Wave Report

The WAVE Report on Digital Media
3D --- Media Creation --- Shared Space
---Published by 4th Wave, Inc.---
Issue #0129------------------6/14/01

The WAVE Report is Searchable on

http://www.3dlinks.com
http://www.wave-report.com/search/search.htm

--------------------------------------

0129.1 Hot Topics
    Cable 2001
      Robert Sachs Opens Cable 2001
      WAVE Comments
      A Short Warning by FCC Commissioner Powell
      The Path of Big Returns: We're Making Broadband
      Happen

0129.2 Story of the Issue
    Passive Optical Network (PON) Products Expected to Gain
      Market Share

0129.3   3D
    3D ModelWORKS Debuts a Web Site for Marketing/Selling 3D
      Content
    Cambridge's Animo 4.0 Provides New Features
    Fakespace Announces Sale of Immersive Display Systems
      for Energy Resource Exploration

0129.4 Federal Communications Commission
    FCC Proposes Amendment to Rules to Facilitate Deployment
      of High Speed Wireless Devices
    Wi-LAN Gets Green Light From FCC To Sell W-OFDM Products
      in U.S.
    Cirronet to Deliver Commercial Wireless Last-mile
      Product Utilizing FCC Regulation Changes

0129.5 Wireless
    GSM Reaches Half Billion Landmark
    Socket Trials Bluetooth with Japanese Telecom Operator

--------------------------------------

0129.1 Hot Topics

Cable 2001
by Amanda Rogos

***Robert Sachs Opens Cable 2001
(June 11)

The year 2001 marks the NCTA's (National Cable Television 
Association) 50th annual convention - the first taking place in 
Pottsville, Pennsylvania in 1952. Since that time, the industry 
has grown to a $48 billion industry and encompasses more than 
just television - offering 80 channels of analog video, growing 
digital options, movies on demand, and high-speed Internet 
service. Recently the networks have also begun to offer 
interactive services and telephony.

Robert Sachs, the NCTA's CEO and President estimated that over 
the past five years the industry has invested nearly $50 billion 
to upgrade more than three-quarters of a million miles of plant 
with fiber optics. Sachs claims that this has resulted in more 
than 12 million consumer subscriptions to digital cable services. 
This is more than 135,000 digital customer installations every 
week. 

Other initiatives mentioned include Cable in the Classroom, a 
service that provides free high-speed Internet to schools and 
libraries as well as child, parent and teacher education. And the 
industry's cable modem service, which is available to almost 60 
million U.S. households. The service has over five million 
subscribers and 70,000 more are signing up each week. Lastly 
cable's phone services provide one million residential phone 
customers with telephony. 

The result of these service deployments? According to Sachs it 
is, "Fierce competition and rapid growth in this critical sector 
of our economy." And citing the success of the 1996 
Telecommunications Act, Sachs boasted that rate deregulation has 
enabled the industry to invest billions in technology, 
programming and customer care, bringing competitive choices to 
consumers. 

In light of the fact that the NCTA show features a host of public 
policy sessions and is attended by many government 
representatives, he finished on a hopeful note, saying that in 
his view, "Public policy makers understand that cable is very 
different than it was a decade ago. And most understand that we 
face strong competition in every facet of our business. As 
importantly, there is a growing recognition that our industry is 
the leader in making broadband happen."

***WAVE Comments
By John Latta

Put in another way - we invested a lot of money in an uncertain 
business, please help us protect it. And as the FCC Commissioner 
stated (A Short Warning by FCC Commissioner Powell), put in 
another way - do not expect to get any help from me and there are 
areas where you need to clean up you act. These are the dynamics 
of regulated telecommunications. Each side jockeying for favor 
with the other in a continually changing technology and political 
landscape. In the end the cable industry cannot rely on politics 
and it must deliver value to consumers. Hard lesson for them to 
learn.

***A Short Warning by FCC Commissioner Powell

Yesterday, FCC Chairman Michael Powell spoke briefly (very 
briefly) at Cable 2001's keynote session. During his presentation 
he seemed to have two goals - one to issue a warning to the cable 
industry about possible regulatory retaliation if they did not 
preserve choice, partner with, not fight programmers and service 
partner initiatives, and keep prices reasonable. And two, to 
disguise the fact that his presentation held a warning. 

