News Briefs, Friday, April 7, 2006
Alcatel trades satellite division for Thales’ shares
French telecom equipment maker Alcatel announced it will swap its satellite division for a 21.7% stake in Thales. Alcatel had a 9.5 percent stake in the company before the agreement and now will hold a 31.2% stake in Thales, according to a joint company statement. The French government’s stake was reduced from 31.3 to 27.1 percent as part of the agreement.
802.11i compliant wireless access point receives first FIPS 140-2 validation
3e Technologies announced it is the first wireless vendor to receive FIPS 140-2 validation from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for an 802.11i compliant wireless-access-point. The AirGuard 3e-525A-3 wireless APs are used in mobile law-enforcement and rapid-deployment communications systems, according to a company statement.
N.C. sheriff’s department adds touch-screen computers to 911 system
The sheriff’s office in Cleveland County, N.C., implemented a quarter-million-dollar upgrade to its 911 communications system that will let dispatchers communicate with emergency personal more efficiently. The county purchased 10 new touch-screen computers, each with the ability to make outgoing calls and receive incoming calls.
Scottsdale goes wireless
Scottsdale, Ariz., went wireless this week, with computer users and those with hand-held wireless devices able to access the Internet anywhere downtown by connecting to the city’s Wi-Fi network and paying an hourly, daily or monthly fee. Wildfire Broadband Wireless Communications installed the network.
Lucent receives ‘most innovative award’ at wireless show
Lucent Technologies’ base station router was selected as the first-place winner of CTIA’s 2006 Wireless Emerging Technologies Award in the category of “Most Innovative In-Building Solution.” The award program recognizes wireless products and services in the areas of consumer, enterprise and network technology, CTIA said.
