FRIDAY - OCTOBER 1, 2004 - ISSUE NO. 132 | ||
Dear friends of Wireless Messaging and Paging, I received an excellent whitepaper about how to solve many of the problems associated with people responding to public-safety emergencies. When police, fire, and EMS personnel have to respond to a major event, there is often a lot of confusion when their radio communications systems are all on different frequencies and they can't communicate with each other. Sometimes this happens in relatively minor situations too—but faced with the unpleasant reality world-wide terrorism, this is a timely piece and a much-needed solution.
In this issue, Ron Mercer responds to the issues raised about encrypting sensitive one-way paging messages. Thank you to all who have participated in this very interesting and important topic. The views expressed, both for and against, and as to the best way to do it as well, have all been valuable contributions. The discussion continues. More MAJOR news this week about how wireless text messaging is catching on in the cell phone industry. Be sure to read the news about "smart dust" in the Wireless Data section at the end of the newsletter. Also, the Paging Technical Committee is asking for help from carriers in creating a National Directory Of Paging Carriers. A description of their project and a link to their questionnaire follows. They would really appreciate the help of all paging carriers. Oh yes, there is a very good news article about SkyTel's diverse offerings under the able leadership of Bruce Deer. It is refreshing to see this kind of positive and aggressive marketing of wireless messaging devices. Now on to the Wireless Messaging news and views. | Promoting Wireless Messaging, Telemetry, and Paging.
A new issue of The Wireless Messaging Newsletter gets posted on the web each week. A notification goes out by e-mail to subscribers on most Fridays around noon Eastern US time. The notification message has a link to the actual newsletter on the Internet. That way it doesn't fill up your incoming e-mail account. There is no charge for subscription and there are no membership restrictions. Readers are a very select group of wireless industry professionals, and include the senior managers of many of the world's major paging and wireless data companies. There is an even mix of operations managers, marketing people, and engineers, so I try to include items of interest to all three groups. It's all about staying up-to-date with business trends and technology. I regularly get reader's comments, so this newsletter has become a community forum for the paging, and wireless data communities. You are welcome to contribute your ideas and opinions. Unless otherwise requested, all correspondence addressed to me is subject to publication in the newsletter and on my website. NOTE: This newsletter is best viewed at screen resolutions of 800x600 (good) or 1024x768 (better). Any current revision of web browser should work fine. Please notify me of any problems with viewing. This site is compliant with XHTML 1.0 transitional coding for easy access from wireless devices. (XML 1.0/ISO 8859-1.) Your help is needed. Help keep the newsletter going. Click on the PayPal button. Don't forget about the AAPC 2004 Fall Conference, "Answering the Challenges of Today & Tomorrow" to be held November 3-5 at the beautiful Pointe South Mountain Resort in Phoenix, Arizona.
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WIRELESS NEWS | ||||||||||
Cingular Wireless selling interactive unit 12:49 PM EDT Monday Cingular Wireless will sell its Cingular Interactive LP subsidiary to affiliates of Cerberus Capital Management LP for undisclosed terms, the company announced Monday. Woodbridge, N.J.-based Cingular Interactive provides wireless corporate e-mail and messaging using Mobitex packet data technology. Its Mobitex network covers 93 percent of the U.S. business population in 492 metropolitan areas and 130 airports, and has been in commercial operation for more than 10 years. The Cingular Interactive network also supports approximately 25 percent of all Blackberry users worldwide. The acquisition of Cingular Interactive will include the Mobitex network, customer service operations and information technology systems as well as a majority of Cingular Interactive's current customer base. Atlanta-based Cingular Wireless will retain all direct e-mail customers, as well as several other major accounts. Cingular Wireless will continue to purchase data services from Cingular Interactive for its Mobitex-based corporate e-mail, IMPlus and certain other data customers. Cingular Wireless is a joint venture between SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp. Source: Dayton Business Journal Pager provider looks for new niche September 26, 2004
Source: The Clarion-Ledger AT&T's text-only device debuts $18-a-month message service targets youths September 27, 2004 Aiming to please "texting-crazed" young Americans, AT&T Wireless Services Inc. is today launching a hand-held device called Ogo that lets people send unlimited text messages, instant messages, and e-mails for $18 a month. What's notable is one thing the cellphone giant's new unit does not do: make phone calls. AT&T Wireless offers dozens of phones that can also be used for e-mail and instant messaging, but Ogo, which costs $100 after a promotional rebate, will be the sole text-only device the company is actively marketing. AT&T Wireless also sells five models of the BlackBerry messaging unit, but all have built-in phones. The Ogo weighs five ounces and is roughly 4 inches wide, 3 inches tall, and 1 inch thick, with a 26-letter keyboard designed for thumbs. It will enable subscribers to use instant messaging and Web-based e-mail services from America Online, MSN, and Yahoo. The $18 monthly fee covers one of those three, plus the same 160-character-per-message text-messaging service provided by AT&T Wireless for cellphones. Subscribers can add a second and third e-mail and IM provider for $3 per month each. AT&T Wireless is weeks away from closing its $41 billion sale to Cingular Wireless LLC, but executives said they saw no reason to delay getting the Ogo onto the market. Andre Dahan, president of AT&T Wireless's mobile multimedia services unit, said the Redmond, Wash., carrier wanted to create "an