Wireless Blog

Ericsson has become partner of choice for the integration of HSPA mobile broadband modules into Toshiba's business laptop range in Europe, the Middle East and Africa .

Minutes ago I was looking at the list of networks I could pickup in my
home. MetroFi-Free and MetroFi-Premium were listed and then both
suddenly disappeared. They have not reappeared in the last 5 minutes,
which I take as a sign that the power has been pulled.

Can anyone confirm that they see the same thing?

Michael Weinberg
President
Personal Telco Project, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit

Yes, indeed. And so it goes. It’s 5 o’clock. Time for a drink. I won’t be off to E-Bay to pick the bones.

Netgear today announced the launch of the Open Source Wireless-G Router , a full-featured wireless router designed to serve as a reliable, high-performance platform to support a wide variety of applications ...

Portland’s Westside Express Service (WES) is the first commuter rail line in Oregon and among only a handful of suburb-to-suburb commuter lines in the country. It will be offering free Wi-Fi when it starts operations this fall.

The $117.3 million commuter rail system will begin running in October or November, connecting the Beaverton Transit Center, on the West side of Portland with five commuter rail stations along the line in Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville.

Wilsonville’s SMART system will provide bus services to Salem. It also features a Direct Connection to MAX Real-Time Arrival via MyBus.

Lisa Freeman, TriMet’s Communications Specialist, explained to DailyWireless that the WiFi decision was driven by practical logistics. In order to have Transit Tracker on the commuter rail line and support the rail maintenance functions of their new diesel cars, the transit agency needed to install Internet access at each station and have WiFi access on each car.

This allowed the transit agency to download maintenance information directly from the cars to their maintenance facility in Wilsonville. “We are simply making this WiFi service available to our WES customers”, explained Freeman.

That doesn’t sound like continuous connectivity on the cars, however. We are waiting clarification on how the system works.

Traveling at an average of 37 mph and at a top speed of 60 mph, WES is expected to make a trip from Beaverton to Wilsonville in 27 minutes. The system is designed to run every 30 minutes during morning and evening rush hours. The five commuter rail stations will have a total of 700 park-and-ride spaces.

Portland & Western Railroad will operate the commuter trains with an engineer and a conductor on board.

<a href="http://www.beavertonvalleytimes.com/news/story.php?story_id=121390694491745300Among those offering WiFi on trains are Virgin Trains, Capitol Corridors Joint Power Authority (US Train Operator), VIA Rail (Canada), Swiss Rail, NSB (Norwegian Rail), GNER, SNCF, SJ, Deutsche Bahn, Danish Rail, Lloyd’s Register Rail, and NS Trains. System integrators include; Icomera, Nokia Siemens Networks, Moovera, Nomad Digital, Parsons Corporation, WiFi Rail and others.

San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit is in talks with WiFi Rail to provide system-wide wi-fi service after a successful trial program. Phase three of the demonstration program was completed recently.

Additional DailyWireless articles on Transit Connectivity include; Mobilizing WiFi on Trains & Cars, Chrysler Rolls Out U-connect, Hotspot for Bedouins, TrainFi On the Move, PePWave Mobility: Connectivity for Vehicles, Belair Radios: On the Move, The Connected Bus, Kyocera KR2 Mobile Router, TrainFi: One Million Served, and Free TrainFi in UK.

Municipal WiFi systems in the US have been pretty much failures across the board, notes Engadet.

But the good people of Akron, Ohio are apparently in for another go-round — the city’s just commited some $800,000 to build out a free wireless network over the next five years.

The service will be installed and operated by a nonprofit called OneCommunity, which just received a $4.5M grant as part of a $25M commitment from the John S. and John L. Knight Foundation to implement digital access projects in 26 cities.

The University of Akron has kicked in another $350,000, since the signal will cover its campus as well as the downtown area — all in, some 90,000 residents and 31,000 workers will get access through the project. The network will start lighting up in the next year — let’s hope it fares better than other city WiFi projects.

The city’s six-term mayor said the free wireless corridor will cover about 80,000 to 90,000 residents and about 31,000 workers.

The Knight Foundation media innovation initiatives aim to keep the news business vital and healthy.

The Akron Beacon Journal was the first paper owned by the Knight family. The paper later became part of the Knight Ridder chain that was sold in 2006 to the McClatchey Co. The Knight Foundation was not affiliated with the newspaper chain but was the charitable foundation set up by the Knight brothers.

