Trucking Technology Report - Oct. 24
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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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Wireless Firms Want Regulators to Apply Privacy Rules on Net
The mobile phone industry is pushing federal regulators to adopt privacy standards for users of wireless phones that currently protect Web users from being traced electronically. But the FCC has expressed reluctance at applying the same prohibitions on wireless technology that it has applied to other telecom services.
Sobel adds that cell phone operators are concerned that privacy laws would only apply to a portion of cell phone technology, thus giving some operators advantages over others. Wall Street Journal (10/24/00) P. B5
Smart Tires to Warn Drivers via Mobile Messages
Finnish tire maker Nokian Renkaat announced Monday that its intelligent tires that report tire conditions to a driver's mobile phone will be available next year.Drivers who use Bluetooth-equipped mobile phones will receive real-time messages about their tire pressure and temperature. Individual smart chips will be installed in the wheels of trucks, vans, and passenger cars.
Nokian is developing the intelligent tire technology with Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia and Flextronics International, the U.S.-based maker of phone handsets, pagers, and computers. Reuters (10/23/00)
Long Waits for High-Speed 'Net Access
Many customers purchasing broadband Internet access are disappointed by the lack of customer support from Baby Bells, unreliable access, and speeds that are slower than expected.Companies such as Verizon (VZ), BellSouth (BLS), and Qwest (Q) are pushing broadband services in an effort to retain customers. Losing a customer to another DSL provider could mean that the competitor will also take over the customer's basic voice service within two years. In addition, DSL providers face competition from cable providers such as AT&T (T), which plans to offer voice and broadband over its cable network.
The U.S. will have 1.5 million DSL subscribers and 2.4 million cable-modem subscribers by the end of this year, says Yankee Research. However, as companies race to provide DSL, they lack the experience and technical staff to support the service. In many cases, customers are waiting months to receive DSL service.
Meanwhile, the speed of DSL depends on how far a user is from the phone company's central office, and some users are finding that the service's speed does not match their expectations. In addition, the modems for DSL service are harder to get back online once they are knocked off. Always-on broadband connections also leave users more vulnerable to hackers.
However, the Bells' widespread network reach is expected to help them win the majority of broadband subscribers, and customer satisfaction is likely to improve as technology advances and technical staffs grow, experts say. Wall Street Journal (10/23/00) P. R56; Burns, Johnathan
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