If you or your company has implemented a Webtech Wireless solution, you have access to a wealth of information that’s probably worth a review. I met with Webtech Wireless Technical Writer, Andrew D’éstrubé, and he gave me a tour of what resources you can expect to find on the Go Resources site (resources.webtechwireless.com). So, if you’ve forgotten to check out your Go Resources portal lately, here’s an overview of what’s available.

The Go Resources portal has four sections, although you’ll only see one. Each section is designed for a different type of user login. The four user logins are Installer, Partner, Employee, and Quadrant. “Employee” is for Webtech Wireless employees, so I’ll describe the other three.

• The Installer section, as its name suggests, is designed for anyone who is tasked with installing Webtech Wireless hardware components (such as Locators or MDTs) on vehicles. If you’re an installer, you’ll get a link to this login along with hardware that’s shipped to you. The Installer section provides you with access to all the documentation you’ll need to install WebTech products, as well as information about certified training programs, news (upgrades), and contact information for installers if they need help.
• The Partner section is designed for third-party providers who develop solutions with Webtech Wireless. It includes news (describing resource updates), training (information the partners selling Webtech Wireless training courses), documentation (release notes, installation guides, compliance guides, and other resources), a sales toolkit (Tips & Tools for sales), contact information, and an FAQ (your resource for fundamental questions about wireless technologies).
• The Quadrant section is similar to the Partner section except that instead of the focus being on sales, it’s on professional services, “WebTech Wireless’ Professional Services is committed to driving the specific needs and goals of our customers’ projects to success”. It provides solution-oriented information on topics such as ROI, and how Quadrant saves companies money as well as information on Track & Trace Services, Transportation Services, Enterprise Services, and Services Brochures.

Saint John Transit bus on King Street soon to be equipped with NextBus AVL solution

Back in February 2010, Webtech Wireless expanded its InterFleet® implementation with the city of Saint John, New Brunswick to include an additional 100 public works and police vehicles—a contract valued at over $100,000. Now to complement the city’s Interfleet solution, Saint John Transit also plans to deploy a Webtech Wireless solution—NextBus.

NextBus will provide Saint John Transit with an AVL tracking solution for its 60 buses, allowing riders to check bus arrivals in real-time. Using PCs, landline phones, cell phones, or SMS text messaging, riders get real-time travel information (each bus is fitted with a satellite tracking system) designed to help them decide whether catching the next bus is a sprint or leisurely stroll. Currently, riders can only view a static schedule of intended bus arrivals and departures on the company’s web site.

NextBus will also install five LCD screens at various locations around the city, including McAllister Place Mall and the university campus (UNBSJ) and LED screens at bus stops. To help make public transport more attractive to potential riders (and as a nod to Saint John Transit’s already existing environmental initiatives), the service will add to the city’s existing hot spots with free WIFI for riders on all its buses.

About NextBus

A subsidiary of Webtech Wireless, San Francisco-based NextBus implements real-time passenger information systems used by dozens of transit agencies, universities and other transit operators across North America. Because traffic variations, breakdowns, and day-to-day problems faced by any transit provider can interrupt service, NextBus was designed to help keep riders on schedule even if their buses aren’t. NextBus uses satellite technology and advanced computer modeling to track vehicles on their routes.

About Saint John

Historic Saint John has been a transportation hub since long before confederation

As Canada’s oldest incorporated city and New Brunswick’s largest municipality, the city of Saint John has been providing municipal services for more than two centuries. According to Statistics Canada, the Saint John municipal area has a population of 122,389, with a population density of 36.4 persons per square kilometre.

The Port of Saint John is one of Canada’s most important ports (its relatively mild maritime climate keeps its deep-water harbour ice-free year round when inland ports in the St. Lawrence Seaway must contend with ice). This keeps the city’s businesses and industries bustling throughout the year. In 2010 for the first time ever, the Port of Saint John exceeded 30 million metric tonnes of cargo in a single year.

About Saint John Transit

Saint John Transit was established in 1979 to provide scheduled transit service to the city. It replaced City Transit Limited (1948-1979) and a string of others dating back to the People’s Street Railway Company (1869-1876). Saint John Transit is the largest public transit system in the province, both by mileage and passengers.

Saint John Transit bus now equipped with NextBus wireless AVL solution

Saint John Transit Statistics

Saint John Transit’s ridership is approximately 50 percent higher than the average for Canadian cities with a population of between 50,000 and 150,000.

• Number of vehicles: 60
• Ridership: 2.5 million riders per year

Current active fleet bus types:

• GMDD/MCI/Nova Bus Classic
• Nova Bus LFS Artic (Ex. NovaBUS demo 40881 and 40882)
• Nova Bus RTS
• Orion VII and Orion VII “Next Generation”

Greening Saint John

Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population.

To reduce auto emissions, the City of Saint John, along with the Federal and Provincial governments, is investing in public transportation between uptown Saint John and outlying communities. Branded as ComeX (Community Express), it provides a rapid bus transport service during peak commuting times. With the implementation of ComeX, greenhouse gas emissions are projected to drop by 1,500 metric tonnes and downtown traffic will decrease by 800 vehicles a day over the next five years.

Additional reading:

• City of Saint John
• City of Saint John Transit Strategic Plan
• Saint John Transit on Wikipedia
• Saint John Transit site

Webtech Wireless announces the launch of its new corporate identity, unveiled last week to employees worldwide, and being rolled-out across all of the Company’s operations over the coming months. The new identity will be applied to all marketing and communications materials, including the launch of a new website slated for early next month.