entirely new category" of consumer communications device. "Unlike many of today's disappointing multipurpose wireless devices, we created Ogo to do one thing, mobile messaging, extraordinarily well," Dahan said. "Ogo doesn't pretend to be all things to all people and is not bogged down by hardly-used features or an out-of-reach price tag." Spokesman Martin A. Nee said AT&T thinks a key market could be parents with teens and preteens who want their kids to have a price-capped way to communicate, but no risk they will run up huge phone bills. AT&T Wireless engineers designed the overall concept for the unit, which can consolidate e-mail and text messages from several accounts, and then had IXI Mobile Inc. of Redwood City, Calif., work with Asian manufacturers to produce the unit. The few close competitors for the Ogo are two-way text pagers sold by Arch Wireless Operating Company Inc. of Westborough, the biggest US provider of conventional beepers and pagers. Arch sells a $100 Webster 100 with service plans ranging from $10 to $40 a month, based on how many messages are sent. Arch reported fewer than 270,000 two-way messaging units in service as of the end of June, and it has been losing roughly 3,000 two-way-pager customers a month over the past year. After focusing on exiting bankruptcy and paying off debt, Arch has in recent months been consumed with executing a merger with Metrocall Holdings Inc. and has not aggressively marketed its mobile messaging services. Mark Lowenstein, managing director of Mobile Ecosystem, a Wellesley consulting firm, said the Ogo device may prove popular for "a youth market that covets text messaging and IM. A BlackBerry is too expensive for them." Lowenstein said T-Mobile USA "has had moderate but not significant success with the Sidekick," the so-called hip-top computer made by Danger Inc. that T-Mobile sells for $250. The Sidekick has a built-in phone, and T-Mobile charges either $60 a month for unlimited messaging and 600 minutes of phone calls or $30 a month for unlimited messaging and 20 cents a minute for phone calls. Lowenstein said he does not expect Ogo to be a huge seller for AT&T Wireless, which has 21.7 million subscribers, but "If 5 percent of the market bought a device like this, that would be a big success for AT&T," he said. Source: The Boston Globe AT&T releases the Ogo, a dedicated messaging device
After developing the idea for Ogo internally at AT&T Wireless, the company selected IXI Mobile Inc., to manage overall development and delivery of Ogo's software and hardware based on their PMG (Personal Mobile Gateway) technology. Source: Geek Zone America Online Launches Mobile Developer Program to Deliver the AOL Instant Messenger Service to Mobile Users Everywhere DULLES, Va.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Sept. 27, 2004— LG Electronics, Motorola, Samsung Telecommunications America and Siemens Join AOL Mobile Developer Program to Provide Customers with the Nation's Most Popular Instant Messaging Service America Online, Inc., the world's leading interactive services company, today announced that it has launched an industry-wide mobile developer program that will make it easy to develop, test and distribute licensed AOL(R) Instant Messenger™ (AIM®) clients for mobile devices. LG Electronics, Motorola, Samsung Telecommunications America and Siemens have signed on, and OZ, the leading developer of standards-based mobile instant messaging solutions, has also joined the program. The AOL Mobile Developer Program leverages the open standards of the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) to produce a better instant messaging experience for mobile users everywhere, regardless of device, service provider, network or geography. Joined by four leading mobile device manufacturers as well as OZ, the AOL Mobile Developer Program marks the industry's first major commercial deployment of OMA's Wireless Village-based Instant Messaging Presence Service (IMPS) standard. "Working closely with the industry's leading manufacturers, we are able to bring the familiar AOL and AIM Buddy List® feature to today's mobile users, helping them to stay in touch with friends, family and associates everywhere they go," said Doug Gardner, executive director, AOL Mobile, America Online, Inc. "We are pleased to be working with some of the industry's most innovative companies as we strive to deliver the very best instant messaging experience through this industry-wide, collaborative effort." Benefits of the new program include:
By joining the AOL Mobile Developer Program, the leading manufacturers and OZ are ensuring an easy to use and a seamless wireless experience for AOL's community of instant messaging users. These companies were among the first to provide AOL® members and AIM® users with an AIM branded instant messaging experience on a variety of mobile devices. More than 18 million mobile instant messages are sent by AOL members and AIM users on a daily basis, and the number of messages sent and received by users on the OMA IMPS-based AIM clients is on the rise. According to a recent study,(1) 20% of all IM users engage in mobile instant or SMS text messaging at least once a week, and 34% for those aged 13-21 (2) do so. Nearly one in three IM users (31%) say they send mobile instant messages to keep in touch with the office and make business decisions while on travel for work. Nearly three in four (72%) say they send mobile instant messages when they don't have time for a phone conversation, and more than half (52%) say they use mobile instant messaging to keep from disturbing others on public transportation and at sporting events. More than nine million mobile devices already feature an AIM client, and industry leaders, Nokia and Sony Ericsson have already delivered mobile AIM clients on their popular cellular phones. OMA IMPS-based AIM clients are available on Nokia models 3200, 3100, 1100, 3300, 3595, 6010, 6800, 6820; and Sony Ericsson models T637 and T237. Under the new AOL Mobile Developer Program, AOL has approved development of the following OMA-based AIM Clients:
About AOL(R) Mobile About America Online, Inc. AOL Mobile services require a text or Web-enabled device and wireless service plan. Additional charges from your wireless service provider may apply for use of AOL Mobile services.
