Bell Canada, IBM Canada and Xybernaut(R) Launch World's First Large-Scale Market Trial of Wearable Computers
Bell Technicians Fitted with Wearable PCs to Make Light Work of Repair Jobs
TORONTO, Oct. 3 /CNW/ - Fashionably early -- Bell Canada, IBM Canada Ltd. (NYSE: IBM - news) and Xybernaut Corporation (NASDAQ: XYBR - news), three leaders in advanced communication technology, today launched the world's first large-scale market trial of wearable computers.
The trial is being managed by Bell Canada's Mobile Communications Centre (MCC), which has outfitted an elite group of Bell Canada field service technicians with the Mobile Assistant® IV (MA IV®), wearable PC. Functional, lightweight and form-fitting, the MA IV® is a fully wireless computing and communications device that is capable of connecting the user to the Internet and providing a wireless voice connection. The MA IV® can be configured many different ways, including as a vest or a belt and is equipped with a headset or a Flat Panel Display Screen for projecting and viewing images.
For the next two months, Greater Toronto Area residents will get a rare glimpse into the future of both technology and fashion, as Bell Canada technicians test the MA IV® in all weather and work conditions that a field technician typically encounters. Currently, Bell Canada field technicians use IBM Thinkpad laptops to access critical data remotely. The wearable PC combines next generation mobile computing with next generation wireless technology, enabling mobile workers to perform technical functions on-the-go.
The wearable PC trial is the culmination of the collaborative work between Bell Canada, IBM Canada Ltd. and Xybernaut Corporation. Earlier this year, IBM was contracted by Xybernaut to design, develop and manufacture the computer portion of Xybernaut's next generation of wearable computer systems.
"Bell Canada has long been an early adopter of new technologies that can be used to better meet the needs of our customers," said Terry Mosey, President Bell Ontario. "The driving force behind teaming with IBM and Xybernaut on this project, was to get a better understanding of how wireless real-time access to voice and data communications offered by wearable PCs might translate into greater efficiencies, shorter repair times and overall better customer service."
"As IBM extends e-business to all kinds of wireless devices, it is important for us to collaborate with key players in the industry like Bell Canada and Xybernaut," said Shahla Aly, Vice President, Telecommunications and Wireless, IBM Canada Ltd. "As IBM's largest ThinkPad notebook customer in Canada, Bell and IBM have enjoyed a long and successful relationship. IBM's leadership in developing advanced mobile solutions gives our customers, like Bell, the opportunity to incorporate innovative technology into their overall business. Together we will be at the forefront of implementing wireless mobile computing within Canada."
"The teaming of Xybernaut, Bell Canada and IBM Canada brings together three industry leaders with a common vision for the future, and the desire and ability to turn that vision into reality," stated Edward G. Newman, President of Xybernaut. "We look forward to this demonstration of the bottom-line benefit of our wearable systems to the field force and customers of Bell Canada."
About Bell Canada:
Bell Canada (www.bell.ca) is Canada's national leader for communications in the Internet world. It provides connectivity, commerce and content to residential and business customers through wired and wireless voice and data communications, paging and messaging, high speed and wireless Internet access, IP-broadband services, local and long distance phone services, directory and e-commerce solutions. Bell Sympatico, the leading Canadian Internet service, has more than 100,000 high-speed customers and hosts the most visited Canadian portal, with more than 2.8 million unique visitors each month. Bell Canada and its communications partners and subsidiaries have 13.6 million access lines and 2.7 million wireless customers. The company is 80% owned by BCE Inc. of Montréal and 20% by SBC Communications Inc. of San Antonio, Texas.
About IBM Canada Ltd.:
IBM is the world's leading e-business company offering a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that help businesses take full advantage of emerging innovation. IBM's pervasive computing and mobile Internet strategy is to extend e-business applications to the new class of connected client devices.
IBM is a provider of complete networked PC solutions to customers of all sizes, and offers a variety of products and services including the award-winning IBM ThinkPad notebooks, NetVista PCs, Options and Emerging Technologies. These offerings combine high-performance technologies with leading-edge quality, design, around-the-clock support and services. In the 2Q 2000 IDC Canada Report, IBM is the leader in the overall Canadian PC market with 15.4% marketshare. IBM sells products through a variety of channels including: Direct to customers via www.ibm.ca; through The IBM Store and Business Partners; or by telephone at 1-800-IBM-4YOU. For more information on IBM's products, visit www.ibm.ca/pc.
About Xybernaut Corporation:
Xybernaut Corporation is the leading provider of wearable computing hardware, software and services, bringing communications and full-function Pentium computing power in a hands-free design to people when and where they need it. The Mobile Assistant IV (MA IV®), Xybernaut's wearable PC, runs all major operating systems on Intel x86 architecture, such as Windows or Linux. With the MA IV®, customers can realize immediate savings in maintenance and repair, diagnosis, inspection, inventory control and data collection procedures. Xybernaut provides management and information technology consulting services, along with asset management software, for telecommunications systems, roads, waterways, railways, utility, and pipelines. Solutions have been developed for all major operating systems and architectures. Key industries using Xybernaut's products include manufacturing, distribution, transportation, government, and utilities. Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, Xybernaut has offices and subsidiaries in Europe (Germany) and Asia (Japan). Visit Xybernaut's web site at www.xybernaut.com
/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available
on the Canadian Press Photo Network/
For further information
or to arrange for a demonstration of a wearable PC, contact: Bell Canada: Norm Berberich, Media Relations, (416) 581-3233, norm.berberich@bell.ca
IBM: Janet Fanaki, Public Relations Manager, (905) 316-2815, jfanaki@ca.ibm.com
Xybernaut: Dan Cooper, Director of Marketing, (703) 631-6925, dcooper@xybernaut.com |
