Page 1 2 3 Page 1 2 3 | FRIDAY - MARCH 31, 2006 - ISSUE NO. 206 |
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| Wireless Messaging Newsletter | ||
| WIRELESS  MESSAGING | |
| EUROPEAN MOBILE MESSAGING ASSOCIATION |
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| EUROPEAN MOBILE MESSAGING ASSOCIATION |
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Ascom targets Voice over IP in business with new Voice-over-WiFi solution
Adding performance, reliability and freedom of movement to the benefits of Voice-over-IP and wireless LANs
27-03-2006
A new Voice-over-WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) communications system has been launched by Ascom Wireless Solutions, a leading global provider of on-site wireless communications. The system combines Voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology, wireless-enabled local area networks and Ascom’s own VoIP handsets to provide organisations with complete staff mobility at a low cost, while ensuring high levels of reliability and security.
The system is based on the IEEE 802.11(b)/g standard designed to meet the needs of business and public sector organisations. It was first launched to the healthcare sector in the US.
The system offers an integrated personal alarm function, alert messaging, paging and voice telephony with access to a range of sophisticated communications services. It integrates easily and economically with existing voice and data networks and can interconnect with public networks.
The system includes the Ascom i75 wireless VoWiFi handset, Ascom’s Portable Device Manager and Integrated Messaging Server as well as the Ascom VoIP gateway. These can be combined with third-party equipment such as WLAN access points, wireless switches and PBXs or IP-PBXs.
“VoIP and WiFi have become standardised and mature technologies, enabling us to offer solutions that meet user organisations’ requirements for reliability, robustness, security and flexibility,” said Ascom’s Chief Technology Officer, Stefan Brämberg.
“Customers of our new Voice-over-WiFi solution will benefit from Ascom’s 50 year track record of providing on-site communications systems that allow people to work more productively and respond more quickly in time-critical situations. They can be reassured that what they are getting is not the latest technology ‘hype’ but a dependable and future-proof system that will provide unprecedented mobility to their staff.”
Freedom of movement
For the user, the Ascom i75 handset is a key part of the system. It is compact, robust and easy to use, designed for tough working environments. The i75 puts voice communications, messaging and alarm services at the user’s fingertips and keeps them in touch wherever they may be on a business or industrial site. This means that everyone remains in touch with customers, contacts and colleagues at all times wherever they may be on the premises – by phone, by voicemail or via text.
The Ascom i75 handsets not only provide voice telephony, they also offer text messaging and can interact with other internal business systems to deliver automated reminders and alerts. An in-built alarm system, represented by a thumb-sized button on the handset means that should it be necessary, users can summon assistance very easily. This is invaluable in sectors where a rapid response can be critical, such as patient care in the health sector and organisations where it is necessary to provide personal security.
The handset also has a built-in loudspeaker for hands-free calls.
Any unit can be used as a shared device, by people on shift work, for example. A simple log-in procedure recognises the users and loads their individual settings.
Thanks to a virtual SIM, if a handset is lost, its functions can be quickly transferred to a replacement unit as all the user settings including menu, local phonebook and alarm features are stored on a central server.
A choice of batteries offers from four hours talking and 40 hours stand-by to six hours talking to 60 hours on stand-by.
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About Ascom Wireless Solutions
Ascom Wireless Solutions is a market leader in on-site wireless communications for the manufacturing and process industries, hospitals and elderly care, secure establishments, the retail sector and hotels. More than 70,000 systems are installed at major companies all over the world, including the majority of university hospitals in Europe. The company offers a broad range of customised solutions, which enables quicker response through smart integration with existing systems. Ascom solutions can include on-site paging, messaging, alarms, mobile devices, voice and data communications. Founded in the 1950s and based in Gothenburg, Sweden, Ascom Wireless Solutions is part of the Ascom Group.
