The Internet can be seen as part of the alternative technology to
mobile technology because it moves data, but it is also part of mobile
technology because mobile devices can be used in conjunction with the
Internet.
[1997/08/07]
Aug. 12, 1997, Canada News Wire reports that Bell Advanced Communications
(BAC) and ONet Networking (ONet) agreed to provide an Ontario wide
high speed networking system. BAC will supply an ATM system to
ONet.
[1997/08/15]
Aug. 14, 1997, PR Newswire reports that Microsoft and Marimba jointly
proposeda data format to automate software distribution over the Internet.
The goal is to reduce total cost of PC ownership. CyberMedia,
InstallShield Software Corp., LANovation, Lotus Development Corp. and
Netscape Communications Corp. endorsed the specification.
[1997/08/19]
Aug. 8, 1997, Information Week reports that the Internet Engineering
Task Force may ratify the "iCalendar" specification for Internet
distribution of scheduling information.
[1997/08/15]
Aug. 7, 1997, The Globe and Mail News Wire reports that UUNet has
begun blocking Internet junk mail responding to a boycott protest
by other Internet sites. John Sidgmore of UUNet is considering
taking retaliatory legal action.
[1997/08/12]
July 8, 1997, CommunicationsWeek reports that combining two
64Kbps B channels in to a 128Kbps pipe often doesn't work
because the B channels often terminate on different WAN devices
and they don't know that the calls are related.
[1997/07/14]
July 1, 1997, Reuters reports that President Clinton proposes that
internet commerce be treated as a "free trade zone" and has directed
U. S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky to promote the
idea with the World Trade Organization (WTO).
[1997/07/08]
June 23, 1997, Computer Reseller News reports that a hacker exploited
a bug in Microsoft's Website software to take down part of Microsoft's
website. The problem was corrected in about four hours. The fix
now also captures the IP address of people attempting this attack
in the future.
[1997/06/28]
June 9, 1997, Canadian Corporate News reports that SoftQuad
International has released "WebFiler DB", a database intended
for use with network computers on the Internet. A demo version
is available at their Website:
http://www.webfiler.com/
[1997/06/13]
May 29, 1997, TechWire reports that Earthlink has taken on
sent warnings to 3 spamming companies recently and has also
been awarded an injunction against Cyber Promotions. A few
months ago I started getting spam from Cyber Promotions and
a few weeks ago I had the time to consider my legal options.
I had decided that I was going to take on Cyber Promotions,
which is or was run by Sanford Wallace. In particular, one
of his accounts would not stop sending me EMail after I requested
on a few occasions. I posted a couple of my messages to
Cyber Promotions openly to "can.legal" and "misc.consumer"
and was considering which of a few options I was going to
pursue. Then unexpectedly, the spam form CyberPromotions
stopped. I congratulate Earthlink in this matter. It seems
that they have saved me some time and effort.
[1997/06/05]
Apr. 17, 1997, Globe and Mail Newswire reports that Microsoft Network
shut down its mail system with no prior warning from Thursday till
Sunday for "unexpected maintenance work."
[1997/04/21]
Mar. 31, 1997, PR Newswire reports that Microsoft announced
DirectX(TM) and Active Streaming Format (ASF). DirectX supports
3D graphics, 2D graphics, sound and animation. ASF supports
audio, visual, still images, events, URSs, HTML pages, script commands
and executable programs. In effect, it supports all forms of data
and executables one might use for live presentation.
[1997/04/04]
Feb. 18, 1997, Business Wire reports that IBM's ARTour middleware
reduces data traffic by as much as 95%. The description notes caching
and compression to store local copies, but refers to patented IBM
technologies. I have a bad feeling that we're seeing the beginnings
of a patent court war. I would be very interested in seeing the
patents.
[1997/02/20]
Aug. 29, 1997, Computer Reseller News reports that Netscape has announced
that they have fixed the security bug in JavaScript in Navigator 4.02
found by Andre dos Santos.
[1997/09/02]
Aug. 28, 1997, PR Newswire reports that Netscape will provide Java
Development Kit (JDK) 1.1 (beta) with Communicator client software.
[1997/09/02]
Feb. 24, 1997, Computer Reseller News reports that Traveling Software
is expected to ship WebEx 2.0 around the end of March. This is an
offline Web browser with Win 95 taskbars and support for Windows NT 4.0.