To this effect he compared the history of the cable industry to a 
fairy tale. Early in its history the industry was widely 
perceived as the toad of the communications sector - regulatory 
policy was hostile due to its view that cable was a dangerous 
upstart that threatened the broadcast industry, Wall street was 
not enamored by the heavy debt funding, and consumers were less 
than satisfied due to rising prices and decreasing quality.

Recently though, a "digital kiss" was placed on this toad - IP 
networks and digitization began to move cable to center stage. 
Powell claimed that due to technological advances video has risen 
to new levels; offering expanded programming channels, increased 
choice, VOD, and interactive television. In addition advanced 
broadband services are being rolled as we speak. Powell even 
stated that some industry observers believe these broadband 
services may be as significant to the economy as were electricity 
and the telephone system. 

To back up these claims Powell gave the following statistics:

Spending on Infrastructure
1992          2000
$2.2billion $12.4bil 2000

Growth of national cable networks
1992          2000
87             281

The Commissioner then moved on to the task at hand stating, 
"Sadly with the history of this industry we must ask. Will it 
last?" 

In his eyes, the answer will depend on the industry's "ability to 
manage change and address the anxieties that arise when a market 
has a clear competitive edge." Clearly a warning, especially when 
followed with a numbered list of items "to watch for."

Digital television transition
Powell urged the cable industry to become a productive partner 
not an obstacle to the broadcasters' transition. (Editorial 
comment: A hint at the recent must carry debate?)

Program access/vertical market power
Cable should be a digital gateway and not misuse their power to 
prevent programmers from getting to consumers. (Editorial 
comment: This is the same old common carriage argument put in a 
different way - Powell is using it to support customers, very 
interesting).

Broadband/interactive TV
Preserving variety and choice will be essential to this market 
success. 

Consumer value
Powell suggested that consumer value must remain high, warning 
that price, the amount of choice and quality are problems that 
call for government action. (Editorial comment: A not very veiled 
threat about rising prices?)

Powell ended by claiming that for the industry to succeed without 
government "help," choice in telephone service, diversity of 
information, news and entertainment are needed. And reverting 
back to his fairy tale beginning, he concluded by saying, "It is 
a challenge worthy of a prince." Nice cover.

***The Path of Big Returns: We're Making Broadband Happen
(June 12)

During a panel session at the Cable show, representatives from 
the cable, network and enterprise markets discussed investments, 
the future of interactive television, VOD and the fate of 
advertising in this new market. Since the discussion was so wide-
ranging we have organized this article by topic.

Panelists
CEO Lifetime Entertainment Services - Carole Black
President A&E Television Networks - Nickolas Davatzes
President & CEO AT&T Broadband - Dan Somers 
Senior VP Microsoft TV Division - Jon DeVaan
President & CEO Wink Communication - Maggie Wilderotter
President Insight Communications - Michael Willner

Topics
Microsoft Investment in AT&T and Broadband
According to Jon DeVaan, Microsoft is a software company and does 
not want to own wires or content. Instead, the company will use 
their investment ability to help foster this part of the economy 
due to the fact that as broadband networks expand, software will 
be needed to drive the services. Toward this goal, the company is 
a strategic partner with several companies providing interactive 
TV and set-top box products - AT&T being one of them.

When asked about AT&T's recent announcement about downsizing to a 
simpler version of the interactive-television service it has been 
developing with Microsoft, DeVaan claimed that although progress 
has been slow the company is not rethinking their investment 
decisions. On the other hand, the company believes that because 
these initiatives are on the forefront of the industry, some 
things go right and some go wrong - and that is normal.

As background, AT&T and Microsoft had reached a deal under which 
Microsoft invested $5 billion to provide software for TV set-top 
boxes that would deliver high-speed Internet access, digital TV 
and telephone service. AT&T market research recently indicated, 
though, that consumers weren't ready for many of the planned 
advanced features. Analysts believe that the move could also be a 
cost-saving measure to prepare for the company's restructuring 
effort (to split AT&T Broadband into a stand-alone company).

