Telematics Weekly

Globalstar signs Joint Venture to tap Korean Market

Alva H. Wright — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:54:10 +0000

Globalstar, Inc announce that it has signed a joint venture agreement with Arion Communication Co., Ltd., a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data products and services to maritime customers in Korea. The new joint venture company known as Globalstar Asia Pacific will operate the Globalstar gateway ground station in Korea and provide Simplex and duplex mobile satellite voice and data services including SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger™ products and services to customers in Korea and the surrounding maritime region.

Motorola casts doubt on Iridium’s future

Alva H. Wright — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:12:12 +0000

One-time parent company Motorola, which spun out Iridium in 1998, is suing the company for “at least $24.68m”, related to old loan agreements between the two companies. More worryingly, Motorola could terminate crucial intellectual property licences for Iridium, which would make it impossible for the company to operate its satellite system. Without usable IP, there will not be much point in building or launching the satellites, even if the money can be raised. Iridium says it is still in talks with Motorola to resolve the issue, but the case could well end up in court.

Fiat introduces Fleet version of eco:Drive Telematics System

Alva H. Wright — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:00:55 +0000

Fiat is introducing a fleet version of eco:Drive, its data-collection and transmission system designed to gather vehicle efficiency data and analyze car performance and driver style. Eco:Drive receives parameters related to fuel consumption from the engine control unit through Microsoft’s Blue&Me. The data recorded can be transferred onto PCs via a USB key, and processed by the appropriate software, in order to analyze motorists’ behavior and to help them to optimise fuel consumption and emissions.

Mobile Operators expected to invest $72B in 2010

Alva H. Wright — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:10:01 +0000

The GSMA announced that mobile operators around the world will invest up to $72 billion in Mobile Broadband* technologies in 2010. The new operator CAPEX investment data, compiled by global investment firm Deutsche Bank, reflects the continued consumer and enterprise demand for Mobile Broadband services and the need for underlying infrastructure, and comes as global HSPA connections reach the 200 million milestone. Asia Pacific will see the greatest investment in Mobile Broadband with predicted capital expenditure of up to $34 billion. North America follows with up to $19 billion, with Europe expected to invest up to $14 billion. Mobile Broadband is set to account for 52 per cent of all operator investment in mobile infrastructure globally. Of all the regions, North America will spend the greatest percentage — 80 per cent — of its total mobile CAPEX investment on Mobile Broadband.

Google invades Social Networking market with ‘Buzz’

Alva H. Wright — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:26:06 +0000

Google Inc. launched a new service to bring social updates such as photos and Web links into Gmail and some Google mobile products, in a challenge to Facebook Inc. and other social media sites where people go to check up on their friends. Dubbed Google Buzz, the service allows users to post and browse content from people they regularly communicate with over Gmail in a new stream-like interface. Beginning soon, they will also be able to post and view updates from Google’s mobile Web site or Buzz mobile software application.

AT&T chooses Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson for LTE equipment

Alva H. Wright — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:15:11 +0000

AT&T says it has picked Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson to supply the equipment for its next wireless network, which will provide faster data speeds starting next year. The vendors will supply cell-tower equipment for a technology called LTE, or Long Term Evolution. It will provide speeds that are at least ten times faster than today’s wireless broadband.

UK releases ambitious 20yr Space Innovation and Growth plan

Alva H. Wright — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:04:52 +0000

A constellation of satellites that gaze down on Earth will be the centrepiece of Britain’s space mission if plans being put before ministers today are adopted. The proposals from the government-appointed “Space Innovation and Growth Team” lay out a 20-year strategy that aims to expand Britain’s space industry sixfold into a £40bn a year business and create 100,000 new jobs by 2030. It urges the government to double its spending on space projects to £550m a year by 2020, a move that would lift Britain into the top 10 space-funding nations in the world. Today, the UK ranks 21st globally in terms of government support for space missions.

Micron to purchase mobile handset chipmaker Numonyx

Alva H. Wright — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:50:32 +0000

Micron Technology Inc., the biggest U.S. producer of computer memory, agreed to buy Numonyx Holdings BV for about $1.27 billion, bolstering its flash-chip business. Micron will issue 140 million shares to Numonyx’s investors — Intel Corp., STMicroelectronics NV and Francisco Partners — according to a statement today. Boise, Idaho-based Micron also will pay as many as 10 million additional shares to Numonyx shareholders depending on its stock price. The deal gives Micron access to Numonyx’s Nor-type flash chips, which go into mobile phones.

