m-learning Forum News - Archive
April 2002
April 2002
(USA)
3G mobiles –
Potential for m-learning
Through analysis of 3G developments and the potential uses of 3G mobiles for m-learning, Tressa Stephen Gipe highlights features and applications, challenges to implementation and the future for 3G wireless. She also includes various 3G resources (Source: TechKnowlogic April-June 2002 see article you will need to register first)
25 April 2002
(USA) Report Ranks Palm Bluetooth Card and PicoBlue Internet Access Point as Best Wireless Internet and LAN Access Solution
According to a new In-Stat/MDR report called "Bluetooth Real-World Deployment & Product Evaluations: A User's Perspective," the Bluetooth-enabled Palm handheld paired with a PicoBlue Internet Access Point gained the highest rating for Internet and LAN access solutions. "It’s the top-rated PDA in our report," said Joyce Putscher, director of Converging Markets & Technologies Research Group at In-Stat/MDR. (Source: Pico Communications) (see press release)
(USA) BlueChat & BlueBoard highly rated
Palm’s two Bluetooth collaboration applications included with the Palm Bluetooth Card, BlueChat and BlueBoard were highly rated by a new In-Stat/MDR report called "Bluetooth Real-World Deployment & Product Evaluations: A User's Perspective." BlueChat is a private messaging and chat application that allows two Palm handheld users to chat from up to 30 feet away. BlueBoard, a whiteboard-style application, allows up to four Palm handheld users to collaborate and share ideas. Both of these applications would be suitable for mobile learning in classrooms. (Source: Palm) (see press release)
23 April 2002
(UK) Texas Instruments Wireless Chips launched
Texas Instruments have launched new chips that can power new services including 'voice instant messaging,' via handhelds, through the development OMAP (open multimedia applications platform) processors, aimed at delivering voice and enhanced multimedia applications for 2.5G and 3G (third generation) wireless phones, PDAs s(personal digital assistants) and mobile Internet appliances. (see press release)(see article)
22 April 2002
(USA) Study Reveals Impact of Handheld Educational Technology
The findings of a research project for Texas Instruments, on the use and value of handheld graphing technology, found that gains in student learning of mathematics with handheld graphing technology are directly related to how the technology is used in the teaching process. The results also indicated that handheld graphing technology can be an important factor in helping students develop a better understanding of mathematical concepts, score higher on performance measures, and achieve a higher level of problem solving skills. (Source: Texas Instruments) (see press release)
(USA) Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC helps firefighters
Fire fighters throughout the Western U.S. are using Compaq's award-winning iPAQ Pocket PC to help fight fires. Using the iPAQ Pocket PC with ArcPad software, a helicopter can fly over the fire, collect immediate data, and digitally map the geographic coordinates of a fire in real time. This is then transported back to GPS technical specialists at the fire command centre, where it is downloaded on a computer network and can be wirelessly accessed with iPAQ Pocket PCs by fire fighters in the field. (Source: Compaq) (see press release)
(USA) Identix Inc. launches fingerprint security for smartcards
Identix Incorporated has launched its BioCard(TM) Software Developers Kit, which will enable the integration of fingerprint biometric templates on smart cards. Identix Chairman & CEO Bob McCashin commented, "As the data on smart cards become more valuable, the need to ensure that the right person is accessing the right information or entering an authorized facility is critical to prevent fraudulent and criminal activities. (Source: Identix) (see press release)
(USA) New chip to overcome bottlenecks
Broadcom Corporation has announced a breakthrough chip technology that will enable a 10-Gigabit per second (Gbps) serial transmission over a variety of copper media. This will alleviate bottlenecks and reduce the cost of moving large amounts of data in high-speed switching and routing networks by increasing the reliability and speed of multi-Gigabit data transmission over copper. (Source: Broadcom) (see press release)