Source: BusinessWire | ||||||||||
RON MERCER'S RESPONSE TO COMMENTS ON ENCRYPTION | ||||||||||
REPLIES TO COMMENTS ON CAUTION, DANGEROUS CURVE AHEAD Both the quantity and quality of comments received following the original publication of the essay entitled “Caution, Dangerous Curve Ahead” are very encouraging. Thanks to all who contributed comments. Initially, I had planned to reply to each of the received comments individually, but the quantity of commentators, as well as the fact that several expressed similar points of view, motivates me instead to reply more universally as follows: Regarding the need for encryption in 1-Way paging systems:
While it is true that this newsletter has a Carrier rather than an industry-wide orientation, the essay was focused on the total paging industry and particularly on the budding opportunity for paging within the emerging Homeland Security/First Responder communities about which several factors are noteworthy:
Although the Homeland Security application may not appear to present an immediate opportunity for Carriers (Homeland Security may even be prevented by statute from using public systems), it does present an opportunity for the industry at large. Also, some Carriers, because they have the technical knowledge and facilities, may decide to branch out to build and maintain private systems. Moreover, Homeland Security appears to be well financed and capable of funding any engineering which encryption might dictate. Any techniques developed for this specialized market would accrue to the benefit of carriers long-term. Regarding the Magnitude of the Risk I may have been guilty of overestimation and I do not have any empirical data on the subject, but consider the following:
Regarding additional suggestions for 1-Way pager encryption Even if each of us as individuals do not plan to implement 1-Way encryption, our industry must have a viable solution (or several solutions from which users may chose) or risk losing still more market share to other technologies that do. And, most importantly, we must provide guidance to the manufacturers. Absent input from input based on the experience of our group, we could end up with a very inappropriate solution. In developing a solution the following questions should be considered:
For all the reasons mentioned above, discussion of viable 1-Way encryption techniques is believed to be worthwhile and I sincerely thank all who have contributed thus far. I also encourage further discussion. Respectfully, | ||||||||||
READER'S COMMENTS | ||||||||||
ENCRYPTION ON ONE-WAY PAGING SYSTEMS September 27, 2004 Requiring encryption on a one way paging systems in this day and time would only add unnecessary cost to providing paging services to the customer. Encryption is only as secure as the code keys used to encrypt and decrypt the messages. The largest number of one way paging messages are notifications only and do not need to be encrypted. The terminal and distribution equipment used for today’s systems are not well suited for encryption. The one way paging business is in the flux of change and most carriers are operating at a loss or at best “At a break even.” I have to ask, “Is this level of service really necessary?” To add the cost of providing an encrypted beep will only cause further deterioration in the customer base with little or no real benefit. It will make the service slow and cumbersome. To provide an encrypted beep would require some type of encryption at the terminal plus each pager would have to be changed to be able to decrypt a message. Every thing would have to be custom built and that will take big bucks. I doubt that manufacturers will invest the money required for R & D to develop a line of Encrypted Pagers. Encryption requires certain equipment to produce this service. A computer is required to scramble the message at the head end and decoders in each of the pagers to decode the message. The encrypts and decrypts will require the same key to be used and used over an entire paging system. Any one that wants to intercept the message only needs to capture the key and they have everything on the system. Changing the key would be almost impossible to do. Over the air would also change the monitoring unit, therefore a hands on for each and every unit would be necessary. Today you can’t go to Radio Shack and buy the equipment that you would need to intercept messages from today’s existing paging systems, IT IS NOT READLY AVAILABLE. And though the equipment needed to intercept an encrypted page will not be readily available it will be available. So what is the use? Since 99 % of all one way paging messages are of the notification type, (call home, Sally Jones called from XXX-XXX-XXXX, call the ER desk for patient status, trauma team report to ER 1 STAT.) These messages contain no critical information that needs to be encrypted. Just to intercept these messages one would have to know (a) the transmitter frequency, (b) the coding type of the message, (c) the capcode of the message, (d) the baud rate of the paging unit and (e) when the message might come across. This would involve a receiver of proper type, a computer with the proper software, and an enormous amount of time to sift thru the messages to find the one you want. If one should just duplicate a pager the why would they not just duplicate the decryption also. Most all paging terminals used for today’s one way paging systems were designed in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Their primary concern was reliability, thru put, interconnect ability and serving all formats of the different pagers. These designers did a good job because the