Interactive Services
Wink Communication's Maggie Wilderotter stated that she believes 
the technology is often too far ahead of the consumer, which has 
slowed the industry down. Today set-top boxes offer 200-300 
channels, an electronic program guide, some interactive 
television, and modem/Internet access, and she believes that 
consumers may need to get comfortable with those services before 
more are introduced.

Another panelist mentioned that behavior modification will take 
some time - the mouse and touch screen were invented over 25 
years ago and although the mouse has become an integral part of 
computer use, the touch screen still has not been readily 
adopted. The industry's big hope lies in the changing demographic 
of the country, the panelist said, the younger generation, which 
is more adaptable.

Nick Davatzes said the A&E Network is moderately invested in 
interactive services. Specifically, their History IQ show offers 
an interactive version in which viewers can play along. Davatzes 
estimates that 50,000 viewers have participated at any one time 
by logging onto their computers to watch/play along with the show 
online. At this point the game is free and A&E has not plans for 
a service fee at this time.

Video-on-Demand or Video-on-Delay 
Michael Willner, President of Insight Communications believes 
(contrary to the moderator) that Hollywood has concerns about 
their business model, but are still very interested in VOD. He 
claims that there are negotiations in progress due to the fact 
that at the end of the day if a customer has the choice between 
buying a movie on cable vs. driving to Blockbuster they will 
choose television - and Hollywood will benefit. 

AT&T Broadband's President & CEO, Dan Somers claimed that they 
have a very big PPV business yet they lag video stores by 3-6 
months for releases. Therefore in his mind VOD will be a huge 
success because it will not only give more control to the viewer 
with movies, it will also allow them to purchase missed episodes 
and tournaments from regular television. He also suggests that 
when the cable industry has 12-15 million homes connected it will 
only be a matter of time until Hollywood studios are negotiating 
with the industry. 

According to Davatzes, A&E is in negotiations with several MSOs 
(Multiple System Operator) to make their biography programs (a 
library of about 900) available for specialized 
products/services. He predicts that the network will release 
these services in second half of 2001 with at least one MSO.

PVRs (Personal Video Recorders) and Advertising
Carole Black, CEO of Lifetime Entertainment Services believes 
that advertisers are going to have to be more creative to succeed 
with the advent of PVRs. For example, Coke has placed cans of 
Diet Coke in scenes of the cable show "The Sopranos" - on a 
noncommercial network - to get viewers. Lifetime has pledged to 
work more closely with their advertisers to give them the 
environment they need to sell their products creatively - to 
increase product revenues and to sustain advertising support.

@Home - Trouble?
Dan Somers claimed that although the site has gone through a 
difficult time, it is due to the explosion of the dot come arena 
and the reduction is capital that has resulted. @Home has secured 
$100 million in financing, and AT&T has been discussing 
outsourcing or backbone agreements with the company to help it 
along. 

Recently their leadership has changed (8 weeks old) and since 
then they have begun to strategically look at their focus to see 
if a change is needed. Somers estimated that AtHome currently has 
1.3 million customers of high-speed service.

0129.2 Story of the Issue

***Passive Optical Network (PON) Products Expected to Gain Market 
Share 
(June 14)

A report by telecom market research firm RHK shows the North 
American optical access market for broadband digital loop 
carriers (BB-DLCs), business passive optical networks (PONs), and 
residential fiber in the loop (FITL) will reach $3.8 billion by 
2004, climbing from $2.65 billion in 2000. Driving this growth 
will be the PON business market, projected to grow at a CAGR of 
380% during the 2000-2004 forecast period. 

This growth is attributed to service providers looking to replace 
copper-based T1 services and provide fiber-based value-added 
network services to the business market using IP technologies. As 
PON/FITL technologies are deployed, RHK expects the market for 
current BB-DLC offerings to diminish.

