Trucking Technology Report - March 16
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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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Port's Players Explore New Economy
The Port of Pittsburgh plans to open a Web site in May to help freight shippers learn the advantages of barge transportation and allow barge operators to bid for business.
The U.S. Department of Transportation helped fund the development of the site, in order to address concerns that the volume of goods being trucked over the nation's highways could lead to gridlock in the next twenty years. Federal Pittsburgh Post-Gazette(03/16/01)
Ericsson Unveils Mobile Internet Service Billing
Ericsson said it is launching its Mobile Commerce Platform, which allows operators to charge fees to consumers for wireless Web content and m-commerce transactions.In addition, the platform can provide secure transmissions for the payments. Payment security is critical to the future of m-commerce, say industry observers. Ericsson's platform can run on general packet radio service (GPRS) networks, which are set to be launched by many operators next year. Reuters (03/16/01)
Verizon Wireless Finishes Successful Year
Verizon Wireless has become the U.S. wireless leader since its creation by Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications, and AirTouch Paging nearly a year ago.Since its launch, Verizon Wireless has devoted much of its resources to a series of promotions, spectrum purchases, and deployments of its Mobile Web and Mobile Messenger services. As of the end of last year, Verizon Wireless had 27.5 million users, 6 million more than its main rival, Cingular Wireless. Verizon saw roughly one-third of its new subscribers sign up in the fourth quarter.
Backed by powerful parents Verizon Communications and Vodafone, Verizon Wireless was able to acquire 113 wireless licenses in the FCC spectrum auction held this year. The licenses, which covered the top 50 U.S. markets, could provide wireless coverage for up to 167 million users.
Verizon hit the market fast last year with a series of store openings and product debuts. Verizon decided to invest $100 million in improvements to its call centers over the next three years. Wireless Week (03/12/01); McCall, Margo
Researchers Build Network for Remote Area
Scientists from the University of California at San Diego and San Diego State University are working to link remote research sites and tribal reservations in the eastern part of the county to a wireless high-speed Internet connection.The $2.3 million project, funded by the National Science Foundation, runs over solar-powered wireless transmitters and is considered revolutionary in its application of technology to real-life situations, says Ramesh Rao, director of the Center for Wireless Communications at U.C.-San Diego. He says putting technology to work to solve problems such as this is indicative of a maturing sector.
Although the solar-charged batteries will not operate the transmitters in snowstorms or at night, the wireless solution goes far beyond the single phone line that many remote research sites and communities have access to in this infrastructure-barren region. The Mount Laguna Observatory, for example, will be able to transmit its large satellite images over the Internet instead of using data storage tapes.
The Pala Learning Center community library serving the Pala Indian Reservation will receive a link as well, replacing the one phone line that has frustrated many students wanting to use the Web. Now, students are participating in live, online tutoring sessions conducted by university students from U.C.-San Diego. Other research sites are being added to the network, including nature reserve monitoring stations and seismic data reading centers. Chronicle of Higher Education Online (03/12/01); Olsen, Florence
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