A new point-to-multipoint data transmission service over cellular telephone networks is the final aim of the new agreement between McCaw Cellular Communications Inc and Oracle Systems Corp in the US (CI No 1,815). Oracle, which has developed the system, is claiming that it will bring big advantages over other services, namely that it will be much cheaper than using satellite technology and much faster than other radio data transmission techniques such as paging and current cellular data transmission methods. What is still not clear, however, is whether Oracle has a new technology up its sleeve, or whether it has simply optimised existing techniques for data transmission and compression: Dick Brass, president of Oracle’s Data Publishing Unit, who will run the new venture, refused to be drawn on just how Oracle has achieved these new fast speeds, or what speeds they are, but said that they were much, much faster than using existing techniques. It is clear, however, that the new system is still in its infancy – according to Brass, there is a long way between the Seattle test and a functional service. Indeed, he commented further that it will be many months before we even know whether there will be a service. Assuming that everything goes to plan, Oracle will be looking for partners when in moves into the UK and Asian markets. As to the applications at which the service will be aimed, the company is bullishly claiming that one of these in particular will revolutionise the relationship between software suppliers and customers – rather than receiving software updates through the post on a floppy disk, they will have them transmitted direct into their computers over the cellular airwaves via a reception board in the back of the personal computer. This will also bring advantages to software suppliers, since they will be able to broadcast simultaneously to all their customers that have requested the update. This, Brass claims, will lead to a fundamental change in the customer-supplier relationship – software will become a subscription business.Instead of buying software and being hunted down for an update, you will be able to subscribe and receive updates on an ongoing basis. He also points out that this will bring cash flow advantages to software suppliers, which will be able to sign up and charge customers in advance, potentially before the new software version has even been developed. Other applications the companies envisage are currently available using other technologies, predominantly data paging, and include customer access to on-line databases, distribution of facsimile, and the bulk transmission of documents. Transmission of electronic mail is also being targetted, although Oracle and McCaw have just been pipped to the post by Ericsson GE and Anterior Technologyy as the first that will offer wireless electronic mail links.