The report shows that while the market for BB-DLC products is 
expected to grow at a CAGR of 5%, from $2.6 billion in 2000 to 
$3.2 billion in 2004, this growth rate has been, and will 
continue to be, impacted by the increasing deployment of access 
fiber in service provider networks.

RHK's "DLC and PON Technology and Market Report," published in 
June 2001, is part of the company's Access Network Systems North 
American service, which explores the technologies, market forces, 
and emerging factors that drive the access network market. 

http://www.rhk.com

0129.3   3D

***3D ModelWORKS Debuts a Web Site for Marketing/Selling 3D 
Content

3D ModelWORKS introduces a secure forum on the Internet, for 3D 
modelers to market and sell their models. Modelers are not forced 
to sign exclusivity agreements, own all intellectual property 
rights to their models and pay a monthly fee. 

Visitors can view models in 3D before purchasing through the use 
of 3D ModelWORKS secure 3D viewer. The 3D ModelWORKS viewer 
allows customers to rotate, zoom in and control any moving or 
articulated parts of the models. Customers can search the library 
of models by category or keyword search and may also post a 
request for a custom model not found in the library. All requests 
are available to member modelers who may then contact the 
customer through the form provided.

Modelers register and begin to use 3D ModelWORKS for an initial 
set-up fee of $29.00 and then pay a monthly fee of $11.00. They 
can choose to have customers contact them directly to arrange 
payment, or they can use the 3D ModelWORKS Financial Transaction 
Service (FTS) program for a percentage of each sale. The FTS 
handles all online sales, including credit card validation, 
delivery of the model to the buyer and forwarding payment to the 
selling modeler.

http://www.3dmodelworks.com

***Cambridge's Animo 4.0 Provides New Features
(June 11)

Cambridge Animation Systems has introduced Animo 4.0 with 
Macromedia Flash output, extra features and improved performance. 
The Animo cartoon animation system has an installed base of 3,000 
seats in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Cambridge's implementation of Flash output allows users to take 
advantage of the power of Animo's scene graph, exposure sheet, 
drawing window, filters and effects to create quality animations. 
Controls such as disabling filter nodes and disabling animation 
of any bitmap image will be available to reduce the sizes of 
Flash files for the low bandwidth of the Internet.

Users of Animo 4.0's Flash output will have independent control 
of ink lines and painted regions, as well as control over the 
color, width and generation of ink lines.
Animo 4.0 also optimizes Flash files so that playback can begin 
as soon as possible.

Other features in Animo 4.0 include:

VectorEditor - This module edits vectorized drawings that are 
used for Flash output, but can also be applied in traditional 
scenes to achieve a different line style.

Off-peg scanning - Registration of scanned drawings with support 
for flatbed scanning without the use of a pegbar.

TWAIN scanning - Animo scanning applications (ScanLevel, 
ScanBackground and PencilTester) will support TWAIN scanner 
drivers as well as ISIS.

Color line scanning - Drawings can be scanned in color to provide 
line-color information for ink-and-paint applications.

Lip-syncing in SoundBreakdown - interactive replay of phonetic 
breakdowns for animators to use their own head and mouth 
drawings.

Animo 4.0 will be available in June.

***Fakespace Announces Sale of Immersive Display Systems for 
Energy Resource Exploration
(June 12)

Fakespace Systems has announced four contracts to provide 
immersive displays to organizations involved in energy resource 
exploration. The sales, to commercial oil and gas companies and 
universities, mark an increased acceptance of the value of 
visualization for seismic data analysis and subsurface 
evaluation.

Fakespace Systems signed on to provide visualization systems to 
Phillips Petroleum, Petrobras, Norwegian University of Science 
and Technology, and the University of Oklahoma. These include a 
range of displays that are used by geologists, geophysicists, and 
engineers to promote collaboration and better understanding of 
data, ranging from fully-immersive room environments to depth-
enhanced displays that fit in an average size conference room.

