A new company has been formed to specialize in applying Code Division Multiple Access digital technology to product innovations. Digital Line Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., will focus on developing wireless equipment and accessories for manufacturers and wireless carriers, the company said. Digital Line said it will focus on the carrier and original equipment manufacturer markets. Mike Kwon, Mike Murrell and Joseph Schmelzer, all former employees of Mobilex, started the company.
Gemplus Corp. and IDMATICS, a subsidiary of Thomson-CSF, have formed a partnership to develop a contactless, chip-based identity card. According to terms of the agreement, IDMATICS will integrate Gemplus’ contactless smart card technology into its high-security document management and production systems. The integration of contactless technology into IDMATICS’ systems will make it easier to replace simple identity documents with highly secure complete portable records, which could include such official documents as health care cards, passports, or driver’s licenses.
Metawave Communications Corp.’s Network Services Group agreed to provide installation services for Advanced Radio Telecom Corp. and Arizona Cellular Communications’ wireless networks. The agreement with Advanced Radio Telecom calls for Metawave to install digital microwave equipment for the carrier’s 38 GHz wireless broadband network. Initial installations will begin in Portland, Ore., and Salinas, Calif. According to the agreement with Arizona Cellular, Metawave will install microwave interconnections at several cell sites in the Kingman, Laughlin, Lake Mead and Lake Havasu areas of northern Arizona.
Microwave Power Devices Inc. won a contract to supply highly linear, single channel, cellular Code Division Multiple Access amplifiers to Qualcomm Inc. Microwave Power values the contract at $900,000. The amplifiers will be used in Qualcomm’s prototype testing of CDMA cellular communications systems base stations, which could be used in the future to upgrade cellular infrastructure from analog to digital technology, while also supporting wireless local loop applications. Shipments are expected to be completed during the fourth quarter.
Sky Station International Inc., which develops stratospheric relays for wireless broadband telecommunications services, hired Credit Suisse First Boston as a financial adviser for its upcoming private placement. Sky Station said stratospheric platforms are lighter-than-air vehicles placed at fixed positions about 21 kilometers above the earth’s surface. The stations can provide telecommunications services to large urban areas. “We selected Credit Suisse First Boston because of their great track record in broadband telecommunications financing,” said Alexander Haig, president and chief operating officer of Sky Station.