The nonprofit Knight Center of Digital Excellence will collect and share international best practices online with communities everywhere. It will provide on-the-ground aid to the Knight communities to develop technology strategies and enable citizens to connect with each other and the world.

Related DailyWireless Newspaper articles include; Digital Divide Initiatives, Nokia N810, Gannett Mobilizes News, Web 2.0 News Maps, E-Books Now, Open Ads, Wireless News Stand, Calacanis on Newspapers, Advertising: The Right Online/Print Mix, DayLife, Citizen Journalism from Yahoo & Reuters, Yahoo + Newspapers, DayLife, Folding Papers, Interactive Journalism Awards, Newspaper Circulation Down.

Although The Government professes that “interoperability” is a cornerstone of its communications policy, New York City’s new $500 million broadband wireless secure data network, one of the largest of its kind in the world, is doing its own thing.

The proprietry system, developed by IP Wireless (now Nextwave) will install about 400 cellular antennas covering 95 percent of the city, reports the NY Times. The network, known as Nycwin, was built by Northrop Grumman and should be completed by summer’s end.

It supports the international 3GPP TD-CDMA standard on the 2.5 Ghz band. It’s a CDMA standard (like Sprint and Verizon), but only uses one channel (TDD). It uses Wide channels (5 and 10 MHz are supported), permitting higher data rates. No voice.

The idea is for city agencies to use hand-held devices and tablets to increase efficiency. The city says 53 different applications across 19 different city agencies are either in pilot deployment or are planned for this year. It will cover about 70 percent of the city’s 322-square-mile expanse.

Of course Sprint is expected to initiate Mobile WiMAX service in NYC later this year — with broadband interoperability and voice.

So, apparently, city workers will now need three devices to communicate - one 2-way radio (for dispatch), one Nycwin device (for broadband data), and one Nextel phone (for outside calls). NYC just couldn’t wait 6 months for Mobile WiMAX which might combine all those functions - more cheaply and effectively.

The feds plan similar systems in Oklahoma City, Tucson and Washington. Do you feel safer? I don’t mean to be snarky - I think NYC needs a dedicated broadband network - but you have to wonder how useful yet another incompatible system will be. What’s the plan, Roger?

Everex Systems will launch new 8.9-inch mini-laptops by the end of August, a model with WiMax capability in September and a new mini-laptop with a 10.2-inch screen in November, the company’s Taiwan partner said.

Everex is an affiliate of First International Computer (FIC), the Taiwanese contract manufacturer of its mini-laptops. Everex’s Cloudbook, for example, is made by FIC. Everex also announced a WiMAX-enabled version of its CloudBook mini-notebook called the Cloudbook Max

FIC officials said they’re on track to ensure Everex starts shipping a new mini-notebook with a 10.2-inch LCD screen with 3G on board and an option for WiMax. The idea for the devices is that since they’re made for mobile Internet surfing, they should have the maximum capability to utilize all possible wireless connections.

Since it has a 3G option — HSDPA and HSUPA (High Speed Downlink/Uplink Packet Access) — the laptop can be bundled with a 3G contract from a service provider. Mini-laptops with the WiMax option could be sold by companies building WiMax networks. The laptop comes with Wi-Fi connectivity already built in, 802.11b/g.

The new mini-notebook can run either a Windows XP or Linux OS and use either a 1.6GHz Intel Atom microprocessor or a similar processor from Via Technologies, according to FIC representatives. The device can hold up to 2GB of DRAM, comes with a 1.3-megapixel Web cam and either a 4-cell or 6-cell battery. In addition, it hosts two USB ports, an express card slot and 4-in-1 card reader.

A few weeks ago, VIA announced it’s 3G enabled UMPC reference design called OpenBook and made it freely available to vendors. Announcements by Everex today sound like the first fruit of that design says the Mobility Site.

AT&T on Tuesday announced iPhone 3G pricing for new and existing AT&T customers, several voice and data plans, and tips on how to be "iReady" when Apple's iPhone 3G goes on sale. AT&T retail stores will begin offering the new iPhone at 8 a.m. on Friday, July 11.

iPhone 3G will be available for $199 for the 8GB model and $299 for the 16GB model. These prices require two-year contracts and are available to iPhone customers who purchased before July 11, customers activating a new line with AT&T, and current AT&T customers who are eligible for an upgrade discount.

