Trucking Technology Report - Sept. 14
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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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FCC Enters Debate on Broadband Net Access
Until now, the FCC has avoided enacting guidelines to resolve issues related to high-speed Internet access amid concerns that
The FCC has been forced to deal with the issue since America Online's proposed $183 billion merger with Time Warner. Rivals of the two firms have opposed the deal, citing concerns that they would be blocked out of significant segments of the marketplace.
Sources familiar with the investigation say the Federal Trade Commission is strongly in favor of requiring the companies to share their cable networks with rivals as a condition for merger clearance. The FCC's own probe, which is set to begin today, will be charged with gathering opinions on whether consumer choice and changing competition necessitate federal guidelines that allow open access to all cable networks. Washington Post (09/14/00) P. E1; Goodman, Peter S.
Toshiba to Launch Bluetooth PCMCIA Card
Toshiba will debut its first Bluetooth device, the Type 2 PCMCIA card, in the North American market soon. The card, which is designed to be installed in mobile computing devices, will cost under $200, according to company officials. While Bluetooth cards offer similar features to network cards that transmit on the 802.11 frequency, range and data transfer rates are more limited. The backers of Bluetooth hope the technology will allow mobile devices to connect to wired computers for data sharing.
In addition, Toshiba is preparing to make available its Toshiba Bluetooth PC Card during the last week of this month. The card is designed to function with notebook PCs and will also come with software that can provide such features as file sharing.
Steven Andler, the company's vice president of marketing at its America's Computer Systems Group, says the technology still has to pass several obstacles before appealing to a mass market. Andler specifically points out that Bluetooth chip prices must decrease and that operators and manufacturers of wireless systems must support the technology. Toshiba predicts that Bluetooth-equipped phones will become available in North America during the first half of next year. ZDNet (09/14/00); Spooner, John G.
Verisign Exec Sees Regulations Creeping Into Internet Policy
There has been an increase in the number of Washington industry committees that discuss Internet issues in telecom forums, and although most of the individuals participating in these committees might know about regulations in the telecom industry, they have little understanding in regards to the Internet, writes A.M. Rutkowski, vice president for Internet Strategy at VeriSign-NSI.Through these committees, new regulatory words have crept into the language used to describe the online environment, and this new terminology could be potentially damaging to e-commerce because it suggests regulation is an inherent ingredient of the Internet's makeup.
For example, at a basic level the Internet is currently thought of as being based on facilities and users, and the use of the word "facilities" introduces the concept of regulation. In reality the Internet, which contains hosts, ports, processes, applications, and files, is made up of resources. There is no "Internet facility," argues Rutkowski.
This new concept of regulation that has entered into the fabric of the Internet's definition deserves attention, otherwise e-commerce could face an online environment that is simply another type of telecommunication that requires regulation, concludes Rutkowski. ICB Toll Free News (09/11/00); Rutkowski, A.M.
WorldCom to Challenge EU Ruling
WorldCom announced it intends to appeal the European Commission's ruling in opposition of its purchase of Sprint. While an appeal would not renew a merger between the companies, it may ease the ay for WorldCom to close other deals without encountering European opposition, according to a company official.
Although a spokesman for Sprint refused to comment on a prospective appeal, he did say the company had knowledge of the European application deadline and is watching the dealings. The announcement was made a day before a significant antitrust conference in Brussels where the top antitrust authorities will come to talk about European merger guidelines.
The European Commission opposed WorldCom's acquisition of Sprint because of concerns that the merged company would have too much control over the market for high-end Internet switching services.
E-Commerce Is Driving More Transportation Firms Into Full-Service Logistics
Shipping company RMX Logistics leverages advanced database and back-end systems integration technologies to enable its dropshipping-based business model.When a consumer orders a product from a RMX retail customer such as QVC Direct the order is passed on to RMX's database, which then determines which of the company's regional distribution centers is closest to the consumer, and sends the order to that location for fulfillment. Consumers pay standard shipping rates but receive Priority Mail service, while retailers are freed from dealing with order fulfillment hassles themselves, allowing them to focus on their Web site.
"This [dropship] service is just another example of how customer demands are changing the industry and changing the service offerings of traditional transportation firms," says RMX president Frans Nelson.
While there was a time when businesses were reluctant to entrust a third party with their order fulfillment operations, that time is largely passed. "These companies need a path to the customer," Nelson says. "By offering everything, from warehousing and fulfillment to customer service and delivery, we complete the connection with the customer." SHIP! Package Logistics & Distribution (09/00) P. 22
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