[1997/02/25]
Mar. 12, 1997, PRNewswire reports that TMSSequoia has released ViewDirector
plug-ins for Netscape Navigator running on Mac and Unix systems. This
is a document viewer for "high performance" image viewing aimed at
large engineering and large multi-page documents. This is a commercial
plug-in costing $59.95 "per seat".
TMS, Inc.
[1997/03/15]
Mar. 14, 1997, PRNewswire reports that Lernout & Hauspie Speech
Products announced plans to create an Internet based multiple language
translation service. Gesellschaft fuer Multilinguale System GmbH (GSM)
will support the effort by providing "various language pairs."
Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products
[1997/03/15]
Apr. 3, 1997, PR Newswire reports that Microsoft has officially
opened up their "Sidewalk" guide to cities, starting with Seattle.
Sidewalk Seattle Guide
[1997/04/10]
Feb. 15, 1997 in a number of reports from PR Newswire, there are a lot
of comments on the WTO's "General Agreement on Trade in Services"
involving 60 nations. I do not have details, but it will apparently
have far reaching effect on the telecom industry throughout the world.
[1997/02/18]
Mar. 12, 1997, PR Newswire reports that Voxware, Inc. announced
new AC16 and AC24 codecs for higher quality commpressed streaming audio.
The following are the current MetaSound codecs.
AC8 -- 8kbps, 4 kHz audio bandwidth (8 kHz sample rate)
AC10 -- 10kbps, 5.5 kHz audio bandwidth (11 kHz sample rate)
AC16 -- 16kbps, 8 kHz audio bandwidth (16 kHz sample rate)
AC24 -- 24 kbps, 11 kHz audio bandwidth (22 kHz sample rate)
Voxware, Inc.
[1997/03/15]
Mar. 16, 1997, Computer Resellers News reports that a group of companies
including Northern Telecom is proposing "Voice Profile for Internet Mail"
(VPIM) as a standard for interconnection of voice mail systems.
[1997/03/21]
One area of rapid development is Internet commerce. The current problem
with internet commerce is security. The primary obstacle is the US
government which is listens to their security and law enforcement agencies
who have constantly maintained that they need the ability to uncode all
messages. But it is generally believed that any "key" system that can
easily be decoded by a third party such as a law enforcement body can be
cracked by other third parties such as criminals. The business community
has reason to be wary of such possibilities.
[1997/09/22]
Feb. 14, 1997, PR Newswire reports that Thomas Cook has launched
Virtual Trading Desk" which is an online international payment system
based on Netscape server software.
[1997/02/18]
Feb. 14, 1997, Canada NewsWire reports that this summer CIBC PC banking will
be integrated with Microsoft Money '97.
[1997/02/18]
Feb. 21, 1997, Newsbytes reports that Toshiba Information Systems (Japan)
Corporation has developed a new OS called "JVOS" that runs only Java. It
uses "micro-ITRON OS" which is designed for embedded systems. The report
seems to imply that there is no Microsoft code in it. It will run on
ordinary '86 family computers as an alternate OS.
[1997/02/25]
Mar. 12, 1997, BusinessWire reports that AirMedia, Inc. announced
that Microsoft Corp. will integrate it's wireless "inbound" alert
system into Internet Explorer 4.0.
[1997/03/15]
Feb. 18, 1997, Business Wire reports that Airmedia Live Interenet
Broadcast Network will be carried by the DIRECTV Direct Broadcast
Satellite (DBS) service. It is also available via ground-based
wireless messaging networks.
http://www.airmedia.com/
[1997/02/20]
Aug. 19, 1997, Stewart Taggart writes in TechWire that Jeff Pulver has
organized a network in 25 cities for free telephone services via
internet in his "Free World Dialup" project.
[1997/08/22]
Feb. 15, 1997, PR Newswire reports that WORLD 1 Telecom has developed a
multi-channel dialtone server capable of routing "hundreds of telephone
calls via the Internet simulaneously from a central hub." No specifics
were given in the report.
[1997/02/18]
Network computers compete with mobile technology by theoretically allowing
a person equal access from different locations, but there is also a
standard forming for "mobile network computers".
[1997/11/21]
June 30, 1997, Computer Reseller News reports that Netscape is
working on a 100% Java Web browser for network computers.
