Schaumberg, Illinois-based Motorola Inc has announced new software that it hopes will form the standard for seamlessly integrating disparate wireless and wired data networks (CI No 2,158), and seems to have attracted a broad base of support. While it was unable to gain the backing of L M Ericsson Telefon AB – which manufactures the Mobitex system, one of the two most-widely used wireless data networks – it did win RAM Mobile Data Inc, the New York company that operates Mobitex networks in several countries. Not surprisingly, Ardis network operators in the US and Canada also lent their support: Ardis is a Motorola-IBM Corp joint venture, and chief rival to Mobitex. Other supporters include BT North America, General Magic Corp, Psion Plc, SHL Systemhouse Ltd and Tandem Computers Inc. The announcement was made by Motorola’s Paging and Wireless Data Group. Its technology consists of software that – coupled with switching hardware – is claimed to form an intelligent data gateway that handles the routing and delivery of messages, information such as user preferences (for a particular network or class of service), billing and settlement information, and directory services. It includes a tool kit and an Application Programming Interface. Motorola has also issued a deployment timetable; beta testing is under way, and the company hopes for a demonstration in June, followed by field testing with end-users in July. A product announcement is scheduled for the third quarter, followed by operational service for beta customers in the final quarter. The company is aiming to persuade private and public wireless and wireline data network operators, application developers and manufacturers of computing and communicating devices and infrastructure equipment to license the software architecture.
