Middleware to Boom for Next Five Years
  • AT&T Seeks Split of Verizon
  • Wireless Entertainment Attracts Investors

    General Mills Saves Millions By Sharing Information

    In a collaborative effort with other manufacturing companies, General Mills has found a solution to avoiding empty and costly return carrier hauls, by implementing a new type of logistics software designed to search the databases of all the companies under agreement for loads waiting for pickup.



    Randy Darcy, GM's senior vice president of supply chain operations has so far contracted with St. James a paper-products company, Nistevo, an Internet-based logistics software provider, Pillsbury, Land'O'Lakes, Graphic Packaging, Nabisco, and ConAgra Foods, eventually growing his network of tag-team shipping to 12 companies.

    A combined effort by GM, St. James and Nistevo in the early stages of the new program joined 60 drivers, covering 2,600 miles per week between eight cities, and resulted a drop in GM's empty truck time from 15% to 6% and savings of 7% on shipping costs. Business 2.0 Online (03/03/01); Cross, Kim


    Groups Aim to Refurbish Old Cell Phones

    Collective Good has begun collecting outdated cell phones and plans to refurbish them.

    A typical cell phone user purchases a new model every 18 months. According to reports, U.S. cell phone users replaced 40 million of their devices last year alone. Many outdated cell phones are either kept by their owners or disposed of in landfills.

    Cell phones disposed of in landfills can potentially pollute water supplies from leaking components containing mercury, cadmium, and lead.

    Collective Good, which offers the refurbished phones at a 33% to 55% discount from new models, will offer the devices in countries where the average per-capita income is under $3,000. Environmental News Network (03/05/01); Higgins, Margot

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    Wireless Middleware to Boom for Next Five Years

    Wireless middleware allows transmissions of important information from companies' computer systems to workers' wireless devices. Research firm IDC said Monday that the wireless middleware market will experience 61% annual growth, expanding from $137 million last year to 1.5 billion by 2005.

    IDC senior analyst Stephen Drake says more traditional providers of middleware, such as IBM and BEA Systems, will likely make alliances with some of the smaller wireless middleware firms. Drake notes that around 30 smaller companies offer wireless middleware.

    Drake also predicts that the expected return on investments in the wireless middleware market will lure companies hesitant to invest in other technologies. Reuters (03/05/01)

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    AT&T Seeks Split of Verizon

    AT&T requested last week that New Jersey utility regulators divide Verizon into two independent businesses.

    AT&T contends that Verizon's retail and wholesale businesses should be split because the company's ownership of both makes it harder for rivals to break into the market.

    A bill pushing for the split of Verizon was brought before the Maryland Legislature last week, but was retracted Friday by its sponsor, Delegate Joan F. Stern (D-Montgomery County). Under the legislation, Verizon would have had to separate into two independent businesses in Maryland. Verizon has a 97% share of Maryland's local phone market.

    AT&T CEO Michael Armstrong says Verizon must be split in order to stimulate competition in the local phone market. However, Verizon contends that AT&T is urging a split to hinder Verizon's entrance into the long-distance market, in which AT&T is the leader. Washington Times (03/06/01) P. B8; Stefanova, Kristina

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    Wireless Entertainment Attracts Investors

    Wireless entertainment is expected to become an integral part of wireless Web offerings.

    While current wireless Web technologies are slow, high-speed wireless networks will be deployed in the next several years. Later this year, Java-enabled phones will be launched commercially. These phones will be able to display complex graphics and run games with

    igher speeds.

    Carriers view wireless games as a means to attract a broad range of consumers to WAP (Wireless Application Protocol -- a global protocol used in many newer wireless devices that allows the user to view and interact with data services) services. Sprint PCS, AT&T Wireless Group, and Verizon Communications are among the carriers offering wireless games. Wall Street Journal (03/06/01) P. B11A; Miles, Stephanie

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