terminals are still running and providing paging services to millions of pagers each day. The process of adding an encryption encoder would require placing a computer or an encoder into the data stream that was not designed for the additional data. Since the demand for paging is not on the rise then these additions will be custom installations the cost will be driven into the stratosphere. Some day there may be the need for paging systems that will require encrypted messaging. The agencies that will require this level of service will have to be willing to pay the price. In my opinion the vast majority of the paging customers want a reliable messaging system that is reasonable priced. Encryption will be about as effective as placing a lock on each telephone drop box and saying “You can’t be monitored.” —Richard T. Jones Brad, I really like your methods. I suspect that encrypted wireless messaging will become and remain a very tiny niche market, unless some large service provider packages it as standard (at no additional charge), at which time the others will jump on. This might well happen if there is a profound wave of cracking—but I don't see it on the radar screen at the moment. Part of my reason for this statement is the current (almost completely absent) state of encrypted email, and the corresponding lack of a significant business model for email encryption systems. —Jonathan E. Brickman A few comments about encryption. Having been involved in CALEA compliance from the terminal side . . . it does not matter what encryption method is used on one or two-way messaging . . . the Feds or any other court order monitoring will have access to the unencrypted message at the encoding terminal. . . As Barry Kanne mentions . . . let the customer provide his own encrypted message and pass thru the network as just another text message. . . Vaughan Bowden's comments about letting end user load their own keys via PC and programming cables is right on target. . . Paging networks then become just another data stream path to such devices. Third party vendors could provide all the hardware/software solutions and keep the network provider away from CALEA compliance all together . . . while offering those who do want to pay for extra privacy the option. —John Deaton Hi Brad- Thanks for sending me the newsletter. I am retired now but I still find the issues interesting. My view on encryption is that the people who are willing to pay for it want higher level of encryption than you can provide economically. The rest would like it if it is free. I think for 99% of users FLEX or POCSAG is sufficient encryption. I think one-way needs to be the low-cost provider and provides the user with the benefit of one-way that there is no acknowledgement and no location information. People who want to encrypt the message can do so using whatever level of security they wish. The other advantage is the message is hidden among millions of others. We used to get requests from the police for duplicate pagers to track the contacts of drug dealers etc. but simple substitution codes would make the phone numbers difficult to identify. In two-way where corporate e-mail is transmitted I can see more of a need but if the e-mails I have received over the years are any indication, only the sixth sigma level needs to be encrypted. Best Regards, Brad: I'm not competent to offer much input on the demand for or requirements of Homeland Security applications when it comes to wireless security. But I do respectfully encourage the paging industry to set aside technical and financial concerns about encryption just long enough to understand the motivations for healthcare customers and their telephone answering services and triage services to use secure means to communicate Protected Health Information (PHI) under HIPAA. [Brian's series of articles on this topic last year: article 1, article 2, article 3, and article 4.] No one wants to have to do this, in fact we think the government regulations on data security are overkill for the minor amounts of PHI TASs transmit wirelessly. But many healthcare providers and certain of their contractors MUST use secure means to transmit PHI wirelessly beginning April 21, 2005 and all will be covered by April 2006. It is the law. And with much due respect for those who point out interception is unlawful, may be technically difficult, and seems unlikely - those points are not contemplated in HIPAA. Covered Entities and their Business Associates must find and use "secure means" to transmit PHI. There are even more factors that will push healthcare providers to comply with the HIPAA Security Rule and Privacy Rule, and I hope we will address these and understand them better in Phoenix. The fact is there will be competition for healthcare providers' secure wireless text messaging spending. The only question is how much competition, and what parts of the paging industry will choose to compete for healthcare dollars. Once the motivation for using secure paging is well understood, then the demand level and potential revenues should be established through aggressive communication with the healthcare community. The first step to understanding how the market is changing is through market research. Financial and technical concerns should THEN be applied to bring a robust variety of competitive options to market for the customers who want them and will pay for them. On the technical front I urge the paging industry to attend one point particularly well: As the healthcare, TAS and triage services industries are being compelled to use encryption reluctantly, the best and most attractive wireless security solutions will