Trucking Technology Report - Sept. 27
 |  |
Both the online report and e-mail are sponsored by @Track Communications, a supplier of wireless communications and dispatch services.
Today's Technology Headlines:
ul>
Deutsche Telekom Purchase May See a Hurdle Removed
Sen. Ernest Hollings' (D-S.C.) measure, which would prohibit a merger between Deutsche Telecom and VoiceStream Wireless and
Lott revealed his stance after the German government sent a letter to the Clinton administration saying that it would shed its entire stake in Deutsche Telekom eventually. Should the measure be removed from the Senate sending bill, the congressional battle over foreign-government
wnership of U.S. carriers could be postponed until the VoiceStream merger is reviewed by U.S. regulators.
U.S. guidelines bar a company in which a foreign government holds more than a 22% stake from holding a communications license. But the FCC may forgo the ban if it believes the deal is in favor of U.S. consumers. Wall Street Journal (09/27/00) P. A23; Boston, William; Carroll, Jill
France Telecom to Build Backbone in U.S.
France Telecom said Tuesday it would deploy a long-haul communications network in the United States as it seeks to end its relationship with former partner Sprint and move into the profitable U.S. Internet market. The move would increase the capacity of backbone networks that cover the United States.France Telecom said it would invest $200 million in the deployment of a well-rounded network connecting 28 markets in the United States and Canada. The company will purchase its own transmission gear and dark fiber from Level 3 Communications. Because France Telecom will own its facilities, it should be able to reduce its costs and have greater authority over the quality of services for its international corporate venture, Global One, according to Jean-Philippe Vanot, chief of France Telecom's long-distance operations. Financial Times (09/27/00) P. 24; Waters, Richard
Analysts Say E-Commerce Will Change Shipping Patterns and Packaging Size
"Freight Transportation & Logistics," a research report from Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, predicts that e-commerce will force carriers of all sizes to give shippers a way to communicate with them electronically through the Internet or EDI.While more than half of shippers surveyed do not see their transportation patterns changing, the report spots trends toward faster, smaller, and more frequent shipments, as well as increased supply-chain visibility through increased use of technology. Most shippers expect to change the types of transportation they'll be using, with more than half expecting to increase their usage of parcel or express envelopes, regional and national LTL, and local truck or courier service.
Among the features that carriers can provide on their Web sites, the ones shippers want the most are on-line service performance reports, online billing, and real-time calculation of transit times. Ship! (09/00) P. 19
Verizon Wireless Offers Free Phones
Verizon Wireless announced that it is distributing free cell phones to subscribers who renew their original two-year contracts with the firm for digital wireless service. The campaign is called New Every Two and hopes to entice current customers to renew the service by offering phone upgrades. To be able to participate, a subscriber must have a current wireless calling plan that costs at least $35 a month. Verizon Wireless will give $100 in credit for customers who prefer purchasing another phone to the one being offered.
In related news, the firm has filed for a public offering valued at $5 billion. New York Times (09/26/00) P. C8
© copyright 2000 INFORMATION, INC. Terms of Service
| ||||