Benefits of Telemedicine realized in Haiti

Alva H. Wright — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:42:28 +0000

U.S. physicians are using telemedicine to improve public health in Haiti after last month’s earthquake, the New York Times reports. Soon, the University of Miami’s 240-bed tent hospital near the airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, will use telemedicine technology to let doctors consult via satellite with specialists at the University of Miami and other medical centers, according to Scott Simmons, director of telehealth at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Proposed Telematics Standard for Machinery nears completion

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:11:20 +0000

AEMP’s Telematics Data Standard is essentially complete, pending ratification by the participating manufacturers and telematics providers. Volunteer developers from McFadyen & Associates, Caterpillar, John Deere Construction & Forestry, Volvo Construction Equipment, Komatsu Americas, and the Caterpillar/Trimble joint venture, Virtual Site Solutions, anticipate an Oct. 1, 2010, launch date for support of the data transfer standard.

Cyber-pitfall, Google continues to clash with China

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:00:21 +0000

The Chinese government has shut down a Web site that provided lessons on black-hat hacking and malware for sale. Meanwhile, Google has complained about a China-based Web site with a logo that’s very similar to that of the U.S. search giant. The two cases illustrate the difficulty any authoritarian regime faces when it tries control the Internet.

Smart Meter deployments to hit 212 Million by 2014

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:52:00 +0000

ABI Research reportedly announced a new report Smart Meters for Smart Grids giving a fresh estimate for worldwide smart meter deployments. According to the report, the number of smart electric meters deployed worldwide will rise from a 2009 level of 76 million to reach about 212 million in 2014. According to Sam Lucero, practice director at ABI Research, the most important factor driving the smart meter deployments is government regulators. For example, in the US, $3.4 billion in federal economic stimulus funding was directed to smart grid development in November 2009.

Iridium selects Hughes to develop pivotal Network Controller

Alva H. Wright — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:49:11 +0000

Iridium Communications Inc has selected Hughes Network Systems, LLC to develop an Access Network Controller (ANC) in its gateway ground radio control network. The ANC is part of a multi-year plan for Iridium to upgrade and evolve its gateway network in preparation for Iridium’s next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT. Under the development contract, Hughes will design and supply a fully tested, turnkey ANC system, which will be integrated with Iridium’s existing system, together with training and maintenance. Iridium expects the ANC to be complete and operational by the fourth quarter of 2011.

Smartphone Sales at Record High

Alva H. Wright — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:34:30 +0000

For all of 2009, vendors shipped 174 million smartphones, up 15% from the 151 million in 2008. All told, smartphones accounted for 15% of all mobile phones shipped in 2009, up from 12.7% in 2008, IDC said. IDC expects that increased demand for smartphones will lead to new shipment records in 2010, especially with Symbian and Windows Mobile operating systems upgrades expected.

$7.2B Nationwide Broadband Fund faces bottleneck, disbursement threatened

Alva H. Wright — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:16:03 +0000

The Obama administration knew that there’d be a lot of interest in the $7.2 billion for high-speed Internet projects it included in last year’s huge economic stimulus package. The goal was to quickly create tens of thousands of jobs and connect millions of poor and rural communities to broadband, a technology that’s essential for economic development, modern medicine and education. But officials had no idea that the demand for the cash would be so overwhelming. After nearly a year, about 7% of the funds has been assigned to specific projects.

Orange, T-Mobile Merger Threatened

Alva H. Wright — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:09:34 +0000

The Office of Fair Trading is calling for the proposed merger of Orange and T-Mobile to be investigated by the regulatory authorities in Britain rather than merely subjected to scrutiny in Brussels. There are fears the merger, which will create the UK’s largest mobile phone network, could hamper competition and force up prices for consumers. It is a blow for Orange and T-Mobile, currently the third and fourth placed networks in Britain, as it means a further delay to a deal originally announced in September. They had hoped scrutiny of the merger would be confined to regulators in Brussels, with clearance possibly granted as early as mid-February. Orange and T-Mobile have been lobbying the OFT, the telecoms watchdog, Ofcom, and Brussels regulators in recent weeks to try to assuage competition concerns.