promote ease of use, user friendliness, and simplicity as their competitive edge. Keep it simple! Complex key schemes will appeal to those who demand high security on an end-to-end basis. But for most healthcare applications transmitting tiny snippets of PHI, the most popular options will be user-transparent network encryption and will not require changes in the mode of "first-hop" transmission (TAP dialup, WCTP, etc.). Simplicity is also critical when one understands the average healthcare pager user receives both messages that need to be secured, and those that do not. They regularly receive text messages from up to a half dozen sources including their office, multiple nurse stations in hospitals, (typically) several TASs and (sometimes) a triage service, and from home. Successful service offerings will take this into account and make implementation simple for the users. Finally, on the topic of encryption for one-way systems: I do hope operators of regional POCSAG and FLEX networks will carefully evaluate the business case for adding network encryption for their healthcare customers. While I understand reselling encrypted ReFLEX solutions may seem the most expedient solution until demand is better established, from what I can tell regional one-way networks offer more comprehensive coverage in many areas than the existing ReFLEX networks. If healthcare providers in such areas are forced to stop sending PHI over 1-way networks in order to comply with HIPAA and keep a pager with acceptable coverage, then most of the VALUE of text messaging is lost for these customers. They may as well fall back to using a simple numeric pager or even a good old Motorola Metrix dual tone beeper! I appreciate the dialogue and look forward to seeing many of you in Phoenix. Respectfully, From: Gagan Puranik The Protocol Working Group will meet on November 3rd at the beautiful Pointe South Mountain Resort (http://www.pointesouthmtn.com) in Phoenix, Arizona. The meeting will start after PTC meeting (probably after lunch) and end before the AAPC reception (starts at 6:30 pm). Details soon. Tentative PWG agenda: AAPC (http://www.pagingcarriers.com/apps/conf04.pdf)has set aside rooms at the resort at the special rate of $149 per night. The special rate is available through Sunday, October 10. To make your reservation call 1-877-800-4888, extension 2. We suggest calling soon to ensure a room at the hotel. In addition, below please see AAPC and SCA announcement. . . Regards, Announcing a fall opportunity to network with colleagues, increase your business exposure, and enjoy a trip to the beautiful Arizona countryside. SCA and AAPC have combined to offer their inaugural fall conference-Answering the Challenges of Today and Tomorrow, November 3-5. 2004, at the Pointe South Mountain Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. The conference will offer a wide variety of educating, stimulating, and relevant business sessions, combined with recreational activities designed to encourage networking among your colleagues and customers. In addition, it is anticipated that the SCA and AAPC will formally announce a merger into one association to better serve your professional needs. To receive the registration brochure which includes the conference agenda and registration costs, please e-mail paulh@ewald.com or James.McLochlin@Suntelecom.com. Also, please refer to the AAPC web site at www.pagingcarriers.com for conference updates. As a long time supporter of SCA, we hope you will mark your calendars now to attend SCA's annual trade show, June 1-3, 2005, at the outstanding Myrtle Beach Resort at Grande Dunes. In addition, we hope you will consider supporting this new and exciting opportunity by registering to attend the conference today. |
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| Building on its long success story in 1-way paging, Advantra International has become the expert in designing and manufacturing the most advanced and lowest cost ReFLEX™ radio modems for 2-way data-communication. The company also focuses on offering total telemetry solutions. Advantra thanks its solid reputation to its world-renowned development team, state-of-the-art manufacturing, excellent customer service and its proven track-record.
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THE PAGING ASSOCIATION NEEDS YOU TODAY !! AAPC represents our interests in this fast changing industry:
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Motorola Introduces Two New Pagers Ideal for Health Care, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and Utilities Markets Motorola's newest one-way pagers—the Advisor II pager and the LS355 pager—are ideal for users in demanding business environments who need a convenient and cost effective way to stay in touch. Both the Advisor II pager and the LS355 pager were developed for use in hospitals and medical facilities, manufacturing environments, utilities, hospitality applications, campus settings, and for businesses that own and operate their own paging systems.
Both the Advisor II pager and the LS355 pager are available in POCSAG, UHF or VHF models and ship with a one-year standard warranty. As part of the continued support of these pagers, Motorola offers a two-year Express Service Plus program. This feature provides hardware repair coverage for two years beyond the standard one-year warranty for a total of three years of pager repair coverage. Both pagers are available through Motorola Authorized Resellers. MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © Motorola, Inc. 2003. | Complete Technical Services For The Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.