(USA) DigitalThink launch learning delivery system
DigitalThink have developed their SCORM-native learning delivery system, which can provide a learning environment for any standards-based e-learning content developed by DigitalThink or anyone else. This new delivery system offers flexibility and quality and was designed specifically to deliver SCORM-based content, making it the only SCORM-native delivery system available in e-learning today. (Source: DigitalThink) (see press release)
(USA) Worldwide Smart Handheld Device Shipments Declined 12.1%
The worldwide handheld device market has declined by 12.1% year-on-year in the first quarter, and dropped sequentially by 25.4% to 3.25 million.However, Weili Su, a senior analyst for IDC's Smart Handheld Devices research service has said, "While we don't expect a rapid turnaround, the seeds of recovery are being sown. The worldwide handheld device shipment growth may pick up more rapidly toward the end of the year as vendors debut new wireless-enabled product offerings." (Source: IDC) (see press release)
(USA) Schools get grants for Wearable Computers
The Coventry Local School District, OHIO, has received several state grants to purchase Xybernaut Corporation ,XyberKids wearable computers. XyberKids is a full desktop-equivalent wearable computer platform based on Xybernaut's Mobile Assistant® (MA® ) V product. It integrates a variety of educational applications such as speech/handwriting recognition and peripheral devices. XyberKids brings the power of a desktop computer to a wearable package that assists teachers and children both in and out of the classroom. (see press release)
18 April 2002
(UK) Customers Shun GPRS-enabled handsets
Carphone Warehouse announced
that consumers are turning their backs on new mobile phone technology, as
according to Charles Dunstone, chief executive, his stores were selling about
35,000 GPRS-enabled handsets monthly but fewer than 200 consumers a month were
signing up for the service. Mr Dunstone said customers were put off by the
additional charges for the new technology. “Customers don't buy technology,
they buy things they can do. You can go to WAP [wireless internet] sites but
there is not really anything you are going to pay much for."
(Germany) Vodaphone D2’s MultiMedia Messaging Service starts 3 months early
Vodafone D2 has started its Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) three months early, allowing users to send text and pictures with mobile phones, for the first three months cost free. The service will enable Vodafone D2 users to take pictures with their mobile and send them to their friends if they have a special MMS mobile phone, which costs approximately EUR 500.
(NL) I-Mode launched in the Netherlands
Following the successful launch of i-mode in Germany on the March through E-Plus (see press release), KPN mobile has launched i-mode in the Netherlands. i-mode has been developed by Japan’s NTT DoCoMo for mobile data services. With i-mode, users are able to e-mail and access highly diverse information and service offerings via their mobile handsets, including news reports, weather forecasts, transport/traffic information, sports news, leisure and fun/gaming. i-mode customers are 'always on'; there is no need to log in and out to use i-mode. Customers pay for the amount of data they send and receive, instead of for the duration of the connection. The interest in i-mode was predicted by market research, which exposed a need for additional functions and services in mobile communication and revealed that consumers are prepared to pay the extras. (see press release)
17 April 2002
(France) NTT DoCoMo to form alliance with Bouygues Telecom
NTT DoCoMo and Bouygues Telecom are to announce an alliance to offer wireless Internet services in France. Bouygues Telecom, with a subscriber base of 6.6 million, is expected to start services based on DoCoMo's i-mode wireless Internet service by the end of the year, according to a report by the Nihon Keizai newspaper. Under the terms of the deal DoCoMo will provide technology to Bouygues Telecom, which will build a computer network and look for content providers. NEC and Matsushita Communication Industrial will supply the phones.
