Trucking Technology Report - Nov. 8
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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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Food Lion Contracts With 'Lumping' Freight Service
Food Lion has a contract with Progressive Logistics Services, which will provide lumping and management of freight unloaders.
PLS will use Web technology to send invoices to retailers. Food Lion will gain better dock efficiency, and overall better management information systems from PLS. Supermarket News (10/30/00) Vol. 48, No. 44, P. 27; Alaimo, Dan
Ericsson, ViaSat SpA in Vehicle Mobile Internet Pact
Ericsson announced Tuesday that it has finalized an agreement with Italy's ViaSat for the development of Web portals and services for wireless Web-enabled vehicles. According to the agreement, the services will employ GPRS technology, which will offer various high-speed Internet and data applications.ViaSat CEO Pierluigi Leone says his company will aid Ericsson's effort to launch the first GPRS system for vehicles. Leone noted that many industry observers predict that 25% of cars will have on-board Internet capabilities in three years. Dow Jones News (11/07/00)
Finding Truck Specifications Online
Manufacturers' Web sites can be useful sources of information about trucks, engines, and other components, but many sites require the user to do some digging in order to find detailed specs.The most comprehensive truck information comes from makers of medium trucks, which are more likely to offer vehicles where all components are sourced from the same place. It can be more difficult to find engine, transmission, and drive axle information from heavy-truck manufacturers - the exception being Mack, which makes transmissions and engines of its own.
Of enginemakers' Web sites, the most user friendly is Caterpillar's (), while the Cummins () site offers detailed ratings but few specifications; Detroit Diesel's site is heavy on engine details, but the details can be tough to find and require Adobe Acrobat Reader.
It can also take some time to uncover details on transmissions and drive axles at the Web sites offered by component makers ArvinMeritor () and Eaton (). In the end, however, persistence pays off. Refrigerated Transporter (10/00) Vol. 38, No. 5, P. 60; Macklin, Gary
Toshiba, Siemens Team Up to Develop 3G Phones
Toshiba announced Tuesday an alliance with Siemens to combine resources for manufacturing next-generation cell phones. The deal is expected to reduce development costs for both companies, says Toshiba.The companies will also consider additional agreements for producing and marketing 3G mobile phones on a global scale. A Toshiba spokesman said the company hoped the deal would enable Toshiba to become one of the world's top three manufacturers of 3G phones.
Siemens and Toshiba held a combined 7% share of the world's wireless phone market as of March. While Toshiba and Siemens will collaborate on research and development, Toshiba says each company will offer its own 3G phones. The two companies plan to have the devices available by 2002. Reuters (11/07/00)
Qsent Developing Radio Service for Wireless PDAs, Cell Phones
Qsent is developing its iQtaxi and iQradio applications for users of Palm VIIs, cell phones with web browsers, and PCs. Qsent's CEO Patrick Cox says the iQradio service will allow users to access over 13,000 radio stations. The stations will provide users with a wide variety of selection options, including selecting stations by artist or sports team, Cox adds.Meanwhile, the iQtaxi service will allow users of Palm VII to order a taxi, a rental car, or limo wirelessly. The company later plans to make the service, which is currently only availabe to Palm VII users, accessible via Web phones and PCs. Qsent will receive a fee of between $1 to $7.50 for every taxi or limo that is rented through its site. The company has established agreements with over 1,000 cab, limo, and black car companies throughout the United States.
A Palm VII user interested in using the service must visit the www.iqtaxi.com web site and then maneuver through a series of six screens for submitting crucial ordering information, such as date or time to be picked-up. BrandWeek (10/30/00) Vol. 61, No. 23, P. 42; Mara, Janis
Wal-Mart Hires Atlas Commerce to Rework Retail Link System
Wal-Mart Stores () has hired Atlas Commerce to upgrade Retail Link, its system linking retailers to suppliers.The plan is to install Atlas' Metaprise in 45 days, providing time to gather inventory forecasts at Wal-Mart stores worldwide. Wal-Mart has made the project a priority, using an outside software company and negotiating the deal in four months.
The software will allow vendors to determine supply arrangements online. Dan Tiernan, president of Atlas, said the automation is a new area, as supply chain management becomes important. The contract is thought to be on the upper end of the price range for Atlas.
More retailers are starting to adapt collaborative forecasting to make efficient supply chain management. One problem is that marketplaces place users into a certain role as buyer or seller, but do not realize supply networks are more varied. Interactive Week (10/23/00) Vol. 7, No. 43, P. 40; Cleary, Mike
Telefonica Moviles Takes a Gamble on Wireless Telephony
Telefonica Moviles may need to spend billions of euros to acquire UMTS licenses across Europe. But owning a number of licenses will allow the firm to provide users with low costs, seamless service, and may discourage foreign competition, according to CEO Luis Lada. The company has licenses for 3G services in Germany, Italy, Spain, and Austria.Telefonica Moviles decided to have an initial public offering to fund the enormous costs of constructing the 3G networks. Trading is scheduled to start Nov. 22, and industry experts expect the firm to generate up to 4.6 billion euros ($3.99 billion) from the IPO. Telefonica will make 8.92% of its shares available through the IPO. According to the deal, Telefonica Moviles is valued at between 43 billion euros to 52 billion euros.
Lada predicts that UMTS networks will be able to provide wireless connections for all types of electronic-based devices, including home appliances and PDAs. Wall Street Journal (11/08/00) P. B8B; Vitzthum, Carlta
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