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Contact:
Andrea Willige/Amanda Hassall
Six Degrees
andrea.willige@sixdegreespr.com
amanda.hassall@sixdegreespr.com
Tel: +44 (0)1628 480280
Source: Sourcewire
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Daviscomms—Product Examples For information about our Contract Manufacturing services or our Pager or Telemetry line, please call Bob Popow at 480-515-2344, bob@daviscommsusa.com or visit our web site www.daviscommsusa.com
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I am an authorized Manufacturer Representative for WiPath Communications. Please contact me directly for any additional information. |  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’s current product mix of own products includes the ReFLEX™ radio modules Barran, Karli and Wirlki and the new, highly successful and very low cost location device, the Kepler. Advantra thanks its solid reputation to its world-renowned development team, state-of-the-art manufacturing, excellent customer service and its proven track-record. Location Devices & ReFLEX Modems
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| SUPPLEMENTARY LETTER TO THE HURRICANE KATRINA INDEPENDENT PANEL |
Vincent D. Kelly
President and CEO
March 15, 2006 Nancy Victory, Chair
Independent Panel on the Impact of Hurricane Katrina
on Communications Networks
c/o Wiley, Rein & Fielding
1776 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006Dear Ms. Victory,
Thank you for the opportunity to address the FCC's Independent Panel on the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks (the Panel) in Jackson, MS on March 6, 2006.
One of the facts established during the hearings is that the hurricane substantially impaired the terrestrial broadband voice and data networks in the Gulf Coast. Another fact is that the narrowband networks of paging service providers held up much better during the hurricane.
I respectfully submit that the Panel should recommend to the Commission that law enforcement and other emergency responders maintain at least two distinct capabilities for wireless communication in times of crisis. These capabilities should use alternate, non-duplicative networks, so that if one network is unavailable due to a physical breakdown or overloading, the other network will be free of those impairments and will be available for use.
Paging was the only wireless communications service available to many people in the region during the storm and for many days thereafter. This resulted from several unique factors, including:
- paging's independence from the public switched telephone network (PSTN) through its use of satellite signal carriage and network control;
- paging's use of high elevation antennas, high power transmissions, and simulcasting of signals from multiple antennas, which enabled service to continue despite the temporary loss of some transmitters; and
- pagers' reliance on AA or AAA battery power, where the failure of the power grid along the Gulf Coast meant that other wireless communication devices could not be recharged and became useless.
Pagers were in wide use throughout the Gulf Coast region prior to the hurricane's appearance - USA Mobility alone had over a quarter of a million paging units in service in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama as of July 3 1,2005. The devices are easy to operate, and users require no special training.
For all these reasons, paging services play a vital role in responding to emergencies, and the Panel should recommend that the Commission affirmatively recognize their importance to our nation's ability to maintain effective communications during crisis situations.
Sincerely,
Vincent D. Kellycc: Lisa Fowlkes
6677 Richmond Highway • Alexandria, VA 22306 • Direct: 703.718.6650 • Fax: 703.768.9625 • www.usamobility.com
Source: FCC Web Site
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SATELLITE CONTROL FOR PAGING SYSTEMS $500.00 FLAT RATE TAPS—Texas Association of Paging Services is looking for partners on 152.480 MHz. Our association currently uses Echostar, formerly Spacecom, for distribution of our data and a large percentage of our members use the satellite to key their TXs. We have a CommOneSystems Gateway at the uplink in Chicago with a back-up running 24/7. Our paging coverage area on 152.480 MHz currently encompasses Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Kansas. The TAPS paging coverage is available to members of our Network on 152.480 MHz for $.005 a transmitter (per capcode per month), broken down by state or regions of states and members receive a credit towards their bill for each transmitter which they provide to our coverage. Members are able to use the satellite for their own use If you are on 152.480 MHz or just need a satellite for keying your own TXs on your frequency we have the solution for you. TAPS will provide the gateways in Chicago, with Internet backbone and bandwidth on our satellite channel for $ 500.00 (for your system) a month. Contact Ted Gaetjen @ 1-800-460-7243 or tedasap@asapchoice.com | ||||
Please click here to e-mail Ayrewave. |
STATEMENT OF JERRY KNOBLACH
CHAIRMAN & CEO, SPACE DATA CORPORATION
BEFORE THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION’S INDEPENDENT
PANEL REVIEWING THE IMPACT OF
HURRICANE KATRINA ON COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS
MARCH 7, 2006
Good morning, Madam Chairperson and members of the Panel. My name is Jerry Knoblach, and I am the Chairman and CEO of Space Data Corporation. Thank you for the opportunity to present testimony on how Space Data’s technology could help overcome problems like those produced by Hurricane Katrina’s devastation.
