Barney Robison Blog

DALLAS and SAN DIEGO — Texas Instruments

Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today announced that its Bluetooth(R) and

wireless LAN (WLAN) technology software drivers are available for use in

the Open Handset Alliance’s Android platform. Open access to these

technologies simplifies the design process for handset manufacturers and

software developers, providing the resources to architect cutting-edge

Android-based devices. TI, a long-time supporter of the open source

software community, is the first company to provide open source Bluetooth

and WLAN software drivers for the Android platform, and is among the first

to open WLAN drivers for the mobile industry.

“TI continues to increase its contributions to the open source

community, removing barriers and sparking development of a new breed of

mobile devices,” said Haviv Ilan, general manager, TI’s Wireless Read more

SEATTLE — NetMotion Wireless, a leading provider of mobile productivity and management software, announced today that it released version 8.0 of Mobility XE (TM), the company’s award-winning mobile virtual private network (VPN) software. This latest version provides new security controls that intelligently extend corporate security policies to mobile devices without needlessly impacting mobile worker productivity. In addition, enterprise customers can now use the software to reliably deploy real-time applications like Voice over IP (VoIP) and streaming video while maintaining high quality, even over wireless networks prone to high packet loss.

NetMotion’s core client-server software, Mobility XE, enables mobile workers to maintain secure connections to applications as they move through wireless coverage gaps and across various networks. Used by more than 1,200 business and agencies, NetMotion Wireless’ software works across Windows(TM)-based laptops Read more

LONDON — Symbian Limited, the market leader in open operating systems for mobile phones, today welcomes the announcement of the much anticipated Nokia N96 multimedia computer.

This latest mobile phone is based on S60 and Symbian OS v9.3, the latest shipped version of Symbian OS?. Symbian OS v9.3 is optimized for convergence with performance and feature enhancements which bring the highest level of power efficiency and platform security to a mobile phone.

The Nokia N96 boasts live TV, a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, turn-by-turn voice navigation, 16GB of internal memory that can be increased to 24GB with an optional microSD card, superior sound and music, N-Gage gaming and a stunning 2.8″ display.

Symbian Ltd. Read more

LONDON — Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and NTT DOCOMO announced today their intent to unite Symbian OS(TM), S60, UIQ and MOAP(S) to create one open mobile software platform. Together with AT&T, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and Vodafone they plan to establish the Symbian Foundation to extend the appeal of this unified software platform. Membership of this non-profit Foundation will be open to all organizations. This initiative is supported by current shareholders and management of Symbian Limited, who have been actively involved in its development. Plans for the Foundation have already received wide support from other industry leaders.

To enable the Foundation, Nokia today announced plans to acquire the remaining shares of Symbian Limited that Nokia does not already own and then contribute the Symbian and S60 software to the Foundation. Sony Ericsson and Motorola today announced their intention to contribute technology Read more

SAN DIEGO — Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies and data solutions, today announced Plaza, a platform-agnostic wireless Internet service that provides a common framework for the development and support of widgets that will enable operators to provide their end users with quick and personalized access to the mobile Internet. After the introduction of Plaza, operators and developers can produce and deliver Internet-based content across their devices, in order to drive the usage of wireless data services, improve subscriber stickiness and ultimately increase operator ARPU.

Plaza is focused on enabling operators to bring more simplicity and personalization to their subscribers’ mobile Internet experiences. When combined with subscriber intelligence and available device real estate, Plaza’s end-to-end widget framework and user experience provides operators with a solution to drive use of Read more

STOCKHOLM — Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) announced today that the company has decided to accept Nokia’s cash offer to acquire all of the Symbian Limited shares that Nokia does not already own. Ericsson owns 15.6% of the shares in Symbian Limited.

Symbian Limited, the software company that develops and licenses Symbian OS(TM), which is the market-leading open operating system for mobile devices, was co-founded by Ericsson in 1998. As Ericsson no longer manufactures mobile phones the shareholding in the company is not strategic for Ericsson.

Nokia’s acquisition of the shares in Symbian is subject to approvals from relevant competition authorities and is expected to be completed during the second half of 2008.

Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC) Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Airespace, Inc.? announced today that Broward County Public Schools, the nation’s sixth largest school district, has chosen Airespace to be its primary wireless platform to deliver Wireless LAN (WLAN) services throughout all academic and administrative locations, supporting over 274,000 students and 17,000 instructional staff in approximately 250 sites. The new Airespace WLAN system is part of a world-class technology infrastructure, helping to improve educational and administrative processes in Broward County by enabling easier access to coursework and other online information.

The Airespace WLAN System is being deployed by Broward Schools as part of their ongoing initiative to use Information Technology (IT) to improve student achievement and faculty productivity. A study is currently being conducted to assess the educational benefits associated with providing each student with a laptop computer. This project was initiated with roughly 6,000 Read more

HOLTSVILLE, N.Y. — Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SBL)

today reported financial results for third quarter 2004.

Revenue for the third quarter ended September 30, 2004, was $442.7

million, representing the Company’s highest quarterly revenue in its

history as well as a gain of 17 percent over third-quarter 2003 revenue of

$377.1 million and an increase of just over 2 percent compared to

second-quarter 2004 revenue of $432.8 million.

Third-quarter 2004 net earnings were $21.1 million, or $0.09 per share,

compared with third-quarter 2003 net earnings of $11.5 million, or $0.05

per share, and second-quarter 2004 net earnings of $28.8 million, or $0.12

per share.

The Company’s September acquisition of Matrics, Inc. had a $13.8 million

negative impact on third-quarter 2004 net earnings, and a $0.05 negative

impact on earnings per share. Before giving effect of the acquisition, Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Airespace Inc.?announced today that Lee Memorial Health Systems (LMHS), the largest public, not-for-profit health system in Florida, is in the process of deploying an Airespace Wireless LAN (WLAN) System throughout its six acute care facilities and several business unit locations. By deploying a completely secure wireless network, LMHS is delivering the highest quality patient care by leveraging the best in Information Technology (IT).

“With the Airespace wireless network, we are able to improve patient care through real-time access to online resources, such as patient records and prescription information,” said Bob Votta, Director of Network Technical Services at Lee Memorial Health System. “The Airespace WLAN will also enable us to better track patients and rapidly locate key mobile assets, such as emergency room equipment, using advanced wireless location services and RFID. Wireless mobility helps us to operate more efficiently Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — SOHOware, a pioneer in wireless LAN, announces the release of EWSA(TM) software for its

AeroGuard(TM) MIMO WLAN solution that enables the world’s first True

MIMO(TM) WLAN Switch, making AeroGuard(TM) even more differentiated and affordable for solution VARs who support distributed Enterprise, warehouse, hospitality, education, hospital, Hot Spot, event center and recreational facility applications.

The wireless LAN industry has arrived at a useful tiered architecture that utilizes a WLAN switch or a WLAN switch appliance in response to the need by distributed enterprise and SMB for centralized security policy and network management. In this architecture, edge APs are either directly connected to a switch or indirectly connected to a switch appliance through a shared LAN. When multiple switches are deployed, a higher-level NMS is introduced to centrally manage the WLAN network. While the switch or switch appliance is typically a Read more