Trucking Technology Report - Oct. 18
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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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Consolidated Freightways Hits E-Highway
Acknowledging the rising importance of technology in the transportation industry, Consolidated Freightways (CFWY) has created the new position of vice president of e-commerce and marketing technology. The company has tapped Marty Larson, an 18-year employee of CF, to fill the new position; his goals include making the CF.com Web site easier to use and bringing in more customers.
A.G. Edwards analyst Donald Broughton says CF is more technologically advanced than many other carriers and offers more online tools and applications than many of its competitors do, although the number of carriers moving some of their business practices online is increasing. Broughton says the Web tools help CF, not just its customers; for example, CF is able to get bills of lading in the format it prefers when it has customers fill them on the Web site. Computerworld (10/09/00) Vol. 34, No. 41, P. 46; Rosencrance, Linda
Visteon, Lucent in Joint Venture
Visteon, (VC) a U.S. manufacturer of car components, has contracted Lucent Technologies (LU) to develop Bluetooth technology to link with wireless devices placed in cars. According to the deal, Bluetooth technology will be used to facilitate data sharing between wireless devices inside cars. If successful, the technology could alleviate some of the concerns associated with using wireless devices while driving a vehicle. Bluetooth has the capability to enable different types of devices to communicate with each other. The technology could be also be used for enabling wireless devices placed in vehicles to communicate with home computers, says Visteon. Financial Times (10/17/00) P. 26; Bowe, Christopher
Nortel Networks Inks $1 Billion Optical Networking Deal
Nortel Networks (NT) announced that it was awarded a 4-year, $1 billion deal to supply Aerie Networks with optical-networking equipment. Aerie is deploying a 20,000-mile, high-capacity fiber-optic network connecting 194 U.S. markets will rights-of-way owned by 12 energy and communications firms who are investors in the close-held company. The company intends to offer bandwidth and associated services to carriers and other companies.Nortel said it will offer financing to Aerie for up to half of the contract's value. Nortel will provide such financing because of the strong demand for bandwidth, according to Anil Khatod, president of international Internet solutions at Nortel. Corning is supplying the fiber for the network, on which Aerie began construction recently to connect Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Dallas, and Houston. Wall Street Journal (10/18/00) P. C23
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