AT&T wins 2009 Mobile Resource Management Award

Alva H. Wright — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:31:54 +0000

AT&T announced that it has been awarded the Frost & Sullivan 2009 North American Portfolio Leadership of the Year Award in Mobile Resource Management (MRM). The award recognizes AT&T’s portfolio of MRM solutions for its broad array of features and functionality, high quality, innovation, brand awareness and customer scalability.

Wireless Broadband gap a major concern

Alva H. Wright — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:25:42 +0000

Back in 2007, Nemertes Research predicted a “broadband access” gap that would begin affecting Internet connectivity by the year 2012. Specifically, we noted that although core routing, switching and transmission capacity in the Internet were growing exponentially, access capacity (including both wired and wireless) was growing merely linearly — meaning that the edges weren’t keeping up with the core. More importantly, Internet traffic was also growing exponentially — meaning that bottlenecks would soon begin to occur at the edges. Turns out our predictions were spot-on — just a little too conservative.

Amazon responds, reported to buy Touch Screen start-up

Alva H. Wright — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:53:32 +0000

In a sign that Amazon wants to upgrade its Kindle e-reader to compete head-on with the Apple iPad, Amazon has acquired Touchco, a start-up based in New York that specializes in touch-screen technology, a person briefed on the deal said. Amazon will merge Touchco’s technology and staff members into its Kindle hardware division, this person said. Touchco, which began as a project at the Media Research Lab at New York University, had roughly six employees and had not yet turned its technology into a commercial product. The terms of the deal were not known.

IBM answers call, tests Cloud Computing platform for US Air Force

Alva H. Wright — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:27:02 +0000

International Business Machines Corp is testing cloud computing for the U.S. Air Force, aiming to quell concerns that the technology poses security risks. IBM will create a cloud that holds and automates the agency’s network, Robert Ames, deputy chief technology officer of IBM’s federal division, said in an interview yesterday. The so-called cloud model lets clients store and access data on an external server to avoid the cost of maintaining their own. President Barack Obama’s latest budget, which includes $80 billion for federal technology spending, calls for use of cloud computing to help curb costs. IBM has 10 months to create and test the model, Ames said. He declined to disclose terms of the deal, saying there is no guarantee the Air Force will keep IBM’s cloud after testing.

NASA moves Simulation Platform to the Cloud

Alva H. Wright — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:18:18 +0000

NASA has awarded a two-year, $600,000 deal to Parabon Computation as part of the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Parabon is being tasked to deliver a platform that lets NASA scientists and engineers develop and run modeling and simulation applications as a service via a standard Web browser. The initial target application will be climate modeling, but since the solution is general-purpose, any application that can benefit from distributed computation, scientific or otherwise, is fair game.

Globalstar’s future lies in 2nd-Gen System

Alva H. Wright — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:43:48 +0000

Globalstar is preparing to take delivery of its first batch of second-generation satellites as it seeks to become the first satphone operator to reach the market with a global high-speed voice/data service. Company officials told a press gathering here Jan. 27 that the first batch of spacecraft in the 1.39 billion euro ($1.95 billion) system will be launched this summer and the first 24 spacecraft will be in place by the second half of 2011, along with a good deal of the planned ground system improvements. The spacecraft will replace the older units of the 48-unit constellation, which has been in operation for more than 11 years. Unlike the first-generation network, which deliver circuit-switched voice and data communications, the second-generation system will supply Internet-based voice, messaging, mobile video and other services requiring much higher data rates.

Obama voices support of FCC, Net Neutrality

Alva H. Wright — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:24:19 +0000

President Barack Obama reiterated his support for net neutrality this week during an interview on YouTube. “I’m a big believer in net neutrality,” he said, responding to a viewer’s question about the issue. “My FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski, has indicated that he shares the view that we’ve got to keep the Internet open, that we don’t want to create a bunch of gateways that prevent somebody who doesn’t have a lot of money, but has a good idea, from being able to start their next YouTube or their next Google on the Internet.” Obama’s remarks aren’t surprising, given that he has consistently touted the importance of improving broadband access and insuring neutrality. But whether the FCC will be able to enact neutrality regulations remains to be seen.

