Trucking Technology Report - Nov. 27
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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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PanAmSat Satellite Ceases Transmissions
PanAmSat, a global provider of satellite, video, and data services, announced that its Galaxy 7 satellite will not be able to continue operations because of a malfunctioning onboard navigation system.
The company plans to submit an insurance claim, which will be worth the total $130 million value of the satellite. The firm also remains confident that the absence of the satellite from its operations will not hurt expected revenue for the year or its financial guidance for 2001.
The company is expected to generate roughly $1 billion for this year. Eleven analysts polled by First/Call Financial predict that PanAmSat will have a net income of seven cents per share next year. Wall Street Journal (11/27/00) P. B11
UK Mobile Phones to Carry Health Warnings
British newspapers reported today that the nation's Department of Health is nearing the completion of a leaflet for warning consumers interested in purchasing mobile phones of potential health risks. The leaflets will be distributed to stores offering cell phones, according to the newspapers.Warnings will be primarily targeted at children, the papers added. Children will be warned not to spend long periods of time using cell phones. Close to half of Britain's population has cell phones.
According to the reports, the warnings will be placed with every mobile phone model in time for Christmas. The reports come after physicist Gerard Hyland's findings were published in the Lancet medical journal last week. Hyland conducted a study of cell phones users under the age of 18, and concluded that young users were subject to adverse effects, such as headaches and sleeping disorders. Reuters (11/26/00)
Satellite Net Access Aimed at Remote Areas
Two-way satellite services are emerging as a viable broadband alternative to cable modem and DSL service. The satellite alternative is likely to appeal to consumers who need high-speed Internet access but face long waits trying to obtain cable modem or DSL access. In addition, two-way cable systems do not reach many rural areas and DSL only functions within about three miles of a telephone central office.In the past slow uplink speeds have inhibited satellite service, but several companies are now offering faster two-way satellite services. StarBand, for example, announced a two-way service earlier this month that provides download speeds of up to 500 Kbps, and upload speeds of up to 150 Kbps. Unlike DSL or cable modem access, satellite services are available to anyone with a satellite modem and a dish antenna, as StarBand recently demonstrated by bringing satellite access to the Havasupai tribe at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Hughes Network Systems and startup Wildblue are also planning to offer two-way satellite services. However, experts warn that satellite services will slow down as they acquire more users and bad weather can interfere with satellite signals. New York Times (11/23/00) P. E1; Hafner, Katie
Lotus to Ship Updated iNotes in 2001
IBM (IBM) subsidiary Lotus Development plans to ship its updated Domino Web client, iNotes, in early 2001.Enterprises of all sizes will find that the new iNotes client gives them improved access to email, collaboration, and calendaring applications, while also simplifying administration and support, according to InfoWorld tester Lori Mitchell.
Rather than carry around a laptop loaded with a full Lotus Notes client, distributed workers must only install the iNotes Web browser on any wireless device to remotely access Domino. Mitchell says that the user-friendly iNotes interface makes it easy for users to work independently, easing the support burden on IT staff.
The iNotes client will support Microsoft's (MSFT) Internet Explorer 5 browser initially, and support for other browsers will be added in time. InfoWorld.com (11/24/00); Mitchell, Lori
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