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DECTnews Archive - 2Q00

2Q00

June 2000 News below:

RTX has a great Flotation !
After being subscribed 14x (!) the share price of RTX was fixed at the top end of its price range, at DKK185.   Perhaps unsurprisingly the shares are currently trading (at end of July) at around DKK252, a premium of some 36%.  Check out their latest price at

RTX Flotation closes early
After announcing plans for an IPO at the end of the 1st Quarter, RTX Telecom has moved swiftly with its offering on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.     Following substantial investor interest,  the final submission date for binding applications for the purchase of shares with a total market price of up to and including DKK 2,000,000 was Thursday May 25, 2000.  Information regarding the offer price and the allocation of shares is expected to be announced on Thursday June 8, 2000.

So who were the lucky people ?  And did any of the big boys play the market ...?  We'll have to wait and see - watch this space !

DECT CTM Alive Elsewhere As Well...
And cordless telecom mobility is alive elsewhere as well - Dauphin Telecom have been operating a CTM network successfully and quietly down in the French West Indies since July last year.  The system is using Siemens DECTlink equipment, an EWSD switch and   Gigaset pocketphone portable handsets.

Find our more from their Press Release

DECT/GSM Dual Mode & CTM Trial in Greece
Thank you to one of our roving reporters, Peter Webber, who lives in Kavala in Greece for this news...

OTE have launched a dual mode DECT/GSM trial network in the town offering attractive prices and features.  They are offering a Sagem DMC830 dual mode handset & base station for £50 purchase price, plus £7 per month and 17 pence per minute call charges, together with the option after one year to switch to prepay card at 27 pence per minute and no monthly charge.    This represents a good deal as the normal price for a handset and base station is around 200 pounds.

Further, in the pilot scheme  in the city of Kavala (pop 55000), presently undergoing trials and due to be operational in 2 months, a number of DECT relays are being erected throughout the town and connected with the phone exchange so that anyone who has a base station within the city limits will be able to use their dual mode phone as a DECT cordless (at land-line rates) anywhere in the city, not just within the range of their domestic base station. Of course the handset still functions as a dual-band GSM anywhere.  Obviously such an approach is really only a feasible option for an operator with both fixed and mobile networks - in OTE's case it has a monopoly on the fixed network, so is in a strong position to benefit from the increased traffic that such an approach is likely to generate.

Incidentally, one of our members would like to know how to buy one of these SAGEM phones - can anyone advise us of their availability ?
E-mail us please at DECTweb

DECT's Best Kept Secret - Handset-to-Handset Direct Mode Communications
As we reported earlier in the year, the discussion of Direct Mode communications emerged at IBC's DECT2000 conference in January as probably DECT's best-kept secret - the ability of handsets to talk directly toi each other without the need for a basestation.    Thanks to a follow-up with Gunether Kleindl, who head's up ETSI's DECT standardisation team, DECtweb has been able to compile some additional information on this topic - see our new Feature Page on Direct Mode.

If there is a demand we may also initiate an on-line chat session on the topic - please let us know if sufficient interest exists.

DECT @ New Zealand
No, someone hasn't come up with a new application of DECT relating to sheep - although you could sell a lot of DECT phones in New Zealand if you did !   Agile is targeting the business telecom market in its new partnership with Wavelink Communications of Australia, as it brings the Kirk add-on DECT PABX capability to the country.
More details on the Press Releases Page

May 2000 News below:

DECT @ The Hilton, Courtesy of Lucent
Lucent have just announced a deal worth some $10m, to include its DEFINITY® Enterprise Communications Server (ECS) and DEFINITY Wireless Digitally Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) -- for Hilton International hotels currently being built and to update voice networks and equipment at existing hotels.

The Lucent solution is an integrated, turnkey communications system for the hospitality industry that incorporates call processing, messaging, phones and services. The solution uses leading-edge technology including DECT to enhance guests' communications as well as hotel network management.

See here for details of Lucent's DEFINITY DECT products
Press Release

Voice Recognition for DECT Phones
Advanced Recognition Technologies Inc. (ART) has announced that Maxon Electronics Co., Ltd. has licensed ART's smARTspeak CS continuous speech voice recognition technology to provide voice dialing and command features in Maxon's future  Cellular and Digital Cordless products.  As part of the agreement, ART will work to develop advanced technologies in speech and handwriting recognition that Maxon will use to advance the user interface designs of its future wireless communication technology.  The companies have the understanding to port smARTspeak CS to Maxon's DECT cordless phones, although the initial product focus will be cellphones.
Press Release

Philips licenses DECT Technology to Nam Tai of Hong Kong
Nam Tai of Hong Kong has announced that it is licensing DECT technology from Philips to allow it to enter the digital cordless market.  Under the deal Philips provided Nam Tai with the core software for DECT allowing Nam Tai to develop its own DECT with its own man-machine interface. Philips provided Nam Tai with the software package and demonstration boards which allow Nam Tai to develop DECT.  The company has already finalized cosmetic designs for two DECT models and orders have been received from Master S.P.A. in Italy.

Nam Tai...
Press Release

DECT Multigate system makes inroads in Netherlands
Casema Kabeltelevisie N.V. (Casema), has selected ECI Telecom to supply its Multigate HFC cable telephony systems. The Multigate solutions, offered through a strategic marketing agreement with Terayon, were chosen by Casema to deliver broadband access services to a potential 1.3 million CATV subscribers.   Following an extensive evaluation process, involving several cable phone systems, the Multigate systems demonstrated the capability to consistently deliver high-quality voice services in broadband access environments.  Casema intends to begin immediate commercial deployments of the Multigate systems.

