Video Sonim: CEO Bob Plaschke highlights features of company’s new rugged car kits for LTE handsets 1st September 2016 Sonim Technologies Chairman and CEO Bob Plaschke showcases characteristics of the company’s rugged USB-connected car kit, which is designed to meet the needs of public-safety and military customers. Sonim also offers a Bluetooth-connected version of the car at a lower price point for users that do not require some of public-safety and military features.
Video Cradlepoint: Mike Browne highlights company’s hardware, software solutions 30th August 2016 Mike Browne, solutions engineering manager at Cradlepoint, showcases the company’s modem offerings and software solutions that are designed to ease management of bandwidth from multiple providers.
News FirstNet board approves budget for 2017 fiscal year 29th August 2016 FirstNet board members vote to approve a $6.585 billion budget for fiscal year 2017, although only $85 million is expected to be used for the organization’s operations for the upcoming year. The remaining $6.5 billion will be disbursed to the contractor building FirstNet’s nationwide public-safety broadband network when deployment thresholds are met during the next several years.
News PTT-over-cellular solutions make compelling case for LMR replacement, webinar speakers say 25th August 2016 Trials of mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) services meeting the 3GPP standard are expected to begin next year, but push-to-talk-over-cellular (PoC) solutions have evolved enough during the past year to be considered as an LMR replacement for non-public-safety users, panelists said during a webinar exploring the topic.
Commentary Reappointment of Swenson to top spot on FirstNet board is great news for public safety 23rd August 2016 Sue Swenson’s reappointment as chairwoman of FirstNet should be viewed as a big win for public safety, based on Swenson’s contributions to date and her expertise in operating wireless networks.
Video City of Richardson (Texas): Steve Graves describes transition from LMR to enhanced PTT offering 19th August 2016 Steve Graves, chief information officer for the city of Richardson, Texas, describes the operational and financial benefits achieved by having general-government employees leverage a carrier-based push-to-talk (PTT) service. Public-safety users also plan to use the carrier PTT technology to supplement communications on the existing P25 system.
News FirstNet names eight recipients in $26.8 million grant program to relocate 700 MHz narrowband systems 18th August 2016 FirstNet announces that eight public-safety entities will receive a total of $26.8 million to fund the relocation of their narrowband systems to different 700 MHz frequencies, clearing the airwaves for FirstNet’s nationwide public-safety broadband network that is scheduled to be built during the next several years.
Video PSAC: Chairman Harlin McEwen highlights key points of local-control report to FirstNet 18th August 2016 Harlin McEwen, chairman of the Public-Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC), says he believes that public-safety agencies will be able to have an adequate level of local control on the proposed FirstNet nationwide broadband system for first responders. The PSAC recently submitted its local-control report to FirstNet.
Video Fairfax County: Michael Newburn explains replacement of general-government LMR system with carrier enhanced PTT service 18th August 2016 Michael Newburn, wireless manager for Fairfax County, Va., outlines the reasoning behind the decision to replace an aging analog LMR system for general government employees with an enhanced push-to-talk (PTT) service. The decision saved the county more than $16 million in upfront costs and more than $2 million annually.
Commentary When your hands are full, new technology may let your eyes carry the load 17th August 2016 Public-safety personnel in the field want the information that broadband applications can deliver, but they often need to keep their heads up and their hands free, precluding the use of typical consumer devices. Motorola Solutions’ proof-of-concept virtual-reality demonstration featuring Eyefluence technology may provide the seed of a solution to this problem.
Is LMR the best solution for first responders? Should 4.9 GHz license go to the FirstNet Authority? 24th March 2024
FirstNet Authority reauthorization needed as public-safety-driven network evolution proceeds 16th March 2024