LAS VEGAS-Telemetry applications made a strong showing at last week’s Wireless Apps ’96 show hosted by the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association.
Skywire Corp. announced a trial to monitor several hundred soda vending machines throughout Southern Nevada for J.W. Costello Beverage Co. in partnership with cellular carrier 3607 Communications Co.
Vendview services include monitoring inventory levels, cash box amounts and maintenance alarms as well as two-way messaging to permit distributors to periodically change prices or display promotions.
The application will use the carrier’s circuit-switched network, not its Cellular Digital Packet Data network, according to Skywire President Bryan Eagle III.
“With our remote vending device we can be on and off the network in 30 seconds,” he noted.
BellSouth Wireless Inc. announced a new application for its Cellemetry technology developed by Coral Gables, Fla.-based Equitrac Corp.
The TelemeTrac application monitors leased copying machines to collect meter counts. Expediting the meter reporting and billing cycle improves cash flow for the copier firm, said Equitrac Chairman John Kane, making it easier to justify implementation.
Trials begin this month in Portland, Ore., with U S West NewVector Group Inc.’s network, branded now as AirTouch Cellular.
Cellemetry sends short data messages over the cellular network’s control channel. “The cost to get into the market is less with Cellemetry than with Cellular Digital Packet Data,” an AirTouch executive said.
GTE will market PageNet service
DALLAS- GTE Public Communications plans to market Paging Network Inc.’s VoiceNow narrowband voice paging service in a number of states, said the companies.
The Irving, Texas-based division of GTE, a unit of GTE Telephone Operations, will market the product using the VoiceNow name. PageNet said it will handle billing and provide support services, lease pagers and fulfill orders.
VoiceNow works like a miniature, portable answering machine.
GTE plans to market VoiceNow through direct sales and in its Phone Mart retail stores where it sells PageNet’s numeric and alphanumeric pagers and service, said Briana Gowing, a GTE spokeswoman. There are about 120 Phone Mart stores located in 28 states.
VoiceNow, which uses Motorola Inc.’s InFLEXion protocol designed for narrowband personal communications services, is being tested in two markets and PageNet plans to introduce service early next year.
Sierra Wireless, Compaq team up for wireless data
LAS VEGAS-Sierra Wireless Inc. is teaming up with Compaq Computer Corp. to develop a new generation wireless data modem for the notebook computer market called AirCard.
The two-card architecture combines a cellular transmitter-receiver with a full function modem on a Type II PC Card so users don’t have to use a cellular phone in a “soap-on-a-rope” configuration.
The device supports Cellular Digital Packet Data transmission as well as several landline protocols. A voice option using AirCard and a headset initially will be available on the Compaq LTE 5000 series.
AirCard is compatible with RF-ready notebooks through an in-house certification program, Sierra said. An external battery is not required.
Pricing and availability were not announced.
Nokia to supply handsets to AT&T
IRVING, Texas-Nokia Corp. announced it will supply Time Division Multiple Access dual-band, dual-mode handsets to AT&T Wireless Services Inc., in a three-year agreement valued at more than $240 million.
The phones operate in the 800 MHz or 1.9 GHz range and will have a default capability to switch to analog networks when not operating in an AT&T Wireless digital market.
AT&T said it plans to begin deploying its new personal communications services systems operating in the 1.9 GHz band next year. Finland-based Nokia currently is supplying AT&T with dual-mode Interim Standard-136 TDMA phones operating in the 800 MHz range.
Omnipoint to buy Coherent product
LEESBURG, Va.-Omnipoint Communications Inc. awarded a contract to Coherent Communications Systems Corp. to supply echo cancellation and associated voice enhancement for Omnipoint’s personal communications services network.
Omnipoint chose Coherent after extensive real-world testing for the platform, that included a variety of call scenarios. Kirk Kern, director of Coherent’s North American wireless sales, said Omnipoint wanted to ensure the echo cancellation would be transparent to customers, and the equipment could be applied to its future network expansion.
Omnipoint plans to launch service in New York during the fourth quarter.