Multigate broadband DECT products
Press Release

DECT Technology from Korea   for the Chinese Market
Bickmore Holdings Inc. has announced the acquisition of 60% equity in the Zhanjiang Casonic Electronic Industry Limited, with the first installment made in early February.    With the acquisition of these factories, Bickmore will source new technologically advanced telephone products for production at the factories, inlcluding DECT telephones.  Bickmore is reported to be negotiating to purchase  DECT technology for the Chinese market from a Korean company.
Press Release

Zhanjiang Casonic was established in 1985 to manufacture telephones for the China market. Over the past 15 years, it has produced 10 million phones for the Chinese consumer market, which represents 10% of the overall home telephones sold over the same period.

Binatone Sources another large DECT Order from Qiao Xing of China
Qiao Xing Universal Telephone Inc., the leading seller of telephones in China, has announced a $3.9 million order for 100k DECT telephones (DECT) from Binatone UK, following an initial order at the end of February 2000 for  $7 million for the company's telephones, which included a first batch of 100k DECT products, as well as analogue phones.  Shipments on the new order are due in September 2000.
Press Release.

In August 1995, Qiao Xing Universal Telephone became the first telephone manufacturer in China to receive the ISO 9001 Quality System Accreditation award. The company currently produces 165 models of corded telephones and 25 cordless models. Its sales network is extensive, with 1,350 retail store locations throughout China.   Ranked No. 2 in telephone sales in China for 1997 and 1998, the company achieved the No. 1 sales ranking for 1999.

In March this year Qiao Xing Universal Telephone Inc announced a Joint Venture with UNICO of Malaysia to manufacture and sell digitally enhanced cordless telephones (DECT), 8-channel cordless telephones (model CT0) and other telecommunications products.   The proposed joint venture company, CHOSEN UNICO Technology Ltd., would be located in Qiao Xing Industrial Zone of Huizhou, with initial production  for 150,000 DECTs and 800,000 model CT0 telephones.

April 2000 News below:

Siemens launches new US Sales Push
Having sold in excess of 300k of their 2.4GHz Gigasets in the USA in its first year of product, Siemens has now launched a new sales drive, tying in their product to US motorsports.  The multi-faceted "Rev Up Your Sales'' promotion includes in-store events designed to accelerate foot traffic, provide sales and purchase incentives, and a series of additional promotional activities that will be announced throughout the year. A few of Siemens' racing promotions available to retailers include Winston Cup race tickets, crew member-for-a-day awards and in-store show car and driver appearances. The retailer promotion is complemented by a contest running on the Siemens Cordless Web site, where visitors can qualify for all expense paid trips to the races now through September.

In a related development, Siemens announced an extension of its US outlets to include CompUSA, the chain of computer superstores.

Siemens US Gigaset products
Press Release

Ascom acquires Ericsson's PWT   (US DECT) Products
April 18, 2000 Ericsson and Ascom announced a deal whereby Ascom will acquire Ericsson's North American PWT DCT1900 domestic cordless system, giving Ascom access to the fast moving US market. Ascom will get an opportunity to further develop their cordless solutions and provide a jump-start into the e-business by using Ericsson's DECT Voice technology in their TCP/IP-based Alarm and Messaging platform.   Ascom and Ericsson have already been cooperating on the market for in-house cordless communication solutions designed for various enterprises and organizations.

PWT (Personal Wireless Telephony) is the North American standard for unlicensed radio solutions for the enterprise.

Press Release

New Ericsson DECT Phones launched at CeBIT
The Dect 230 & 260 phones, launched last year, were  joined at CeBIT this year by the new 230i and HP210, 250 and 270 models.   The 230i is for ISDN, the 210 is a fun, easy to use phone, the 250 has in- built speaker phone in the handset and the 270 is a fully featured model including "voice ringing'' and digital answering machine.
CeBIT Press Release

March 2000 News below:

Siemens wins another award for its US Gigaset
Siemens continues its roll with its WDCT (DECT derivative) Gigaset products in the USA, with another award - this time from Wireless Wonders' Inc's web-based competition.   Other winning wireless products included ones from 3com, Nokia, Ericsson & Motorola.
More detail - see the Press Release

The DECT FreePad goes to the Opera
Screen Media have announced that Opera Software are working with them to commercialise their DECT FreePad, bringing their LINUX technology. The explosion of Internet and wireless technology has encouraged Screen Media and Opera to combine their resources and technology to develop a wireless device that merges Internet access and telephony in one simple and easy to use device. The device includes the Opera for Linux web browser, CTI applications, a DECT wireless transmitter and a Smart card reader controlled by a central system provided by Screen Media. FreePad is a turnkey communication solution for Telcos, ISPs, communities, portals and the consumer market. The combination of wireless data and telephony included in FreePad is based upon available technology (ISDN, ADSL, PSTN, CATV) yet is a unique offering.

See more here...

Wavelink & Commtech Strategic Alliance
Wavelink Communications and Commtech Wireless have announced a strategic alliance, reaping substantial benefits for both organisations. This alliance follows the development of the interface enabling Commtech generated paging messages to be displayed on Wavelink’s Kirk DECT cordless telephone handsets, opening significant new markets for both companies.
For more details see their Press Release

Earlier news may be found in the DECTnews archive