Space Data has an inexpensive, proven wireless solution that solves three primary communications problems during disasters – availability, range of communications, and radio interoperability. This innovative solution can provide communications to first responders when terrestrial networks cannot.
Space Data Background
Space Data was founded nearly nine years ago with a simple idea – to provide wireless communications by flying base stations high above the earth using free-floating weather balloons. Our solution builds upon nearly a century of successful weather balloon launches by the National Weather Service. Today Space Data has a commercial data network covering 100% of Texas and Oklahoma and we are moving into cellular voice and broadband offerings.
Figure 1. Current Coverage of Space Data’s Commercial Network
We made this system work by developing special radio payloads, called SkySite® Platforms. Each SkySite Platform functions as a standard wireless base station but weighs less than six pounds. One person can launch a SkySite Platform and have it on station at 65,000 feet or higher in less than two hours, effectively creating a tower over 12 miles high. Each payload provides 12 to 24 hours of coverage before parachuting safely back to earth for recovery. To date we have completed over 7,000 flights as part of our commercial operation. In total our SkySite design has accumulated over 8 flight-years of operation in the stratosphere.
Work with the US Air Force
Over the past two years, Air Force Space Command has become interested in what it calls “Near Space” – the area of the atmosphere between 65,000 and 325,000 feet. This altitude is too high for most aircraft and too low for satellites, but ideal for Space Data’s SkySite Platforms. Space Command asked us to participate in their Combat SkySat program to prove the merits of Near Space. Our flight of a radio platform at 70,000 feet was an eyeopening experience for the military participants. Suddenly, a handheld radio with a normal range of five to ten miles could transmit secure voice communications more than 400 miles. This extended range was achieved using one-fifth of the normal power, significantly extending the battery life of the handheld radios.
Figure 2. Results from Combat SkySat testing with the US Air Force
Building on that success, Space Command sponsored Space Data’s participation in JEFX 2006. This multi-service exercise brings newly available technology directly to the warfighter for first-hand evaluation. Traditionally, participation in this exercise is a precursor to deployment in operational theaters.
Figure 3. Launch of a Combat SkySat Platform
Support for Domestic Operations
Last year, we spoke with a soldier who had been supporting supply convoys in Iraq and had just returned stateside. He said: “There’s nothing scarier than being in the middle of the desert without any way to communicate.” Tragically, there were echoes of that battlefield assessment in news reports quoting first responders after Hurricane Katrina. They were faced with no way to call for medical assistance, police or fire support, or even to communicate among themselves.
Terrestrial networks do not usually survive major disasters intact, as was seen after Hurricane Katrina. Space Data has a solution. With their large coverage footprint, our SkySite Platforms can be launched from well outside the affected area. Since they fly much higher than storms and fires, they can provide communications during the disaster itself. This gives first responders the ability to be more effective in rescue operations, since our SkySite link supports equipment they already use every day.
Figure 4. Potential coverage of a single SkySite Repeater along the Gulf Coast
Space Data’s SkySite system can be held in reserve, then deployed on short notice wherever needed. For example, National Guard units could deploy the system when they are moving in to support post-disaster relief efforts, no matter where that disaster might be. In fact, ground station equipment and enough SkySite Platforms for 24hours can literally fit in carryon luggage. All that is needed at the launch site is an open field and a cylinder of helium or hydrogen. If the area of operation shifts, the communications network can easily shift with it. The SkySite system can also expand quickly to meet additional capacity. Adding more communications channels is as simple as launching more payloads. It is noteworthy to mention that taking advantage of miniaturization and an additional nine months of engineering, our current payload has six times the capacity of the original Combat SkySat proof-of-concept payload at a fraction of the cost, and extends communications ranges to over 600 miles. Hurricane Katrina
During Hurricane Katrina, Space Data’s network operated without interruption over our entire coverage area, including much of Louisiana. Even launch operations in Opelousas, Louisiana, continued with only a slight launch schedule adjustment when Katrina’s effects were most severe. Our balloon technology is designed to be resistant to stormy conditions. Our communication system continued through the worst of the hurricane and on into the aftermath when traditional networks were taken out of operation. With rampant news reports of communication outages, Space Data tried to support the Katrina recovery efforts with our still operational data system. However, we found no takers for our offer.
