NCR
NCR Corp. introduced a software product that allows carriers to perform event-driven marketing by analyzing customer behavior and predicting a customer’s readiness to respond to particular marketing efforts. Called MarketingAgent, the software is part of NCR’s Customer Relationship Management Solutions 4.0 portfolio. “Businesses that can `see’ the customer event and then quickly act on it are able to enjoy a substantially greater success rate in their marketing strategies,” said Yancy Oshita, director of marketing for NCR’s Communications Industry CRM solutions. “This allows savvy communications companies to quickly respond with a variety of customized actions that can run the gamut from sales offers of new services to proactive service calls that prevent a particular problem from leading to a high-value customer defection.” Functionality that is built into the MarketingAgent software includes definition of business rules, a repository that captures corporate knowledge and manages the execution of business rules and an end-user workbench that is used to interact with the warehouse to define and manage the business rules. MarketingAgent will be available in August, with pricing for the entry-level configuration beginning at $200,000. www.ncr.com
Ericsson
Ericsson Microelectronics announced its Bluetooth Development Kit is available. The kit was designed by Ericsson in cooperation with Symbionics and includes equipment that provides a design environment for engineers to integrate Bluetooth technology into a variety of information appliances. The kit, which is priced at $15,500, contains two development boards each with a complete functional Bluetooth radio for application software testing and proof-of-concept demonstrations, said the company. In addition to the development kit, Ericsson plans to offer two Bluetooth components-a pre-certified Complete Bluetooth Module and a Bluetooth Radio transceiver. (877) 374-2642 or www.ericsson.com/microe
RangeStar
RangeStar International announced a cellular/personal communications services embedded antenna for wireless handsets that can also operate on the 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical band used by Bluetooth applications. The antenna measures 38.1 mm by 17 mm by 1.6 mm and weighs about 1 gram. David McCartney, vice president of sales and marketing at RangeStar, said phones that eliminate traditional antennas in favor of embedded antennas like RangeStar’s could begin hitting the market by the end of this year. The dual-band antenna features a gain of 0-1 dBi on the cellular/PCS band, and 0 dBi on the 2.4 GHz band. It is the latest antenna from RangeStar’s Performa series of small-sized embedded antenna components for original equipment manufacturers. Bluetooth technology will enable users to connect their mobile computers, digital cellular phones, handheld devices and other mobile devices via short-range radio links unimpeded by line-of-sight obstacles, said RangeStar. 888-647-7100 or www.rangestar.com
Wavetek
Wavetek Wandel Goltermann introduced its OPTIMLine of test solutions designed to help carriers optimize Code Division Multiple Access networks for quality of service by reducing dropped call rates, improving call completion and soft handoffs and increasing capacity.
The OPTIMRight 8130 is a drive-test system used to diagnose CDMA networks by capturing handoff status information, monitoring RF power control and verifying coverage. The product logs network system parameters into its internal memory and performs engineering and optimization analysis. A three-port OPTIMRight connected with three mobile phones allows engineers to analyze the status of three service providers simultaneously or monitor their own network.
The OPTIMWin 8120 is a Windows-based software package that measures system messages and overall quality of CDMA networks to help optimization engineers and maintenance technicians keep track of base station performance, said the company. OPTIMWin measures RF energy, multipath, transmit/receive power, vocoder rate, frame error rate and other system parameters and logs the information using an integrated global positioning system mapping system. www.wwgsolutions.com
Marconi
Marconi Communications introduced several new products at Supercomm ’99 and announced it signed an agreement with BellSouth Corp. to install a broadband fiber-to-the-curb initiative based on Marconi’s DISCS flexible access platform. Marconi recently acquired Reltec Corp., giving it access to the North American market. Among the products Marconi introduced is the SmartPhotonix family of Dense Wave Division Multiplexing products. The products offer optical transmission for both long-haul and metropolitan area networks, said Marconi.
The company also introduced several new advanced copper solutions for the DISCS flexible platform, which will enable efficient copper or fiber-optic delivery of narrowband, wideband and broadband applications in the local access loop. The offerings include Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line, Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Line and the DISCS Copper Star electrical network unit for pair-gain relief in saturated copper networks. www.marconicomms.com
NEC America
NEC America Inc. displayed its NLITE digital microwave radio last week at SuperComm ’99, which addresses the high-end of the microwave spectrum for NEC. The NLITE series is being private-labeled for NEC by P-Com Inc. and is available in the 18 GHz, 23 GHz and 38 GHz bandwidths. NEC said the NLITE is ideal for networks operated by personal communications services and cellular service providers, utilities, common carriers, local governments and private users.
NEC also announced its new 3000 series of microwave radios, which are the next generation of the company’s current 2000 series long-haul, high-capacity radios. The 3000 series is smaller than the 2000 series and is available in the 4 GHz through 13 GHz bands with the ability to carry one OC3 per RF channel. www.nec.com/necwave
Metawave
Metawave Communications Corp. announced the latest addition to its Code Division Multiple Access smart antenna family, a version of the capacity-expanding SpotLight 2000 system for the Nortel Networks CDMA Metro Cell. SpotLight 2000 offers a highly targeted approach to adding CDMA capacity that boosts network efficiency, allowing operators to increase minutes of use per CDMA carrier frequency by 30 percent or more, said Metawave. By delivering network-wide capacity benefits, the system increases the return from an operator CDMA capital investment and reduces the cost of growing and operating a CDMA network. www.metawave.com
Harris
Harris Corp. unveiled at Supercomm last week its new MicroStar outdoor point-to-point digital millimeter wave radio, which the company is marketing as a low-cost transport solution in urban or suburban environments. Harris designed the radios to serve as intersite links for personal communications services and cellular operators, as well as for service providers needing to extend local access beyond the limits of their wireless networks, said Harris. The outdoor radio combines conventional indoor/outdoor radio architectures into a small, cost-effective and lightweight unit that can withstand harsh environmental conditions, according to the company. The radio has a small footprint and an integrated, low-profile antenna, which permits installation in small outdoor spaces. To facilitate quick commissioning, the MicroStar also offers a user-friendly keypad and display unit to guide the installer through menus to configure, monitor and control the radio, said Harris. (407) 727-9100.
Tellabs
Tellabs introduced the AN2100 Gateway Exchange switching system, which will enable service providers to consolidate circuit-switched and variable bit rate data services over a single, broadband network. The AN2100 GX system routes circuit-switched, time division multiplexed traffic over asynchronous transfer mode and Internet protocol networks under
signaling system seven control. It supports intelligent network services such as local number portability, 800-number services and prepaid services. The AN2100 GX system also enables carriers to reduce operating costs by removing multiple overlay networks. It will be available in the fourth quarter, said Tellabs. (630) 378-8800.