GE to double funding for Smart Grid projects

Alva H. Wright — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:20:34 +0000

General Electric Co is looking to acquire smart-grid products and will fund more research in that area as utilities seek to manage electricity more efficiently.
The acquisitions “could be small ones that give us critical technologies or more substantial ones that really give us a lot of presence,” Bob Gilligan, who leads GE Energy’s transmission and distribution unit, said in an interview Monday. “It’s a wide range.” Gilligan’s division, with more than $2 billion in annual sales, will more than double investments in research and development as utilities and consumers seek more control over electrical use, he said.

Leap Wireless looking for Buyer

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:36:00 +0000

Leap Wireless, the seventh largest mobile carrier in the US, is intending to sell the company or merge with its rivals. The cellular provider, which operates under the Cricket brand in the US, has appointed Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to advise on the sale. Leap has also formed a committee — including board members John Chapple, Ronald Kramer and William Roper — to assess strategic options. MetroPCS Communications, AT&T and Verizon Wireless are considered potential buyers for the company. América Móvil and Deutsche Telekom’s T-Mobile USA may also be interested.

Qualcomm, Sony still pushing Mobile TV

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:32:23 +0000

The concept of mobile TV has been positioned as The Next Big Thing in the telco space for some time, but it has yet to take off. However, Qualcomm and Sony are both positioning themselves to try to change that this year.

Inmarsat preps for major switch to Ka-band Satellites

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:25:54 +0000

London-based Inmarsat is apparently readying itself for what would be a major switch as Ka-band satellites with many times the throughput of today’s spacecraft prepare to enter the market. Industry officials said Inmarsat is unlikely to make a near-term commitment of the necessary resources — ultimately, $2 billion or so — to build a fleet of three or four satellites with a mixed Ka-band and L-band payload. Inmarsat is spending around $400 million on a large satellite called Alphasat 1-XL, to provide backup for the Inmarsat-4 fleet. Alphasat, which will also carry experimental telecommunications payloads for European governments that have helped finance the program, is scheduled for launch in 2012.

Rules of the 3G Auction Game

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:17:17 +0000

The auction itself is a series of “clock rounds”. In each round, the bidders can bid for as many circles as desired. The initial price will be the reserve price set by the government. At the end of each round the system will rank the top bidders and determine the reserve price for the next round depending on the “excess demand”. This ensures that prices keep going up as long as there is interest from bidders.

Smart Grid 100 most Influential People

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:11:30 +0000

We’ve compiled a list of 100 people who are influencing this market on a daily basis, be it through innovating, regulating, evangelizing, planning, deploying, benchmarking, architecting, standardizing, investing, developing, etc. Are these folks in your Rolodex? If not, they should be.

Demand for Satellite Transponders on the Rise

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:06:57 +0000

The world satellite transponders market stands enthused by the growing popularity of digital broadcast entertainment services, and digital video broadcast services. Backed by the growing popularity of ethnic programs, strong demand for satellite transponders in broadcasting applications is expected in the coming years. In addition to cable and TV broadcasting, consumer broadband internet services, wireless telephone, data services, and direct radio are also expected to help keep demand sufficiently kindled.

2010 Expected to be start of Telecom Revival

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:01:32 +0000

Juniper’s LTE report predicts that there will be multiple millions of LTE subscribers as early as 2011, and embedded LTE chipsets will become the second most popular means of access behind SIM cards by 2014. The excitement led by the myriad of Android devices and interest surge in augmented reality smartphones has created an emphatic shift of network investment toward mobile. The other market segment in the telecom arena that is touted to take off this year is SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) Trunking, an open industry multi-media signaling standard for voice over IP (VoIP) connects private branch exchange (PBX) to the Internet.

FCC concerned iPad will overload internet

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:51:32 +0000

Will Apple’s new iPad tablet create network mayhem? Two Federal Communications Commission officials have some concerns, and are likening the possible logjam to traffic issues that confronted AOL in the 1990s. The increased use of smartphones, 3G netbooks, and in the coming months, the iPad “demonstrate that wireless broadband will be a hugely important part of the broadband ecosystem as we move ahead,” they wrote. AOL solved its problem by upgrading modems and servers, and wireless providers can do the same, but only if they have adequate spectrum, Bellaria and Leibovitz wrote. The national broadband plan currently in the works at the FCC “will suggest ways of moving more spectrum into high value uses, such as broadband access, to help ensure that we don’t get stuck in 1997 dialup-style congestion,” they said.