[1997/07/04]
June 9, 1997, Computer Reseller News reports that NetPCs are expected
to have a strong presence at PC Expo. Expected to be shown are
products from Compaq, Dell, Digital Equipment, Gateway 2000,
Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Toshiba.
[1997/06/18]
Apr. 17, 1997, PR Newswire reports that Fujitsu, Hitachi and NEC
demonstrated software cartridges for Oracle's Network Computing
Architecture(TM) at Oracle OpenWorld.
[1997/04/21]
Smart Card technology crosses the paradigm boundaries of electronic commerce
and mobile information technology. While the smart card is itself a mobile
technology, in some cases they actually store the key information such as
in the case of "cash cards", or they act as a means of identification for
accessing data remotely on stationary "network computers", which are an
alternative to carrying the relevant data and accessing device, or are used
in a hybrid solution such as digital PCS phones through GSM, which are
mobile remote communcation/access devices.
[1997/11/21] revised [1997/11/30]
Sept. 2, 1997, EE Times reports that Sony and Motorola will combine
efforts to develop dual mode (contact and contactless) smart-cards.
[1997/09/06]
Aug. 12, PR Newswire reports that Microsoft has announced free worldwide
availability of the Microsoft Smart Card Software Development Kit for
creating Smart Card enabled applications for Windows and Windows NT systems.
[1997/08/15]
Aug. 11, 1997, Stewart Taggart writes in TechWire that Swatch
is field testing "Smart Watches" in Sydney Australia which
contain computer chips and antennae, which are handling
monetary transactions via proximity detection (20 cm).
[1997/08/15]
Aug. 4, 1997, Business Wire reports that Motorola's subsidary Indala
Corporation has announced their "Image30" radio frequency technology
proximity card. The card is 0.76mm (0.03") and weighs 6 grams (0.20 oz.)
but is designed for rough handling. The card can be used with multiple
technologies such as bar codes, magnetic strips and smart ICs.
[1997/08/06]
July 17, 1997, Business Wire reports that IBM and Gemplus have
announced that they will cooperate in providing smart card
solutions. According to the report, Gemplus is the world's
largest provider of smart cards, and the industry is currently
worth about $1 billion (US) today and growing to about
$20 billion (US) with about 2.5 - 3 billion cards in use
by 2000 - 2001 AD.
[1997/07/23]
May 25, 1997, Electronic Engineering Times reports that
Sun's JavaSoft group has developed a Java dialect called
"JavaCard" for smart cards.
[1997/05/31]
Mar. 26, 1997, PR Newswire reports that IBM Corp., Netscape
Communications Corporation, Oracle and Sun Microsystems Inc.
announced OpenCard(TM) Framework, "the first smart card standard
enabling access to personalized data and services from any
network computer." A "smart card" in this context is a "security
key" device for identifying the user. The OpenCard Framework is
an interfacing standard to allow any smart card to be used with
any network computer from any location.
[1997/04/04]
Mar. 20, 1997, BusinessWire reports that Motorola is entering
the "smartcard" industry establishing a new business unit
"Smartcard Systems Business (SSB)".
[1997/03/30]
Feb. 18, 1997, Information Week reports that Certicom of Mississauga,
Ontario, announced it has developed with Schlumberger Electronic
Transaction Group, a smart card using digital signatures for
authentication and identitification. The card uses Certicom's Elliptic
Curve Cryptosystem public key algorithm in Schlumberger's Multiflex
smart card.
[1997/02/20]
The following news items all reflect developments in "television
systems" interfacing with digital technologies. Again, they can
be ways of getting data into a mobile information product, or getting data
to a destination making mobile information technology unnecessary.
[1997/02/14]
Aug. 15, 1997, Canada News Wire reports that SelectView Cable, Inc.,
of Toronto has notified the CRTC it intends to appeal a CRTC decision
to award licenses for digital multi-point distribution (MDS) system
for southern Ontario, eastern Ontario and western Quebec to Teleglobe
Inc. of Montreal, alleging procedural errors.
[1997/08/19]
Feb. 21, 1997, PR Newswire reports that Samsung Electro-Mechanics
in Concord, Ontario has announced first delivery of their Samsung-brand
satellite receiver DRS 2000.