The new identity organizes and rationalizes the Company’s brands under a single corporate (umbrella) brand, with its three distinct product brands. Each is based on a common visual platform of icons, typefaces and colours, effectively creating a unified brand family.

“The idea of rebranding Webtech Wireless was first raised following the acquisition of Grey Island and its InterFleet® and NextBus® brands. It was clear that we were transitioning from a single solution company (Quadrant®) to one that could offer a comprehensive set of tightly integrated business solutions to an ever increasing variety of customers,” said Scott Edmonds, Webtech Wireless’ President and Chief Executive Officer. Adding, “The new brand identity is a logical step that communicates, to all stakeholders, that we continue to provide very specialized products and services, and that these are strengthened even more as an integral part of the new Webtech Wireless brand family.”

Introduction of new brand identity brings together the Company’s three product brands under one corporate umbrella brand

The new Webtech Wireless logo icon, a “W” constructed of three stylized arrows, will be used for the Corporate, InterFleet and Quadrant brands. Its design subtly conveys both corporate and product brand attributes: precise, efficient, direct, purposeful, fast and focused. The NextBus brand, a leading brand in the transit sector with a significant end-user audience, will sport its own icon—an “N” constructed of two stylized arrows in motion – that additionally conveys a dynamic, friendly brand personality to resonate with transit authorities and transit users. Both icons were designed to work well in web and mobile applications, where their use has superseded more traditional communications mediums.

With the launch, the Company will also reinvigorate its “Telematics for the Planet®” tag line, by applying it to all of its activities. Telematics for the Planet represents a multifaceted commitment to develop cost effective, location-based technologies that benefit our environment by reducing vehicle use and resultant CO2 and pollutant generation, as well as making reference to the Company’s global presence.

The new branding platform also sees the introduction of terminology that groups the Company’s various products into subgroups—MANAGER, LOCATOR, IN-CAB, etc.—thereby presenting a more cohesive and comprehensive solution to the marketplace. The platform also has the flexibility to incorporate additional brands in the future.

Webtech Wireless’ new identity not only encompasses the values of the Webtech Wireless brand and its products, but will also help it stand out against its competitors in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Aurora activity is brighter and more vigorous during solar storms

Leading scientists’ warnings that a massive solar storm, which could adversely affect satellite communications worldwide, has had no affect on Iridium satellites.

In an email to partners, Iridium CEO, Matt Desch, said “Low-Earth orbiting (LEO) satellite systems, such as ours, are actually less susceptible to solar storms than geosynchronous (GEO) satellite systems. Solar storms generate an increase of radiation that can cause issues for satellites and even some electrical systems on Earth.  However, due to our satellites’ robust design, along with our system fault detection and mitigation processes, we have little concern over these kinds of storms. This is because of the altitude at which our satellites fly as well our continued investment in our network.”

WebTech Wireless VP of Quadrant sales, Harald Fritz, said, “We chose Iridium as that critical link when regular cellular coverage is unavailable. Iridium provides the global network coverage as well as best-in-class coverage in northern regions where we service energy, resource, and government customers”. He added that this is important to WebTech Wireless clients, because “customers usually choose this dual mode hybrid solution in mission-critical or worker-safety related applications. This means their staff must always have coverage and be in constant connectivity.”

On February 15, 2011, scientists observed solar flares emitting billions of tons of charged particles that could trigger a $2 trillion global Katrina to communications satellites, electric power grids and GPS navigation systems. It was the largest solar storm in four years. Solar particles interact with Earth’s magnetosphere.

In June, the United Services Automobile Association (USAA), named four of its major suppliers as recipients of its inaugural Strategic Supplier Excellence Awards. One of two USAA Innovation Awards was given to one of our carrier partners, AT&T, in relation to the Teen Safe Driving pilot program – a program based on WebTech Wireless’ remote vehicle management technology.

USAA’s Teen Safe Driving pilot program relies on Quadrant® in-vehicle Locators and web-based vehicle management software to allow parents to monitor their child’s vehicle usage and driving behaviour. By giving parents the tools to mentor their young drivers, the program hopes to improve overall safety and security through better driving habits, reduce vehicle usage at high-risk times, and ultimately lower the incidences of accidents and traffic violations.

USAA, AT&T and WebTech Wireless worked together to ensure that the goals of the pilot program were realized – to enhance safety and security as well as provide an innovative insurance product that meets USAA customer needs. WebTech Wireless is pleased to be a part of this program and congratulates AT&T on its success.

USAA is a Fortune 500 financial services company offering banking, investing, and insurance to people and families that serve, or served, in the United States military. In 2009, it had 7.4 million members.

The full USAA news release can be viewed here.

This past weekend, WebTech Wireless hit Nashville, TN to take part in TMW Systems’ annual TransForum user conference.

By all accounts, the show was a great success, and in spite of the ongoing economic woes in the transport industry, turnout was as strong as ever, which is testament to the fact that even in hard times, smart companies still invest in technologies and systems, such as location-based services and telematics, that can save them money now and in the future.

Here are some pictures from Nashville.

Entrance to Exhibit Hall	Exhibit Hall
WebTech Wireless Stand	WebTech Wireless Stand

NAVTEQ Map Reporter Website

NAVTEQ Maps has launched it’s new BETA version of its online Map Reporter.

Map Reporter allows anyone to suggest edits directly to NAVTEQ via the website, ensuring that accurate and timely local data is entered into the NAVTEQ database and is then available for all users. As an additional check, NAVTEQ assigns its own local agents to verify these edits before they are finalized.

Map Reporter is available worldwide and is one of the most extensive and accurate, real-time mapping data tools available. Check it out here.