AT&T’s Emerging Devices web site Designed to Connect with Manufacturers

Alva H. Wright — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:43:31 +0000

AT&T has reportedly launched an emerging devices web site designed to help manufacturers quickly establish a working relationship with the carrier and to navigate easily their device, network and go-to-market needs. According to AT&T officials the site will serve as an entry point into the emerging devices organization for consumer electronics and next generation device manufacturers interested in connecting devices to AT&T’s nationwide wireless network.

D. Telekom chooses Android OS for all in-car Apps

Alva H. Wright — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:13:35 +0000

Deutsche Telekom plans to put internet apps into all vehicles via an Android-based on-board computer. Working with tyre maker Continental, Deutsche Telekom plans to demonstrate a protoype of the apps-orientated system, AutoLinQ, at the upcoming Cebit show. Apps are installed either permanently or downloaded via a special browser. Drivers will be able to search for apps, download music, pick up news, read e-mail and answer it using voice recording technology, all without taking their hands off the wheel or eyes off the road, the firms promise.

China’s ZTE 2009 net up 43.56%

Alva H. Wright — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:06:14 +0000

China’s ZTE Corp reported annual financial results for the year 2009 posting net profit of RMB 2,374.09 — 2,589.91 million or $347 million at a rise of 43.56% on a yearly basis. The company attributed the strong growth in revenues to large scale deployments in home country, China. The financial estimates of the company are in contrast to those posed by its Western world counterparts including Ericsson, Motorola, Alcatel-Lucent and Nokia Siemens Networks which have reported slowed down growth.

Telit, T-Mobile sign MOU to develop M2M solutions

Alva H. Wright — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:02:28 +0000

Telit Communications PLC said it has entered a strategic collaboration agreement with German fixed telephony provider Deutsche Telekom AG and its mobile telephony unit T-Mobile GmbH which will see the three groups work together globally in the machine-to-machine (M2M) communication sector. The partners in the venture will be working closely together on sales and marketing in their target markets and plan to jointly develop innovative M2M products and services in the future.

Qualcomm’s new R&D Center in S. Korea will focus on Mobile Tech

Alva H. Wright — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:54:34 +0000

Qualcomm Inc. said Monday it will set up a technology research & development center in South Korea and will also invest around $4 million in a local digital audio chip maker. The U.S.-based chip company said the new research facility will focus on developing next generation mobile communication technology. The main focus of the center will be mobile multimedia, said Matt Grob, a senior vice president of engineering for Qualcomm.

Tesla Motors files IPO, puts Roadster on hold

Alva H. Wright — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:47:51 +0000

Tesla has officially filed for an initial public offering of up to $100 million after being in the business of manufacturing electric vehicles for just on six years. The California-based automaker is hoping to cash in on a resurgence in the popular of electric vehicles, and together with its Department of Energy funding is now well-poised to start building and selling its second model, the Model S sedan. As part of its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Tesla has also revealed that it will end production of its first model, the all-electric Roadster, in 2011. The second-generation Roadster is expected in 2013–after sales of the Model S sedan have commenced.

SCPPA undertakes Nation’s first Utility-Scale distributed Energy Storage project

Alva H. Wright — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:39:34 +0000

The Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) and Ice Energy, a leading provider of advanced energy storage solutions, announced an agreement to undertake the nation’s first cost-effective, utility-scale, distributed energy storage project. The 53 Megawatt (MW) project, to be implemented by SCPPA member utilities throughout Southern California, will permanently reduce California’s peak electrical demand by shifting as much as 64 Gigawatt hours of on-peak electrical consumption to off-peak periods every year, reducing exposure to costly peak power and improving the reliability of the electrical grid.

Spyker Cars agrees to buy GM’s Saab division

Alva H. Wright — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:21:31 +0000

General Motors and Spyker Cars NV today confirmed that they have reached a binding agreement on the purchase of Saab Automobile AB. As part of the agreement, Spyker intends to form a new company, Saab Spyker Automobiles, which will carry the Saab brand forward. The sale will be subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory, governmental and court approvals. Assuming quick action, the transaction is expected to close in mid-February.

