Feb 13

Cellular/Satellite container tracking to grow at 66.9% CAGR through 2016

According to new research by Berg on asset tracking, teh number of tracking systems with GPRS network or Satellite network is expected to grow from 77K units in 2011 to 1 million units in 2016, representing a 66.9% CAGR over a 5 year period. That growth represents a increase in penetration rate of 0.4% in 2011 to 3.6% in 2016. Here is the link to the Berg Insight’s Container tracking report.

Feb 13

4G LTE tablet from Samsung approved by GCF

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 8.9 has received GCF approval for its 4G LTE version. The marketing name for this product is GT-P7320, it supports LTE over 800 MHz and 2600 MHz. Many european carriers are planning for their 4G LTE rollouts. We need to wait for a tear down report to see if this tablet has a 4G LTE module or a integrated 4G LTE chipset solution.

Feb 13

Samsung introduces 3G enabled tablet

Samsung introduced 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2 which will launch in the UK. Tab 2 will run Android 4.0 and will support HSPA+ 21 Mbps on teh 3G-enabled version. Samsung’s earlier tablets historically had on-board-chip solutions for WWAN instead of the discrete 3G module. We would have to wait for Galaxy Tab 2 teardown report fo find out if it has separate HSPA+ 3G module or integrated design.

Feb 12

Qualcomm invests in medical monitoring company that will use 2net 3G gateway device

Qualcomm Life Fund a $100 million venture managed by Qualcomm Ventures is investing in AirStrip Technologies.Airstrip is planning to use Qualcomm’s 2net Platform for a health monitoring product. Qualcomm’s 2net hub is a gateway device that supports connectivity through Bluetooth, Bluetooth Loe Energy, WiFi adn ANT+ protocols. 2net uses 3G module for WWAN connectivity that operates in HSDPA/EDGE/GPRS/GSM network. 2net offers 3.6 Mbps peak download speed and 384 Kbps peak upload speed.Here is the specification for 2net 3G gateway device.

Feb 12

Apple sues Motorola Mobility regarding 3G patents

Apple has sues Motorola Mobility to stop Motorola from asserting patent cliams against Apple in Germany. Motorola is one of the essential patent holder for 3G standards –  GSM, GPRS , UMTS etc. Device manufacturers generally cross-license their patents. Motoroal calims that it offered Apple the license to build 3G devices, but Apple didn;t take it.Apple argumet is that the terms of Motorola’s licensing were not fair.

Feb 11

iPhone App for Fleet Management

MiX Telematics has launched MiX Fleet iPhone that enables fleet management customers to track and protect vheicles, any where and anytime. Through the iPhone App, MiX Telematics’s customers can track xDrive and FM-Protector vehicles through their iPhone. The Blackberry version of the application is also avaialble. Here is the link the Mix Fleet iPhone app.