Staying In Touch
By Tom Kelley
Not too long ago, there was a time when wide-area, real-time communications involved sending data via satellites or through dedicated terrestrial networks which was typically limited to only the largest fleets. Then as cellular coverage expanded, a few systems were developed to enable mid-sized fleets to transmit small amounts of data through the existing analog cellular voice network.
Because these early cellular systems involved a considerable amount of processing and network overhead, the cost-to-benefit ratio still made them impractical for smaller fleets. Today, a new generation of "web-enabled" digital wireless phones enables mobile data communications all the way down to the smallest of fleets even an individual user.
Drivers will soon be able to make calls or access various personalized services by using their voices on the Internet. Typical in-vehicle services will include emergency roadside assistance, voice-activated phone service and personalized information, such as news, traffic or weather reports.
These information services could be linked to a customized homepage which could be accessed on the Internet from any location. Users would even be able to synchronize digital address books to the system's homepage to allow voice speed dialing of hundreds of programmable numbers. Voice-interaction would allow users to safely access the information and services without fumbling for a phone or being distracted by flashy screens or excess information.
Larger-scale systems, such as Qualcomm's OmniTracs product provide both data communications and tracking, but the complexity and the overhead costs often make them impractical for smaller operations. Unlike the satellite-based products, terrestrial (ground-based) wireless data systems can link as few as one truck with the home-base for a reasonable per-vehicle cost and very little additional overhead cost.
Offering wireless data service to smaller fleets has been a result of hardware developed for and popularized by the consumer end of the computer business. The advent of hand-held "Personal Digital Assistants" (PDA) and portable laptop computers has been a driving force behind millions of consumers taking their computing on-the-go.
Naturally, many of the consumer-market users also want to be connected while away from the home or office. To fill this need, wireless data carriers whose principal clientele were large corporate and fleet accounts, developed services for the individual and small business user. As with any product or service, economies of scale allow prices to come down as the installed user-base gets larger, and wireless service has been no exception.
User hardware in the wireless data arena can be as simple as a two-way pager, or as complex as a full-blown PC connected to vehicle data links and a GPS receiver. The communications link, or network, can be as simple as sending coded or encrypted data over the Internet and the public wireless network, or as complex as setting up a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
Several options exist for making the wireless link. Satellite technologies include Qualcomm's OmniTracs and TruckMail systems, along with data-only services from an expanding pool of satellite communication vendors.
On the ground, so to speak, there are four technologies that carry the bulk of the terrestrial wireless data. Several of the Regional Bell Operating Companies ("Baby Bells") and a few of the larger cellular carriers offer Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) service which, as the name implies, sends data "internet-style" in packets over the conventional cellular voice network. These systems are great for local or regional fleets, but just like cellular phone service they are less than practical for interstate operation.
Similar to the CDPD technology, is the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular technology developed by Qualcomm. An offshoot of its original OmniTracs development program, CDMA allows more wireless "traffic" to move through the network, partially alleviating the peak-load problems of the conventional cellular network. Cellular phone systems in many locations outside of North America have used this technology for years, but as the competing standard in the U.S., deployment had been somewhat delayed.
However, just more than a year ago, Qualcomm and Sprint Wireless announced an agreement allowing Qualcomm to use the Sprint PCS nationwide network to provide wireless data service for Qualcomm's new OmniExpress fleet management product. OmniExpress is a mobile communications and tracking system which provides real-time messaging and position reporting between fleets and their operation centers. Targeted at metropolitan-based fleets, OmniExpress will offer a low-cost wireless mobile communication solution by transmitting data over Sprint's PCS digital network, which currently serves the nation's major metropolitan areas, including more than 4,000 communities across the country.
Qualcomm's satellite-based offerings, OmniTracs and TruckMail, provide both vehicle tracking and text messaging, along with numerous options for data collection in the truck and management of the data back at the fleet headquarters. OmniTracs, practical for fleets of 40 trucks or more, provides the full range of services with data collection, macro-generated messages and software integration, and includes virtually every fleet administrative function including dispatch, billing, freight tracking and maintenance. For smaller fleets of 10 or more trucks, the TruckMail product provides free-form text messaging, vehicle data collection and tracking at a lower cost by forgoing the extensive administrative integration of the OmniTracs product.
Similar to Qualcomm’s concept of offering a choice between satellite and terrestrial communication systems from a single supplier, American Mobile Satellite developed a product which combines both communication technologies into one multi-mode service that provides users with the best of both systems.
By supplementing the terrestrial wireless coverage in urban areas with L-band satellite service, use of the higher-cost satellite communications link is often used in those areas where terrestrial coverage is not available and for mission-critical messaging. In comparison to a satellite-only system, the L-Band keeps overall communication costs down whle still providing the ubiquitous nationwide satellite coverage that has yet to be matched by terrestrial-only systems.
American Mobile Satellite changed its company name to "Motient" early in 2000 and subsequently struck a deal for Aether Systems to acquire Motient's transportation business unit later that year. The deal increased Aether's presence in the transportation industry by providing entry into the long-haul and less-than-truckload segment of the market with a significant client base, as well as a multi-mode product that provides vehicle information via land-based and satellite communications.
According to the deal, Aether will obtain all of Motient's retail customers in the transportation sector (excluding package delivery and courier services). Aether also will acquire Motient's transportation industry products, such as Pro 2000 and MobileMax2, the first and second generation multi-mode systems.
Concurrent with the acquisition, Aether also agreed to a long-term arrangement as a reseller of Motient's satellite and terrestrial network services. This arrangement will allow Aether to provide the transportation industry with mobile data services over both land-based and satellite networks, providing the optimum possible coverage at competitive prices.
The MobileMax2 system software provides monitoring of driver performance, vehicle fault codes and state-line crossing. On-board equipment provides messaging, pre-set forms for load status, dispatch updates, routing, estimated times of arrival and emergency distress calls. In all, Motient has about 200 transportation customers with more than 15,000 subscribers, all of whom will be absorbed by Aether.
Until recently, the other major player in the terrestrial wireless data market was BellSouth Wireless Data, formerly known as RAM Mobile Data. In April 2000, BellSouth and SBC Communications announced their plan in April 2000 to merge their domestic wireless operations (including wireless data) to create the nation's second-largest wireless company.
After the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gave its approval to the wireless joint venture in late September, the new operation was officially launched as "Cingular Wireless" in early October. The new company serves more than 19 million customers and approximately 190 million potential customers in 38 states, the District of Columbia and two U.S. territories. The combined operations will provide service in 42 of the nation's top 50 markets.
Cingular is expected to continue offering the same commercial-grade wireless data services developed by BellSouth. An interesting feature of the Cingular/BellSouth system stores and forwards messages when the remote device is down or out of range.
Because the system offers guaranteed message delivery, each message must be acknowledged by the remote device. Unacknowledged messages are stored on the system server and then redelivered when the remote device is logged back onto the network.
As the wireless data industry continues to expand its offerings for the transportation industry, staying "in-touch" with trucks and drivers is becoming easier for fleets of any size. But it's also quickly becoming a necessity. It doesn't matter whether you're a nationwide truckload carrier, or a vendor with a 10-truck local delivery fleet, the "information bottle" has been uncorked and your customers have undoubtedly had a taste.
Staying ahead today and keeping up tomorrow will require your information and data to be available in real time, as well. Wireless data communication, through any source or combination of sources, is the only practical means to stay in touch. After all, where do your trucks and drivers make you the most money; at the phone booth or on the road?
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