Tim Scannell

Robotics isn’t only the thing of science fiction that most consider it to be. Personal robots have always been adept at war. But now they’re getting better at doing some of the more mundane things, such as fetching medicine for the elderly and chasing dust balls around the room. “Robotics is a large part of […]

iAnywhere Solutions has built another bridge to Blackberry. The maker of mobile management software released an upgraded version of its Afaria suite that expands support for Research in Motion’s Blackberry devices for e-mail and communications. It also offers controls through Microsoft’s Systems Management Server (SMS) software. Afaria 5.4 can now be used to deploy, install […]

Skyhook Wireless is putting a global spin on Wi-Fi. The company has released software that uses Wi-Fi to turn notebooks and wireless handheld computers into global positioning systems (GPS). The Loki software, now in beta, is based on Wi-Fi detection and location software used to match 802.11 wireless signals transmitted from a user’s PC with […]

How many cell towers does it take to screw in new applications and keep up with user demands for media-rich services? Not much more than the existing number, according to wireless solutions provider TenXc Wireless, which today unveiled the first in a series of cell site enhancement products offering a “drop and insert” answer to […]

Virus check in aisle four! It’s unlikely you will hear that in your local supermarket anytime soon. But retailers and vendors involved in wireless RFID tagging are concerned that the tagging devices may provide a direct line through the supply chain for viruses and malicious code. Such injections would be hard to track and even […]

Being there is not half the fun and can be more expensive, at least when it comes to software applications. This is the technology mantra of Softricity, which today released a return on virtualization (ROV) calculator that can be used to put a dollar amount on the cost-savings benefits of using virtual versions of common […]

On-demand software and service company Employease expanded its partner program today by adding payroll giant ADP to its roster of vertically segmented companies. The agreement not only moves the company further into the “hybrid” value-added reseller (VAR) and private-label, on-demand services market, but paves the way for a more Web-based, service-oriented architecture (SOA), the company […]

If you want something done right, have someone else do it. That’s the idea behind a hosted applications service announced today by Edge Dynamics and IBM that essentially puts a pay-as-you-go spin on managing channels and customers in the multi-billion-dollar pharmaceuticals manufacturing industry. As part of its channel commerce management (CCM) effort, the service promises […]

Database software maker Sybase is upgrading its RFID Enterprise suite with improved features that slice and dice decision-making content and push it to the right manager. The idea with the latest release is to help managers pluck the right data for their business line focus and improve device management. RFID Enterprise Version 2.0 provides templates […]

UPDATED: Research in Motion’s (RIM) is breathing a sigh of relief following a court ruling that its BlackBerry services will not be plucked from the airwaves. At least not yet. U.S. District Judge James Spencer today decided not to issue an injunction and shut down the popular messaging service. Rather, he will continue to review […]

Friday, Feb. 24th is D-Day for Research in Motion (RIM), with the fate of its U.S. Blackberry wireless e-mail service hanging in the balance. After years of appeals following a patent infringement verdict against RIM by Virginia patent-holding firm NTP, U.S. District Judge James Spencer is scheduled to begin penalty deliberations against the Canadian-based RIM, […]

Meet the new Ma Bell. After its wireless service was absorbed by Cingular Wireless, and its vast business and communications business swallowed up by SBC Communications in a $16B deal, AT&T is out to reestablish its wireless content brand in a big way. How? By offering real-time portal and communications services to users of Nokia […]