(USA) 2.5G Wireless Service launched in California
Cingular Wireless has launched it’s 2.5G Wireless service in California and Reno, Nevada, with plans to extend the service throughout many regions of America by the end of 2002. "It gives consumers the flexibility to toggle between an Internet session- say wireless access to email - and a phone call or text message without having to abandon their connection." said Stephen Carter, CEO of Cingular, he also predicts that "By the end of 2003, all of our major markets will be 3G-capable." (see press release)
(USA) Mobile Solutions to be used for reading Assessments
Wireless Generation who produce state-of-the-art handheld technology products for K - 12 education, have revealed mCLASS, an assessment platform that allows mobile observational assessment tools across the curriculum to be built upon. Wireless Generation are currently developing mobile solutions on mCLASS for several states' early reading assessments and establishing partnerships with test assessment publishers to develop reading assessment products that run on the mCLASS platform. (see Wireless Generation website)
16 April 2002
(USA) 22 Mbps wireless access networking products on Sale now
U.S. Robotics® has introduced its 22 megabits per second (Mbps) wireless access networking products, which will deliver increased performance and backwards compatibility with popular 802.11b 11 Mbps products, the product line includes 22 Mbps Wireless Access PC Cards, 22 Mbps Wireless Access PCI Adapters and 22 Mbps Wireless Access Points that deliver high-speed, Plug-and-Play connectivity and networking solutions for the home, small office/home office and small-to-medium-sized businesses. (see press release)
(USA) Enhanced mobile solutions for WebFOCUS
Information Builders have announced new features for WebFOCUS, which include data capture and update capabilities on mobile devices, seamless e-mail-based reporting from all Web applications, and full support for BlackBerry Wireless Handhelds™ from Research In Motion. The latest enhancements deliver closed-loop mobile business intelligence solutions for all handheld devices, by allowing users to perform data capture and update from handheld devices, report via e-mail from any Web application, and access existing information assets. (see press release)
11 April 2002
(UK) Seamless 3D User Experiences on Wireless Devices
ARM, Imagination Technologies and Superscape are collaborating to develop and deliver powerful, seamless 3D experiences to users of mobile devices. The three companies will work together to to provide developers with a completely compatible hardware and software solution. Developers of Superscape’s Swerve technology-enabled content can now also access hardware 3D acceleration features comparable to the capabilities of games consoles or PC platforms. (see press release)
(UK) Sun Microsystems & Vuico to deliver next generation wireless Internet software
Sun Microsystems has teamed up
with Vuico and NTT Software to offer wireless carriers and handset OEM's
advanced mobile computing technology. This service has been designed to enable
users of 2.5G and 3G Web-enabled smart phones, PDA's and wireless appliances
to take advantage of the most advanced wireless network capabilities.(see
press release)
(Europe)
Bright future for Wireless LAN
The European Wireless LAN market
is growing due to the adoption and strong support of wireless standard
802.11b, coupled with the consequent decline in costs, according to a new
study by Frost & Sullivan, which notes that the networking effect will act
as the most significant contributor to the high growth rates in the European
Wlan market. The European Wlan market, currently worth $260.75 million (EUR
293.37), is set to reach $976 million in 2006. (see
press release)
10 April 2002
(USA) IDC research points to WLAN as the next disruptive technology
WLANs are expected to have a
similar impact on network equipment as mobile phones had on the traditional
voice network. Worldwide revenue for WLAN equipment reached $1.45 billion in
2001, up 34.2% from 2000, and is expected to grow in 2006 to $3.72 billion
according to a recent IDC report. (see
press release)
(USA) Airpath
Wireless joins Colubris to expand wireless roaming access
Colubris Networks and Airpath Wireless have integrated Colubris’ products with Airpath's Roaming technology to expand Airpath's Wi-Fi Hot Spots. A "Hot Spot" is a location that is frequented by the segment of the general public that use laptops or handheld devices and have a need for portable high-speed broadband Internet Access. (see press release)
(China) Motorola
Demo’s Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)
In China, Motorola demonstrated its first high-speed audio and data call through a live, completely integrated end-to-end UMTS system. The demonstrations showed some practical uses for mobile phones using today's emerging 3G technologies and allowed visitors to experience real-time videoconferences, play online games, enjoy high-speed Internet browsing, e-mail and deliver short message services from the UMTS system to current commercialised GSM handsets. (see press release)
(USA) First Independent Wireless Technology Lab Opens
The Management Network Group and inCode Telecom Group, have announced the official opening of the first independent next-generation end-to-end wireless development and testing laboratory on 12th April 2002. The lab aims to solve complex network integration and to both test and evaluate network element integration, new services and applications such as SMS, MMS, 3G/IP-based services, E911, location based services, telematics, 802.11 wireless LAN, prepaid solutions and BSS/OSS applications. (see press release)