This post was written by Tara Singer
Verizon Wireless’s new Blitz is an inexpensive, effective little texting and e-mailing phone for kids. This funny, chubby (3.5 by 2.6 by 0.7 inches HWD, 5.1 ounces) little slider phone looks like some sort of portable gaming device. The QWERTY keyboard has keys used for dialing numbers are small and close together, which can make them a little difficult to press and can cramp the phone’s gaming experience. But the Blitz has one major advantage: It’s available on prepaid plans, from Wal-Mart, for $99.
Ruckus Wireless is a cheaper alternative and just as reliable as the big players. There’s no need to run cabling between them, which is a huge advantage when it comes to saving setup time and costs. The Ruckus BeamFlex antenna technology is a marvel of engineering. The ZoneDirector, a super-7942 AP, manages communication with your entire mesh of APs. Ruckus’s mesh solution is highly resilient and performs well under brutal wireless conditions. The Ruckus Wireless ZoneDirector 1000, a ZoneFlex 7942 combination, is a gem for small businesses that need Wi-Fi coverage.
MetaGeek’s Wi-Spy DBx uses an industry-standard antenna connector (RP-SMA) that enhances the flexibility of the device. Software installation is wizard-driven and takes less time to install than to download. It takes a little while to get acclimated to the Chanalyzer interface; thankfully the help section is well-written and informative. A great new feature is the ability to install Wi-Spy DBx at a remote site and still access it. Overall, Wi-Spy DBx is a great tool for those looking to troubleshoot WLAN interference quickly, easily and inexpensively.
Mistral has announced the Indian launch of Smartvue S8, a next-generation wireless network video surveillance solution. Based on the latest 802.11n WLAN standard and true peer-to-peer video management, this IP surveillance solution offers long-range wireless capability coupled with high quality video and audio with global remote video management and access. The S8 network video camera offers a patented and award-winning design that is small enough to fit into the palm of a hand. The wireless NVR supports up to 20 cameras and stores up to 1,000 hours of video.
O2(SM) Wireless, a national provider of wireless services, joined forces with Debisys, a division of Emida and a leader in the global prepayment / value transfer market, have announced their newest joint venture to sell O2(SM) Wireless products and services in Debisys’ 10,000+ retail affiliates. Charles Callis, Vice President of Corporate Marketing at Debisys said “The O2(SM) Wireless product, with its simple and pure cellular service, truly makes life easier. Their key Free International calling feature to Mexico and other prominent Spanish-speaking countries, really complements our focus on the Latin demographic and further creates a seamless partnership on both ends.”
TRENDnet has announced innovative TV-M7, a 7-inch Wireless Internet Camera and Photo Monitor that streams camera video wirelessly in real-time and can also be used as a photo frame. It claims to be the first ever 7-inch Wireless Internet Camera and Photo Monitor. The TV-M7 effortlessly connects to your wireless network and detects wired as well as wireless TRENDnet Internet Security Cameras to stream videos wirelessly in real-time. It also acts like a photo frame and displays slideshows, plays personal videos and music.
Powerwave Technologies Inc. said that its Universal WiMAX Digital Radio Head (DRH) has been named the winner of the 2008 Product Innovation Award in the “WiMAX” category, by Network Products Guide, a Silicon Valley Communications publication. The awards recognize vendors from all over the world that are supporting essential and incremental technology advances through products and solutions that raise the bar for innovation in all areas of information technology. Designed for operation with next-generation base stations, Powerwave’s universal WiMAX DRH is an IEEE 802.16e transceiver, featuring Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) electrical or optical interfaces, which can be optimized for customer specific applications. The CPRI interface supports redundancy and carries bi-directional signal and control data, including alarms for antenna VSWR, LNA failure, digital input overdrive and erroneous configuration requests from the baseband unit.
Artimi Inc. and CC&C Technologies Inc. announced that CC&C will launch production-ready Wireless USB hard disk drive (HDD) and Wireless USB projector designs this week based on Artimi’s easily integrated high speed Wireless USB solutions. Following evaluation of Artimi’s Wireless USB solutions, CC&C has now developed high-performance platforms for a Wireless USB hard disk drive and a Wireless USB projector adapter, and will be demonstrating production-ready solutions at this week’s Computex show in Taipei. The hard disk drive and the projector adapter both integrate a Wireless USB module, based on Artimi’s unique Zero Install plug & play platform that requires no driver installation on the host PC.
Nokia and Rogers Wireless have announced the Canadian availability of the Nokia E71. The sleek, stainless steel Nokia E71 design optimizes the user experience inside and out with a one touch key to access email, a full QWERTY keyboard, and intuitive calendar. It is the thinnest full QWERTY smartphone in Rogers’ extensive line up of innovative mobile devices, offering Canadians a range of functions for both their professional and personal needs. Business users who use Microsoft Exchange can access email using Mail for Exchange mobile email client which comes pre-loaded on the Nokia E71.
Nortel Networks Corp. has agreed to team up with the Israeli technology provider Alvarion Ltd. to deliver long-range wireless access to customers. The collaboration will involve Alvarion’s radio access network capabilities and Nortel’s network gear and services. Nortel intends to focus its main wireless R&D efforts on a fourth-generation broadband technology called LTE and wireless applications, leaving WiMAX development to Alvarion. The company said