Forget about making crank calls to 9-1-1 on your cell phone. Microcell Telecommunications last month announced that it will deploy Wireless Enhanced 9-1-1 (Wireless E9-1-1) capabilities on its Personal Communications Services (PCS) network in Alberta and British Columbia. Microcell says Wireless E9-1-1 refers to the capability to display a caller’s 10-digit call-back number as well as the address of the cell site or sector that captured the call at a 9-1-1 call answer centre, in real time, while a wireless call is in progress. The company has also applied to the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) requesting it mandate all local telephone companies across the country to implement the access services necessary to accommodate Wireless E9-1-1. For details, visit www.microcell.ca.
Last month, COM DEV Wireless unveiled M/ERGY, a high-speed wireless data system. The company showcased hardware and software for its packet-switched data
system that it said will enable service providers to offer customers high-speed wireless Internet access, including voice-over IP capability, at a fraction of the cost of providing a cable modem or DSL service. Using QUALCOMM’s HDR technology, COM DEV said M/ERGY provides full high-speed wireless modem support to laptop and desktop computers at burst data rates up to 2.4MBps. For more information, go to www.comdev.cc.