"We can't wait to offer iPhone 3G to our customers, and we want to make sure the buying process is as easy as possible," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T's wireless unit. "Considering all the great new features of iPhone 3G, we think our pricing and monthly plans present a tremendous value for consumers and businesses alike."

Voice, Data and Text Plans

AT&T's iPhone 3G customers can choose from four AT&T Nation plans, which bundle voice and unlimited data (e-mail and Web browsing). The first plan, dubbed AT&T Nation Unlimited, includes unlimited anytime minutes for $129.99 a month.

AT&T is also offering a Nation 1350 plan that includes 1,350 anytime minutes and unlimited night and weekend minutes for $109.99 a month, a 900-minute plan with free nights and weekends for $89.99 a month, and a 450-minute plan with free nights and weekends for $69.99 a month.

All AT&T Nation and AT&T FamilyTalk plans for iPhone 3G include nationwide long distance and roaming, visual voicemail, rollover, unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling, call forwarding, call waiting, three-way calling and caller ID.

AT&T will offer FamilyTalk plans, with bundled voice and unlimited data, starting at $129.99 a month for two iPhone 3G lines. Up to three additional iPhone...

Tuesday, California joined the legion of states that ban talking on a cell phone while driving without a hands-free device. The new law will no doubt be a boon for Bluetooth device resellers because, from Hollywood to Silicon Valley, California does business on the phone, in the car.

The law imposes a $20 fine for the first offense, going up to $50 thereafter. Calls to 911 and calls made by long-distance truckers, tow-truck drivers and drivers of farm equipment are exempt.

California joins states like New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, as well as Washington, D.C., which have had hands-free laws for several years. California's new law doesn't ban talking on the phone, just holding a phone while you talk. And it doesn't ban dialing a number -- potentially more distracting than talking -- just talking.

Boon for Headset Sales

The law went into effect Tuesday, and mobile stores were reporting huge spikes in headset sales. At AT&T's northern California stores, Bluetooth sales were up 30 percent between May and June after rising 20 percent between April and May.

Aliph, maker of the popular Jawbone headset, said sales have been rising rapidly. "We were expecting an onslaught right around this time," said company CEO Hosain Rahman. "Awareness of the legislation is making people look more at solutions."

And those solutions are wireless: NPD Group calculates that non-carrier vendors sold 2.5 million headsets since the beginning of the year, 1.7 million of which were wireless.

It's the Call, Stupid

But does using a hands-free device make drivers any more attentive to the road than using a handset? Sprint had lobbied for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto the bill, saying the law ignores "more significant causes of inattentive driving, including drowsiness, smoking, and adjusting the radio/CD player." Sprint also faulted the law for failing to distinguish between "inexperienced...

AT&T will sell the iPhone 3G without a contract for $599 (8GB) or $699 (16GB). The original iPhone was sold exclusively with a two-year agreement.

The $199 (8GB) and $299 (16GB) pricing announced during the iPhone 3G’s introduction will be available to the following customers:

• iPhone customers who purchased before July 11
• Customers activating a new line with AT&T
• Current AT&T customers who are eligible, at the time of purchase, for an upgrade discount

AT&T customers who are not currently eligible for an upgrade discount — those who didn’t purchase an original iPhone and aren’t otherwise eligible — can purchase iPhone 3G for $399 for the 8GB model or $499 for the 16GB model. Both options require a new two-year service agreement.

Plan pricing, with unlimited data, use is as follows:

• Unlimited anytime minutes for $130 per month;
• 1350 anytime minutes and unlimited nights and weekend for $110 per month;
• 900 anytime minutes with unlimited nights and weekends for $90 per month;
• 450 minutes with 5,000 nights and weekend minutes for $70 per month.

Messaging can be added to any plan for $20 (unlimited messaging), $15 (1,500 messages) or $5 (200 messages).

Current AT&T customers who are upgrading to iPhone 3G will pay an $18 upgrade fee and new AT&T customers will pay the standard $36 activation fee.Customers can check their eligibility to upgrade here.

The 3G iPhone will likely combine WiFi/Cellular triangulation from Skyhook Wireless combined with GPS chips from Sirf. CSR and Skyhook also recently announced a partnership that will bring advanced location capabilities to CSR’s Wi-Fi silicon.