[1997/02/25]
Feb. 11, 1997, Newsbytes reports that Intel and WavePhore announced
availability of a developer kit to develop products incorporating
this technology which uses encoded computer data broadcast during
vertical blank time.
[1997/02/14]
Mar. 8, 1997, PR Newswire reports that TCI Satellite Entertainment,
Inc. successfully launched their new TEMPO communications satellite.
[1997/03/11]
Feb. 10, 1997, Canada NewsWire reports that Tee-Comm Electronics
Inc. announced their uplink centre is fully operational.
[1997/02/14]
Feb. 28, 1997, Canada NewsWire reports that AlphaStar Canada
"direct to home satellite television" service has announced
its introductory broadcast and pay-per-view channel line-up.
Canadians can all 1-888-ALPHASTAR for more information.
[1997/03/02]
Feb. 28, 1997, Globe and Mail Newswire reposts Telesat Canada
plans to launch a new $300-million (Cdn) satellite for Direct
Broadcast Satellite services. Approval of Industry Canada is
still necessary.
[1997/03/02]
Feb. 28, 1997 Globe and Mail Newswire reports that Alcatel Alsthom
is asking the US FCC for permission to provide satellite telecom
services for the US.
[1997/03/02]
Feb. 10, 1997, Newsbytes reports that GI licensed its MPEG-2
technology to Pace who will use it to make satellite set-top
boxes for North America.
General Instruments
[1997/02/14]
Feb. 25, 1997, Globe and Mail News Wire reports that Rupert Murdoch's
News Corp is buying 50% of EchoStar Communications Corp. for $1 billion
(US). EchoStar is based in Englewood, Colorado, US supplies a "direct
broadcast satellite" (DBS) service called DISH Network.
[1997/02/25]
Feb. 1, 1997, Amy Rogers, CommunicationsWeek reports that new 56Kbps modems
rarely deliver 56Kbps. US regs currently disallow MODEM usage beyond 53Kbps,
and the technology really doesn't provide it consistently anyway.
[1997/02/09]
Feb. 21, 1997, Canadian Corp News reports that Telepanel Systems Inc.,
a maker of wireless electronic shelf pricing systems for retail stores
announced that it has been awarded a grant under the National Research
Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program.
[1997/02/25]
Jan. 30, 1997, Canadian Corporate News reports that "Telepanel
Systems Inc. has received an order for electronic shelf pricing
systems from "The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, subject to
negotiations. Prices are radio linked to the stores' cash registers
for up-to-date pricing. This is a Patented "radio frequency
technology utilizing Telepanel's advanced software and tranceiver
network."
[1997/02/02]
Aug. 19, 1997, Canada News Wire reports that VideoServer, Inc. and
Tandberg will be working together in videoconferencing. VideoServer
and Tandberg were the first companies to demonstrate H.263 video
multipoint conferencing.
http://www.videoserver.com/
[1997/08/22]
May 22, 1997, Electronic Engineering Times reports that a number
of PC-subsystems vendors believe the new H.323 standard of for
videoconferencing of the International Telecommunications Union
will spark rapid deployment and adoption of the technology.
[1997/05/31]
Announced today, new, for the Canadian market, PictureTel SwiftSite. This is
a portable video conferencing system containing almost all the hardware except
a television set. The unit weighs about 10 lbs., so its portability is
mainly limited by the size of the TV set you decided to use with it. The
cost is about $12,000.00 Cdn., which is substantially less than previous
"boardroom quality" products. Hookup requires "mains" power, and an ISDN
line.
PictureTel Corporation
100 Minuteman Road, Andover, MA, 01810, USA
(508) 292-5000
[1996/11/14]
Feb. 7, 1997 TechWire reports that Hitatchi and Pace Micro Technology have
announced a $300.00 PCI card to receive satellite data. I've been
reading this article and I can't figure out exactly what the capabilities
of the card really are. Sorry. . . .
[1997/02/09]
Feb. 28, 1997, PR Newswire reports that AG Communications Systems
has announced ROAMEO(TM) wireless in-building telephone system.
AG Communications Systems
[1997/03/02]
Aug. 6, 1997, The Globe and Mail News Wire reports that Montreal
based Teleglobe Inc. has been granted a licence to provide a
"multichannel multipoint distribution system" (MMDS) service which
is commonly called wireless cable television.
[1997/08/12]