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PAGING SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION CONTRACTOR NEEDED I’m working with a client on a proposal for a large, private paging system in the Buffalo NY area and we need a quality organization to assist with system implementation and on-going maintenance activities. If you, or someone with whom you have worked in the past could be interested, please contact Ron Mercer at (631)266-2604 or by e-mail at ronofglobal@yahoo.com. Thanks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A fast and reliable alarming system is an indisputable prerequisite for emergency fire and rescue services to respond successfully and efficiently. State-of-the-art paging enables groups as well as individuals to be alerted. The Quattrino Voice and Memo two-tone pagers are suitable for everyone, even for those working in an emergency during severe weather conditions. Continual further development of previous popular models has resulted in a practical, reliable and user-friendly device, innovatively housed with ergonomic operating controls. Design elements include a very long standby function, and weather proofing to the European IP54 specifications. I am an authorized Manufacturer Representative for Swissphone. Please contact me directly for any additional information.
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To inquire about this equipment, please send me (Brad Dye) an e-mail and I will put you in touch with the seller. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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PAGING TECHNICIAN Mark Hood mehood@cox.net Telephone: 757-588-0537 Paging Field Engineer/Electronic technician in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area. Download resumé here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() AAPC Mission Statement To represent paging carriers throughout the United States to ensure the success of our industry by:
Our industry must move forward together or we will perish individually. AAPC links: | High-speed simulcast paging with protocols such as POCSAG and FLEX™ requires microsecond accuracy to synchronize the transmission of digital paging signals. ![]() Zetron's Simulcast System uses GPS timing information to ensure that the broadcasted transmissions between the nodes of the Simulcast System and associated transmitters are synchronized to very tight tolerances. This system is ideal for public or private paging system operators that use multiple transmitters and wish to create new paging systems or to build out existing systems into new regions. For more information about Zetron's High Speed Simulcast Paging System, the Model 600 and Model 620, go to: www.zetron.com/paging.
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Prism Message Gateway Systems Your Choice of Options
Popular Choice for Domestic and International
Logical Choice
Go ahead… be choosy… choose Prism Systems International
| ![]() MAXPage
Commtech Wireless introduces MAXPage, a desktop paging terminal packed with features. Alpha, Numeric, Tone, & Voice Serial Interface Telephone Interface Alarm Inputs Features*
*Some of the features listed are optional and are not supplied as standard For more information, simply fill out the feedback form or contact us on the details below.
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Download Mr. Mercer's resumé. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Protect your Internet-enabled Paging System! The Hark SAFe is a hardware firewall with SPAM and virus blocking designed to protect email servers, corporate intranets, and unified messaging systems like the Hark Omega Messaging and IPT products. System includes a Linux based operating system with Web-based configuration (no keyboard and monitor needed!). Price is $995.00 including hardware! Firewall protects your Internet enabled paging system:
SPAM blocker eliminates un-wanted email:
Virus blocker:
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Daviscomms USA Inc. is your direct connection to Daviscomms (S) Pte Ltd., the leading pager manufacturer in the world with many years experience in Engineering, Design, and Manufacturing of highly-reliable, premium-quality FLEX and POCSAG Alphanumeric and Numeric pagers. Daviscomms offers unparalleled quality, features and functions. We perform our own stringent quality testing as well as certification by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to meet all of their standards. All of our paging products meet FCC and IC Standards for use in the USA and Canada. Our manufacturing facility, located in Malaysia, is a 40,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility. Customers, globally, choose Daviscomms for our QUALITY, RELIABILITY, ON-TIME DELIVERY, COMPETITIVE PRICING and our TOTAL COMMITMENT to providing the best value for their needs.
At Daviscomms, we are proud to provide our customers with end-to-end manufacturing solutions while delivering superior quality and support. Daviscomms is at the forefront of the industry with its commitment to leading-edge technology, cost-effective manufacturing and the highest degree of customer service. Daviscomms delivers low cost, high volume manufacturing solutions to our customers. We help maximize time-to-market objectives while minimizing procurement, materials management, and manufacturing costs. For information about our contract manufacturing services or our Bravo-branded line of numeric and alphanumeric pagers, please call Bob Popow, our Director of Operations for the Americas, 480-515-2344. (Scottsdale, Arizona) or visit our website www.daviscommsusa.com.
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RTS Wireless ADVX System Programming Concepts, Inc. provides authorized RTS ADVX Wireless Gateway Support & Enhancements. Our RTS lab includes source code control, development tools, and test beds for all deployed RTS systems. Call now to sign-up for our first class support of your aging RTS system. More info ... PCI (www.programmingconcepts.com) has been in business for 24 years providing custom application programming for medium to large businesses. PCI's primary business segments include web enabled application development, financial industry systems, telephony (IVR, CTI, and Wireless), Secure Enterprise Instant Messaging System, Microsoft Customer Relationship Management (MS-CRM) Applications, and a wide variety of commercial applications. Contact Sales sales@programmingconcepts.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DX Radio Systems, Inc. manufactures high quality, high specification type communications products. The following is a list of products that DX Radio Systems, Inc. manufactures or supplies as a single supplied product and can be included as part of a turnkey system:
Performance that is tough to find anywhere at a price you can afford.