U.S., China top countries in Smart Grid spending

Alva H. Wright — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:15:24 +0000

The U.S. is expected to put more stimulus money into the smart grid than any other nation, except for China, which is slated to spend about $7.3 billion in 2010. The U.S., meanwhile, is projected to spend nearly $7.1 billion, according to the new “Smart Grid Snapshot” from ZPryme. Investments by the two dwarf other global efforts.

GE showcases eHealth technologies

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:07:01 +0000

GE Healthcare, the healthcare business of General Electric Company (GE), is showcasing its global vision of eHealth that encompasses solutions and services enabling the exchange, sharing, workflow and distribution of images and clinical information across multiple hospitals, regions or nations, at Arab Health 2010. The goal is to connect patients, physicians, care providers, payers, GP offices, pharmacies, laboratories and others.

Resurgent chip market bodes well for Intel, AMD

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:59:34 +0000

The microprocessor market is rounding back into form, according to analysts with IDC and Mercury Research. Shipments in the fourth quarter in 2009 showed seasonal increases over the previous quarter, and significant growth over the fourth quarter in 2008. In addition, shipments of server processors also grew in the fourth quarter, an indication that businesses may be starting to buy systems again.

Wash DC joins CA, MI as initial markets to release Volt

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:44:08 +0000

Greater Washington DC will be an initial launch market for the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range. The nation’s capital and its suburbs join California and Michigan as the initial retail markets where Chevrolet will sell the Volt to consumers. Chevrolet also announced a development and demonstration program with DC-area utilities Pepco and Dominion to introduce customers to electric vehicles and establish vehicle charging programs.

YouTube quietly tests Pay-per-View market

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:26:26 +0000

YouTube has perhaps taken a page from online movie powerhouses like Netflix with its plan to stream professionally made films to online viewers for small fees. However, the scope of YouTube’s latest move is much more limited in terms of catalog size — it’s only going to play a handful of independent features from the Sundance Film Festival.

China announces Telematics Platform

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:21:04 +0000

The transportation ministry and Taiwan’s biggest telecom carrier have co-developed a telematics platform that will be able to provide real-time information for motorists, a local paper reported. The platform developed by the ministry’s Institute of Transportation and Chunghwa Telecom will tell motorists the locations of parking spaces, traffic conditions and other information within a two-kilometer radius, the United Evening News said. The information will be sent to motorists’ cell phones, notebook computers and any other mobile and on-board devices via the service platform, which integrates 3G, 3.5G and WiMax connectivity.

Nexus 1 offering thru WalMart hints of Autonomy

Alva H. Wright — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:17:09 +0000

If a WalMart Wireless listing is accurate the entry shows the Nexus 1 supporting the 850MHz 3G needed for AT&T’s network as well as carrying CDMA and EVDO for the Verizon edition. When it introduced the smartphone this month, Google said that a follow-up to the current T-Mobile version would be a “world” phone with both CDMA and GSM support, suggesting that Walmart may be referencing a real future model. Most of these dual-mode phones have normally omitted US 3G to keep customers locked to Sprint or Verizon, but Google’s strategy of selling outside of the normal carrier sphere may keep AT&T 3G onboard and let users simply choose the carrier when they buy the phone.

T-Mobile to go IPO?

Alva H. Wright — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:18:57 +0000

It’s no big secret that Deutsche Telekom hasn’t been very pleased with the performance of its American wireless arm, T-Mobile USA. In September, we reported that the German telecom giant was considering a merger with Sprint — shortly after T-Mobile UK merged with Orange to create the largest wireless company in the UK. Now The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Deutsche Telekom is considering an initial public offering for T-Mobile USA — a move that’s meant to help save the struggling fourth-ranked carrier.

Sierra Wireless chooses IBM to host M2M Services platform

Alva H. Wright — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:41:35 +0000

Sierra Wireless has signed a services contract with IBM to host a new services platform dedicated to its software as a service Machine-to-Machine offering. Under the terms of the agreement, IBM will provide data center collocation facilities and services to Sierra Wireless. In 2008, Sierra Wireless deployed its first platform in France to service the European market. Now it is expanding to support its growth in North America.

Inmarsat preps for future, intends to file Deregistration forms with SEC

Alva H. Wright — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:45:19 +0000

Inmarsat plc announced that certain of its subsidiaries intend to file voluntary deregistration forms with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the termination of their respective reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Company decided to deregister the Inmarsat Registrants under the Exchange Act following the redemption and cancellation of certain debt instruments.