Since January 2001, Phillips Petroleum has taken delivery of five 
conCAVE displays from Fakespace Systems for use at its facilities 
in Bellaire, Texas, Stavanger and Tananger, Norway, and 
Anchorage, Alaska. The conCAVE, which enables multidisciplinary 
teams to work with spatially correct, "standing in the tunnel" 
visualizations, was originally developed by Phillips and is 
licensed to Fakespace Systems. The company was also contracted by 
Phillips to develop a volumetric mapping and interaction software 
API for the conCAVE environment. The API, called Avignon, has 
been made available to selected oil/gas software developers for 
integration into their applications later this year.

The University of Oklahoma, which has strong research and 
educational programs in the earth sciences, has also purchased a 
conCAVE display and CubicMouse interaction device for its School 
of Geology and Geophysics. The conCAVE will be used for 3D 
seismic interpretation, 3D geologic and petrophysical modeling, 
and other applications in the earth sciences.

Petrobras, headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, also took 
delivery of a Fakespace Systems visualization system earlier this 
year. The company purchased an ImmersaDesk R2 stereoscopic 
display driven by a Silicon Graphics Onyx2 for use in the 
development of exploration technology that reduces risk and 
optimizes exploitation. This transportable system offers a four-
ft. by five-ft. rear-projected screen that can be adjusted from 
horizontal to nearly vertical.

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is a center 
for technological education and research located in Trondheim, 
Norway. One area of focus for research at the university is data 
visualization and numerical analysis for the localization and 
recovery of petroleum resources. The university boasts a digital 
laboratory with geodata and production data from the Gullfaks 
field in the North Sea, which is used for both teaching and 
research. Projects often include commercial partners such as 
Norsk Hydro, Statoil, Shell, TotalFinaElf, BP and Enterprise.

To better leverage the value of the software and data stored at 
the digital laboratory the university contracted with Fakespace 
Systems to custom design and install a RAVE(tm) (Reconfigurable 
Advanced Visualization Environment). The RAVE is a large-scale 
modular system that supports multiple viewing modalities 
including immersive room environments, flat wall displays, angled 
theaters, and a variety of other configurations. In June, 
Fakespace Systems completed the installation of three RAVE 
modules at NTNU, each with an eight-ft. by eight-ft. rear-
projected viewing surface..

http://www.fakespacesystems.com

0129.4 Federal Communications Commission

***FCC Proposes Amendment to Rules to Facilitate Deployment of 
High Speed Wireless Devices
(May 10)

In May the FCC proposed to revise its rules for spread spectrum 
systems to reduce the amount of spectrum that must be used for 
frequency hopping spread spectrum systems operating in the 2.4 
GHz band (2400-2483.5 MHz), and to eliminate the processing gain 
requirement for direct sequence spread spectrum systems (FCC 01-
158). It also proposed to allow new digital transmission 
technologies to operate pursuant to the same rules as spread 
spectrum systems. With these actions, the Commission hopes to 
facilitate the continued development and deployment of wireless 
devices for businesses and consumers.

Two types of spread spectrum are permitted to operate on a non-
licensed basis under Part 15 of the rules. Frequency hopping 
spread spectrum systems spread their energy by changing, or 
"hopping," the center frequency of the modulated signal. In 
direct sequence spread spectrum systems, the information data 
stream is combined with a high-speed digital spreading code to 
produce a signal with a relatively wide bandwidth. In both cases, 
the spreading reduces the power density of the signal at any 
frequency over the transmitted bandwidth, thereby reducing the 
probability of causing interference to other signals occupying 
the band.

Other digital technologies have been developed that have spectrum 
characteristics similar to spread spectrum systems, but cannot be 
authorized under the current rules because the rules limit 
operation only to spread spectrum systems. The Commission 
proposed to remove this restriction. This proposal would provide 
the flexibility needed to promote the introduction of non-
interfering products, without the need for frequent rules changes 
to address each specific technology that may be developed.

In conjunction with the above proposal, the Commission also 
granted a blanket interim waiver to allow digital technologies 
that meet the existing rules for direct sequence spread spectrum 
systems to obtain FCC equipment certification prior to the 
adoption of final rules in this proceeding, with a maximum peak 
power limit of 100 mW. At the same time, it affirmed a staff 
decision denying the application for equipment certification for 
a Wideband Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing system 
filed by Wi-LAN, but directed the staff to consider the 
application pursuant to the provisions of the interim waiver.