Figure 5. Simulated SkySite® Platform coverage during Hurricane Katrina
“Bridging” Networks
In addition to near-immediate communications coverage in an emergency, there is another urgent and compelling problem that Space Data’s SkySite Platforms can solve— ensuring the interoperability of incompatible radio networks. A conventional radio repeater rebroadcasts transmissions on a single network so users such as police, firefighters and federal authorities can communicate with others in their own organization. However, these different groups are unable to talk and coordinate relief efforts with each other during a disaster because their radio equipment is not compatible. A paramedic and a National Guardsman could be 100 yards away from each other, yet unable to communicate.
A second type of SkySite payload, called a bridging repeater, provides a solution. It carries two or more radio transceivers with different protocols or frequencies to “bridge” radio communications networks. With this payload launched, different groups on the ground could tune to a channel already on their radios and have their communications rebroadcast on the other network. This could allow police to talk to firefighters, or FEMA to talk to local law enforcement.
This Bridging Repeater concept was demonstrated to the US Air Force as part of the Combat SkySat Program, allowing ground troops using handheld tactical radios to communicate directly with pilots in A10 and F16 aircraft.
White House Katrina report
We read with great interest the recently-released White House report on the Federal response to Hurricane Katrina and, in particular, its recommendation for a rapidly deployable communication system for DHS. Space Data’s technology is ideally suited for such a system with its provisions for launching quickly from virtually any location and within 90 minutes covering an area more than 400 miles wide. We can provide the “‘reach-back’ to large headquarters units” and “connectivity among Federal, State, and local authorities” cited in the report.
Cost
Space Data’s SkySite system is also an extraordinarily cost-effective means of providing wireless communications during a disaster. The radio repeaters can be fitted with GPS tracking and be recovered and reused multiple times. One SkySite Platform can cover hundreds of miles and is easily deployed. Moreover, first responders will no longer be required to build and maintain expensive terrestrial systems with extra capacity for emergencies that may never occur. Since the SkySite Platforms are compatible with the existing user equipment, all cost associated with purchasing, distributing, maintaining and training personnel related to new user equipment is eliminated.
Summary
In summary, Space Data can solve the three major communications problems faced by first responders – availability, range, and interoperability. We do this by offering responders a simple, cost-effective solution that can be quickly deployed when and where it is needed, removing the need to maintain expensive wireless infrastructure in remote areas. No new equipment is required for users on the ground – they keep the same radios that they have always used – but now those radios are significantly more effective.
Like most Americans, we at Space Data want to see government agencies at all levels have the best tools available to respond to crises such as Hurricane Katrina. We offer a solution that can fill in coverage gaps created by a storm’s destruction.
By considering now how to apply this technology, DHS and FEMA can be prepared before the next disaster so that effective communications systems can be put in place immediately. As was evident with Hurricane Katrina, lives will be lost if there is no immediate way to communicate and respond. We all know that other national emergencies or natural disasters are inevitable, and it is essential that all levels of government be prepared to support first responders.
I ask the Panel to encourage the FCC to support the advancement and use of technologies such as Space Data’s SkySite Platforms before the next emergency occurs. Specifically, the FCC should have an automatic waiver process for public safety spectrum that is triggered by Presidential declaration so a solution like Space Data’s can be rapidly deployed in the event of an emergency. In addition to solving these spectrum issues, the Commission can help by pressing the Department of Homeland Security to examine balloon-borne solutions and have the necessary inventory and emergency service plans in place for federal agencies in advance of the next hurricane season. Finally, commercial wireless service is the most universal form of communications used by public safety and citizens. Therefore, it is imperative that the commercial networks are up and running as quickly as possible. Space Data SkySite Platforms can provide the commercial carriers with an immediate solution that will allow existing handsets to operate. Carriers should be encouraged by the FCC to examine solutions such as ours and be prepared to deploy them in the event of a disaster.
Madam Chairperson, members of the Panel, thank you for allowing me to speak with you today. We take a great deal of pride in our work at Space Data and look forward to playing a key role in helping save lives through better communications in any future emergencies our country may face. We would be happy to provide you with any information you need to further your work.
Source: FCC Web Site (pdf)
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