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MORE WIRELESS NEWS |
1-Way Paging issues Subcommittee of the Paging Technical Committee In response to numerous requests, the “1-way Paging Issues” subcommittee of the Paging Technical Committee (PTC) has undertaken the development of a “National Directory Of Paging Carriers” in cooperation with the AAPC. The committee believes that this effort will benefit carriers, venders and the entire paging industry by:
We would very much like to include your organization in the Directory, but, in the interest of accuracy, we need additional information. Accordingly, would you please be so kind as to complete and forward this questionnaire. (The questionnaire and a sample completed questionnaire are included in this zipped Word file.) Also, please note the following:
For additional information, or to return completed questionnaire, please contact the committee chair, Alan Carle, via any of the following mechanisms. Please feel free to forward this questionnaire to other carriers in your area of whom we might not be aware. Thank you for your assistance,
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![]() TOWERS FOR SALE
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TGA Technologies
| CUSTOM APPLICATIONS
Please call me so we can discuss your need or your idea. Or contact me by e-mail for additional information. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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www.gtesinc.com GTES is the only Glenayre authorized software support provider in the paging industry. With over 200 years of combined experience in Glenayre hardware and software support, GTES offers the industry the most professional support and engineering development staff available. New Product Development New Hardware Platform
Continued Support Programs GTES Partner Program CALL US TODAY FOR YOUR SUPPORT NEEDS | Intelligent Paging & Mobile Data Hardware & Software Selective is a developer and manufacturer of highly innovative paging receiver/decoders and mobile data equipment. The PDT2000 Paging Data Terminal is THE MOST INTELLIGENT PAGING RECEIVER IN THE MARKET. The PDT2000 is a large display pager designed for desktop or in-vehicle mounting and is widely used by emergency services and in onsite paging systems for forklift dispatch etc. All of the following capabilities are standard features of the PDT2000 and of our other paging data receivers:
Our mobile data equipment includes a range of Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) which may be interfaced to a variety of wireless networks including trunked and conventional radio, GPRS & CDMA cellular, Mobitex etc. Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and GPS solutions, Dispatch & Messaging software. We offer mobile communications dealers and systems integrators a "fast to market" job dispatch and job management capability. Specialised local area paging systems, paging interception and message reprocessing software, field force automation and mobile dispatch solutions. We export worldwide.
I am an authorized Manufacturer Representative for Selective Communications. Please contact me directly for any additional information. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paging Training Course Specially designed course for sales, marketing, and administration personnel. Engineers will only be admitted with a note signed by their mothers, promising that they will just listen and not disrupt the class. (This is supposed to be funny!) This is a one-day training course on paging that can be conducted at your place of business. Please take a look at the course outline to see if you think this might be beneficial in your employees: Paging training course outline. I would be happy to customize the content to meet your specific requirements. Although it touches on several "technical" topics, it is definitely not a technical course. I used to teach the sales and marketing people at Motorola Paging and they appreciated an atmosphere where they could ask technical questions without being made to feel like a dummy and without getting a long convoluted overly-technical answer that left them more confused than before. A good learning environment is one that is non-threatening. Let me know if you would like to receive a quotation, or if you would like to have any additional information. |
WIRELESS DATA NEWS | |
Tiny Sensors That Can Track Anything Potential Seen for Security, Home, Habitat Friday, September 24, 2004; Page E01 They're small, smart and vigilant, the sort of miniature technology that science fiction writers once dreamed of. But the battery-powered, wireless sensors sometimes known as "smart dust" are here, and they're making their way into the electronic fabric of our lives. In the last few years, smart dust sensors smaller than a deck of cards have been deployed in research projects to monitor the vibration of manufacturing equipment, keep tabs on colonies of seabirds and measure fine variations in vineyard climates that can make or break a wine. Now they're being sold for real. Dust Networks Inc., a chief developer, said this week that defense contractor Science Applications International Corp. of San Diego would become one of its first customers, using the technology for perimeter security systems. A grocery chain in Minnesota installed the sensors in August to monitor energy use. A competitor, Sensicast Systems Inc., just announced its own arrangement to provide sensors to monitor the environment at a nuclear generating station. Those deals resonate in an industry that didn't exist until a few years ago. Industry analysts predict that micro-sensors—which communicate via radio-linked networks like computers on the Internet—will become as ubiquitous in their own way as personal computers on the World Wide Web. To be sure, sensors have been around for decades, particularly in the manufacturing world. But they've been costly, relatively large and limited by the wires that connected them to centralized