The commission did however, grant an interim waiver to allow Wi-
LAN's equipment and similar devices from other manufacturers to 
be certified at reduced power levels during the pendency of the 
rulemaking.

http://www.fcc.gov

***Wi-LAN Gets Green Light From FCC To Sell W-OFDM Products in 
U.S.
(May 10)

Wi-LAN Inc, a provider of high-speed wireless data/Internet 
communications, announced that at an open commission meeting, the 
FCC ruled that Wi-LAN's W-OFDM technology will be authorized for 
use in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz frequency band. 

This interim waiver has been granted to Wi-LAN to permit the sale 
and use of W-OFDM products in the United States while the FCC 
reviews proposed changes to the rules affecting spread spectrum 
devices in the 2.4 GHz band.

This waiver sets aside previous rulings by the FCC Office of 
Engineering and Technology denying certification to Wi-LAN of the 
W-OFDM technology. The original certification application by Wi-
LAN in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz frequency band had been denied by 
the FCC on the basis that OFDM technology did not meet the 
specified definitions of a "spread spectrum system" or a "direct 
sequence system" and therefore did not meet the intent of the FCC 
rules. The current ruling will give Wi-LAN approval to sell and 
distribute the product in the 50 U.S. states, the District of 
Columbia and all U.S. territories regulated by the FCC.

By increasing spectral efficiency, W-OFDM technology uses less 
bandwidth and thus alleviates congestion in the increasingly 
crowded 2.4 GHz band. Wi-LAN's W-OFDM products have already been 
certified for use in the 2.4 GHz band by the relevant regulatory 
bodies in both Europe and Canada.

http://www.wilan.com

***Cirronet to Deliver Commercial Wireless Last-mile Product 
Utilizing FCC Regulation Changes
(June 6)

Cirronet, a broadband wireless Internet access equipment company, 
has introduced a last-mile broadband wireless product to take 
advantage of the FCC regulation channel width changes in the 2.4 
GHz band. The FCC Part 15 regulation amendment, dated August 31, 
2000, increased the accessible channel size from 1 MHz to 5 MHz 
for frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) technologies in the 
license-free 2.4 GHz band. 

This amendment enabled Cirronet to apply value engineering to its 
broadband wireless equipment for enhanced near-line-of-sight 
(NLOS) connections and improved throughput speeds. Cirronet's 
WaveBolt product family is designed for deployment in the 
residential and small business Internet access market. 

WaveBolt was developed based on ISPs' requests for an affordable, 
robust and high-speed wireless access product priced under $400 
per subscriber, including installation and amortized base 
station. Cirronet's media access controller (MAC) layer increases 
WaveBolt's robustness. It is engineered with flexibility to work 
with the wider hopping channels approved by the FCC. Cirronet, 
applying these regulation changes, will increase WaveBolt's 
bandwidth to 1.8MHz--balancing the higher throughput with 
improved receive sensitivity.

Cirronet uses FHSS technology as the foundation for its wireless 
data products. FHSS is a technology utilized in license-free 
frequency bands to overcome interference issues. Known for its 
range, immunity to jamming and multipath fading, bandwidth, 
networking features and ease of use, FHSS allows the data to work 
around noise or interference. The network "hops" randomly and 
quickly through channels. Transmission interference on one 
channel is eliminated within milliseconds with a `hop' onto the 
next channel. These features make the technology ideal for near-
line-of-sight wireless Internet access in the residential and 
small business markets. 

