Wireless at work

Here's how mobile technology can help the traffic police to clamp down on drunk driving. NTT DoCoMo demonstrates at CommunicAsia how alcohol level processing and identification can be confirmed remotely using a videophone. Data and pictures of the alcohol level taken at the time of measurement can be sent to the data center and evaluated immediately.

Photo credit: Isabelle Chan, ZDNet Asia

Mobile Innovation, a joint venture between DoCoMo and Thailand's Loxey, shows off its fleet management service called Fleet Expert, which uses GPS (global positioning systems) and cellular communications to help logistics companies reduce costs and raise productivity.

Photo credit: Isabelle Chan, ZDNet Asia

Colubris Networks, which counts Japan's Tsukuba Express among its clients, has clinched a deal to provide wireless LAN (WLAN) access points to all 51 MTR subway stations in Hong Kong by the end of the year.

According to Colubris Networks, public train operators typically build a business case for Wi-Fi based around five applications: video surveillance, infotainment, passenger Internet connectivity, voice communications for employees, and train maintenance and diagnostics.

The challenges of implementing Wi-Fi on trains are in providing consistent bandwidth, outdoor/indoor connectivity, fast roaming/mobility, and reducing vibration.

Photo credit: Isabelle Chan, ZDNet Asia

Bridge Mobile Alliance announced this week Advanced Info Service (AIS) of Thailand as its 11th operator member. With the addition of AIS, the alliance now has a combined subscriber base of more than 160 million across 11 territories, and it is the largest mobile alliance in the Asia-Pacific region. Bridge Mobile was formed in November 2004 with an objective to strengthen the cause of various operators in the region by touting a larger subscriber base and greater standardization.

Photo credit: Isabelle Chan, ZDNet Asia

Wireless Tech launched its new Sky Voice soft phone at CommunicAsia this week. Users of the new Sky Voice soft phone, which sports features like caller ID and voice mail, enjoy free local calls within the Sky Voice network. According to Wireless Tech, other features like video calls and multiple part conference calls will be launching soon. Visitors to CommunciAsia will be given the free Sky Voice soft phone CD-Rom, from which they can download onto their PC or notebook computer. Users will then need to register online at www.my.skyvoice.com before they can start using it. For unlimited calls within Sky Voice and local calls to mobile phones and fixed-line numbers, a premium plan is available for about S$16 (US$10.40).

Photo credit: Isabelle Chan, ZDNet Asia