Communications
Autonomous unmanned helicopters designed for disaster relief
European researchers are developing a squadron of co-operating, unmanned helicopters for use in disaster management, civil security, and filmmaking. In addition to ferrying critical supplies, the helicopters can deploy sensor nodes to gather information and establish a communications network in places where the infrastructure is damaged or absent. Read More
Ego Cup FM in-car FM transmitter
Image Gallery (3 images)
Drivers just might have to find somewhere else to stow their tasty beverages with the Ego Cup FM from German wireless in-car communications company Funkwerk Dabendorf. The Ego Cup FM is a plug and play FM transmitter designed to slot into car cup holders that connects to a mobile phone via Bluetooth and, as well as transmitting MP3s stored on the phone to the radio, also allows calls to be taken over the integrated speaker or through the car speakers. Read More
BlueAnt releases portable Text-to-Speech speakerphone
Image Gallery (2 images)
Anticipating the changing of handsfree driving laws in the US, BlueAnt Wireless’ has released a new portable speakerphone device called the Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Handsfree, which incorporates advanced ‘Text-to-Speech’ technology with voice prompts providing guidance to help users pair the device and upload their mobile phone’s address book. The unit supports a selection of six different languages including American English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and British English, so that when a call is received, the Supertooth 3 announces the incoming caller’s name or Caller ID and the user can then verbally accept or reject the call. Read More
Unison comm system combines phone, email, voicemail and instant messaging
Image Gallery (2 images)
February 28, 2008 Unison Technologies is launching a beta version of its fully-unified communications system at this years CeBIT. The Unison Server, combined with the Unison Desktop software, provides users with a simple, cost-effective system that integrates telephone calls, voicemail, email, instant messaging and collaboration. Read More
Kiddo proximity alarm system offers parents peace of mind
Image Gallery (3 images)
February 19, 2008 Smart Target has developed a wireless proximity alarm system designed to boost child safety by helping parents quickly locate wayward young ones and keep them within a pre-set "virtual fence". Read More
USB to synchronous cable gives tactical radios IP data capabilities
Image Gallery (3 images)
January 17, 2008 Enhancing critical battlefield communications by building on equipment already in operation, the Sealevel Systems ACC-188 USB Synchronous Interface Adapter enables tactical radios currently used by the US Armed Forces to interface to PCs and transmit IP based data. Read More
Zipit adds SMS texting capability to Z2 wireless instant messaging device
Image Gallery (3 images)
December 21, 2007 Zipit Wireless, Inc. has announced it will begin offering SMS text messaging to users of the Zipit Wireless Messenger 2 (Z2), providing the ability to communicate with mobile phones, other Zipit devices and PC's. Read More
Communications “Gizmo” to aid emergency response
Image Gallery (3 images)
December 19, 2007 It may look like just another remote-controlled toy truck, but this "Gizmo" has the potential to save lives in disaster response situations. Javier Rodriguez Molina, a 24 year old electrical engineering graduate student and programmer analyst at the UC San Diego's California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2), is designing an advanced mobile, wireless communications machine that can venture into environments too dangerous for humans and collect and transmit critical information to emergency personnel. It is hoped that the design platform - which is will not be limited to its current toy-truck guise - can provide real-time assistance in emergency situations such as terrorist attacks, building collapses or hurricanes. Read More
Genius BT-03l Bluetooth headset
Image Gallery (4 images)
December 6, 2007 The Genius BT-03l touch Bluetooth headset is the first headset in the world to feature a capacitance touch panel with slide control which allows the volume to be adjusted by simply sliding the bar using the touch sensor. Designed to compliment Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and PDAs, the BT-30l supports A2DP hands free so users can take a call or listen to music which is automatically muted when receiving an incoming call. Read More
Konftel 300 high-tech conference phone
Image Gallery (6 images)
November 28, 2007 Setting itself the lofty goal of producing the "world’s best conference phone", Konfitel has announced the Konftel 300 - a device that features multiple connectivity options, recording to SD memory card, the ability to store up to 20 groups for easy replication of conference calls and a 360 degree microphone optimized for large meeting rooms that automatically filters out background noise. Read More
LG Viewty mobile phone boasts 120 fps video capture
Image Gallery (2 images)
November 26, 2007 With most camera phones able to capture video at either 15 or 30 frames per second (fps), LG Electronics has made a big leap forward with the unveiling its new LG Viewty (KU990) mobile phone- a handset that sports advanced digital camera features and the ability to record video at up to an impressive 120 fps. This allows users to seamlessly watch "DVD-like" content, even in slow motion. Like the recently announced Nokia N82 the LG Viewty also boasts a 5.0-megapixel camera and xenon flash, adding strength to the argument that camera phones are now a serious option for those looking to ditch their dedicated camera for the convenience of carrying only one device. Read More
New Nokia N82 optimized for navigation, photography and internet connectivity
Image Gallery (5 images)
November 16, 2007 Nokia has announced another addition to it’s Nseries range of “multimedia computers” with the successor to the N95, the Nokia N82. Optimized for navigation, photography and internet connectivity featuring A-GPS, 5 megapixel camera with Xenon flash and Carl Zeiss optics, the Nokia N82 also incorporates all the multimedia computer features common to Nokia Nseries within a candy-bar design. Read More
Talking convergence: Nokia 6301 UMA phone
Image Gallery (5 images)
September 24, 2007 Nokia are looking to a not too distant future where home and office landline based phones are obsolete with the release of the 6301 UMA phone. The stainless steel 6301 enables voice and data mobility across GSM cellular and Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) networks via Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology. This allows the phone to integrate the benefits of landline and a mobile phone by providing seamless indoor coverage, sound quality and affordability. Read More
Sanyo SCP-7050 mobile phone meets military standards for toughness
Image Gallery (5 images)
September 4, 2007 Sanyo has added the rugged SCP-7050 to its range of mobile phones. Adhering to military standards for dust, shock and vibration, the clam-shell type phone features a durable rubber non slip exterior designed for use in physically demanding environments, full Bluetooth functionality, high quality display and built-in GPS capabilities. Read More
World Record 304km Wi-Fi connection
Image Gallery (5 images)
August 27, 2007 A new world record distance for a 5 GHz Wi-Fi link has been achieved by the Italian Center for Radio Activities (C.I.S.A.R), and Ubiquiti Networks, a leading innovator in outdoor wireless broadband solutions. The distance of 304km (188.89 miles) was established from Sardinia Island to Central Italy achieving data-rates of about 5Mbps, using Ubiquiti’s XtremeRange5 (XR5) High-Power Carrier Class mini-PCI radio module and 35dBi 5 GHz parabolic dish antennas. Read More
LANdroids - self-organizing, self-healing communications network for urban warfare
Image Gallery (7 images)
June 25, 2007 Modern warfare is increasingly urban - when you're fighting small groups of anonymous guerrilla insurgents there's no pitched battlefields and American forces are finding that their radio communications are suffering in these Non-Line-Of-Sight environments. The solution? Squadrons of smart communications robots, or LANdroids, each the size of a deck of cards, that can be scattered through an urban environment to create a self-organizing mesh radio network. Each unit constantly repositions itself for maximal signal strength, and if a LANdroid is destroyed, the rest of the units will reposition themselves to restore communications. Read More