The WaveBolt product family is a point-to-multipoint fixed 
broadband wireless system. The WaveBolt subscriber unit-
integrating a microwave antenna, radio and modem--is packaged as 
a small, hand-size device and is designed for easy mounting and 
connection, without opening a PC. Avoiding complicated in-home 
installations, the WaveBolt system uses the dial-up networking 
routines that are part of Microsoft Windows to establish an 
always-on subscriber connection, eliminating the need for truck 
roll. Designed for adverse industrial conditions, the CPE 
maintains a NLOS connection with the ISP access point. Operating 
in the license-free 2.4 GHz band and approved by the FCC and 
ETSI, the system's FHSS technology also provides immunity from 
potential jamming sources as well as security from eavesdropping. 

http://www.cirronet.com

0129.5 Wireless

***GSM Reaches Half Billion Landmark
(May 11)

More than half a billion GSM mobile phones are now in use 
worldwide, according to figures released by the GSM Association. 
GSM technology, which allows mobile users to roam to more than 
168 countries making and receiving calls on one handset and with 
one global number, now accounts for more than 70% of the world's 
digital mobile phones. The three other digital technologies 
combined account for the remaining 30%. This market share is 
expected to grow with 3G systems, as more than 85% are expected 
to be 3GSM/ W-CDMA. 

Nearly 40% of all GSM customers are outside of Europe, reflecting 
the increasing globalisation of GSM. In fact, the largest single 
country GSM population is China with some 82.4 million customers.

GSM in the Americas is also expanding. There are more than 10 
million GSM phones in North America. AT&T Wireless, Rogers 
Wireless' and other operators' recent decision to overlay digital 
TDMA network with GSM services is expected to lead to a surge in 
GSM usage across the USA. Meanwhile in Latin America, decisions 
by countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Mexico to adopt 
GSM are predicted to see a tenfold increase in GSM users in Latin 
America during the next 12-18 months. 

The GSM Association is a wireless industry representative body, 
consisting of more than 535 second and third generation wireless 
network operators, manufacturers and suppliers. The Association 
is responsible for the deployment and evolution of the GSM family 
of technologies (GSM, GPRS, EDGE and 3GSM) for digital wireless 
communications. 

The Association recently announced the creation of a Mobile 
Services Initiative (M-Services), an industry movement to enhance 
benefits to consumers using GSM handsets by delivering a set of 
services, globally available through the mobile Internet. 
Manufacturers such as Alcatel, Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, Sagem, 
Samsung and Siemens have announced support of the M-Services 
initiative.

http://www.gsmworld.com

***Socket Trials Bluetooth with Japanese Telecom Operator
(June 13)

Socket Communications has announced that its Bluetooth 
CompactFlash Cards were used as part of a trial of Bluetooth 
wireless technology by NTT, Japan's largest telecom operator, in 
partnership with Sumitomo. The cards were a component of a 
location-based system, including navigation that was tested in an 
Osaka shopping arcade. This trial was designed to demonstrate 
Bluetooth connectivity between handheld devices and LAN Access 
Points. NTT West is planning to implement similar networks based 
on Bluetooth in other locations in Japan. 

The Socket Bluetooth Card is a plug-in card that fits in a 
CompactFlash slot or, via an adapter, the PC Card slot of a 
mobile computer, offering a way to add wireless connectivity to 
other Bluetooth-enabled devices within a range of 10 meters (30 
feet). Socket's card is currently available to application 
developers as part of Socket's Bluetooth Card Evaluation Kit. 

http://www.socketcom.com
http://www.ntt-west.co.jp
http://www.sumitomocorp.co.jp/index_e.htm

--------------------------------------
Copyright 2001 4th WAVE, Inc.

To subscribe to WAVE go to

http://www.wave-report.com

And Click on the Subscribe Button

To unsubscribe also use the Wave Report Home page or send a message with
UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the text to

arogos@wave-report.com

Previous issues of WAVE, as well as other info can be found at

http://www.wave-report.com
http://www.3dlinks.com/

Comments on or questions about WAVE may be sent to:

wave@fourthwave.com

or any of the individuals below:

John N. Latta:-------jnl@wave-report.com
Amanda Rogos:---------arogos@wave-report.com
James Sneeringer:-jsneeringer@wave-report.com

The WAVE Report may be redistributed in full for individual readership
and posted to newsgroups, Web, and FTP sites. This publication may not
be reprinted or redistributed for profit. Short quotes are permitted but
must be attributed to the WAVE Report. 4th Wave retains the copyright to
the WAVE Report.