monitors. As a consequence, they were generally used by companies with deep pockets. In recent years, as the cost of computing plummeted along with the size of computing machines, science fiction fantasy quietly morphed into technological fact. Starting in academic labs at the University of California at Berkeley and elsewhere, development of smart dust (a whimsical name that suggests where inventors hope the technology is headed) has spread to the government and private sectors. The capabilities vary. Some take pictures. Others serve as sensitive thermometers. There are even tiny sensors that can detect the presence of gunmetal and tanks. Some analysts and researchers believe that networks of these diminutive monitors may eventually link refrigerators, printers, car keys and other everyday objects to the Internet, enabling observers and other machines to keep track of them remotely. "It's vast, in terms of the possibilities," said Glen Allmendinger, president of Harbor Research Inc., who predicted that sales of smart dust and related technology would grow from about $10 million this year to billions by the end of the decade. "Homeland security is going to be a big part of it, but there are so many other applications," said Craig Mathias, an analyst at the Farpoint Group, an advisory firm specializing in wireless communications and mobile computing. "Is it going to be a $1 billion business? Absolutely." It's not just technology enthusiasts and executives at tiny companies who are excited. The Defense Department's research project agency has spent millions on university research. Earlier this year, the CIA's venture capital arm In-Q-Tel bought a stake in Dust Networks. Technology researchers at the Department of Homeland Security have made sensors a priority. Even computer chip giant Intel Corp. is working on wireless networks of sensors. "Wireless sensors have moved out of the labs," said Intel spokesman Kevin Teixeira. "The technology is being figured out." Researchers said the devices, also known as "motes," can include any number of sensors to track activity or assess the surrounding circumstances, such as weather, light and heat. When the devices collect meaningful information, their systems turn on a low-power transmitter and broadcast the data to the next closest device, up to about 100 feet away. Researchers and analysts claim the devices can sometimes operate for up to three years on a pair of double-A batteries. If one device in the network fails, the data are picked up by another one, an echo of the sort of redundancy that makes the Internet so reliable. Dust Networks officials call it "smartmesh." They say their software is designed to enable a central PC or laptop to fuse or triangulate reports of the same activity from different angles within the network. In doing so, they said, the network can determine with far more nuance the direction a person is moving, the weight of a vehicle or even the likelihood that a machine is failing. "This is no longer futuristic. This is real deployment for real customers," said Kris Pister, an electrical engineering and computer science professor at Berkeley who began studying smart dust in 1997. He founded Dust Networks two years ago. "It's a huge threshold to have a product we can actually shop to customers." Researchers still face formidable technological challenges. Communication can be disrupted by hills or electrical interference. Developers have to figure out how to ensure the increasingly tiny machines don't burn through their meager power supplies too quickly, or overwhelm the networks with false alarms. In addition, the devices can still cost hundreds of dollars, scaring away some potential customers. But analysts said they're making progress. In 2002, researchers from the Intel Research Laboratory at Berkeley linked 32 sensors about the size of a prescription bottle to the Internet to take readings of the weather on Great Duck Island, Maine, and to assess the condition of nesting burrows used by local seabirds known as Leach's storm petrels. In the second season last year, they used more than 150 second-generation sensors that were smaller than size D batteries. "These networks monitor the microclimates in and around nesting burrows used by the Leach's Storm Petrel," said a report on the project. "Our goal is to develop a habitat monitoring kit that enables researchers worldwide to engage in the non-intrusive and non-disruptive monitoring of sensitive wildlife and habitats." In August, two dozen Dust sensors were installed in a Supervalu grocery store in suburban Minneapolis. That network is monitoring temperatures and energy use, which typically accounts for the second-largest cost of operating a grocery store. As for SAIC, it's adopting "smartmesh" sensor networks to create electronic perimeter systems for defense and intelligence customers. Thomas J. Sereno Jr., manager for the SAIC monitoring systems division, said tests found the technology can use small magnetometers to detect whether someone is carrying a gun. SAIC plans to use microphones to search for "acoustic signatures" of vehicles, moving groups of people and such. Sereno said it also will build in cameras of the sort used in mobile phones. Sereno speculated that some SAIC clients may use unmanned airborne vehicles to fly over rugged and dangerous environments and deposit the technology. SAIC will also be pitching it for homeland and border security. He said the ability of the network to be "self-healing" if some of the devices fail is appealing. The company intends to unveil a model for customers next month. "If you combine all the information from these sensors and fuse it, you can make inferences," he said. "We're starting to get the firm belief this is truly going to work." Source: Washington Post |
UNTIL NEXT WEEK | ||||||||||||||||||||
FLEX, ReFLEX, FLEXsuite, and InFLEXion, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola, Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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