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September 24, 2013Sure, almost everyone has a smartphone these days, but the little jewels don't work everywhere all the time, and there are times when we don't carry them. Fortunately, other wireless technologies fill those voids. One of them is remote call boxes, which will be used to keep people in Southern California safe as they enjoy the outdoors. The Los Angeles River biking and walking path is a busy place. All day and night, riders and walkers make use of this lengthy urban path. The path is not immune to crime, and its isolation and lack of signage could make it difficult for police and paramedics to respond quickly. And of course, many joggers do not carry cell phones. The Alliance of River Communities, a coalition of neighborhood councils, is trying to focus attention on the issue. Chairman Hector Huezo, in a letter to the city council, wrote: "Currently, absent of a smartphone, persons using the path have few
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Accessories Analog BC100 BC130 BC95 BearCom Digital Hospitality Motorola MOTOTRBO Noisy Environments Push-to-Talk Rent Retail Security Speaker-Mics Surveillance Kits Two-Way Radio Rentals Two-Way Radios Vertex Standard Walkie-Talkies Wireless Analog Technologies Motorola Solutions Two-Way Radio AccessoriesAugust 13, 2013Big news from BearCom: We are introducing of a new line of audio accessories that will carry the company name. The speaker-microphones and surveillance kits are designed for Motorola Solutions' XPR3300 and XPR3500 digital two-way radios and the EVX-531 and VX-450 Series models from Vertex Standard. BearCom works to keep a close eye on our customers' needs, and one of those needs has been audio accessories for certain popular Motorola MOTOTRBO and Vertex Standard two-way radios. This new line of accessories addresses those needs and makes these great radios even easier to use. The new line includes:
- One-wire surveillance kits with a full-size push-to-talk microphone, coiled Kevlar-reinforced cabling, and a variety of earpiece options
- Two-wire surveillance kits that give the user the ability to wear the push-to-talk microphone on
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July 24, 2013Schools function as a complex network of teachers, coaches, administrators, accountants, clerks, counselors, diagnosticians, nurses, cooks, security officers, librarians, computer technicians, janitors, bus drivers, and parent volunteers. The logistics are staggering. For any principal or college president, the biggest responsibility is the safety of the hundreds, if not thousands, of students. Maintaining proper communications among the staff and around the campus is the most proactive step an administrator can take to enhance safety, improve security, and increase overall productivity. TodaysWirelessWorld.com recently reported on a school in Plano, Texas, that relies on digital wireless technology to keep its campus safe. The children were playing during recess one day when a teacher observed a suspicious man sitting in a parked
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July 16, 2013The first wave of the Internet connected users to information found on websites. The second wave went further by connecting users to each other through social media. The third wave will go beyond interactions with personal computers to include digital wireless technology, connecting machines and systems in a vast network to benefit users. Simply stated, devices will talk to each other to optimize our daily living. According to a new report from IHS Electronics & Media, the expansion of machine-to-machine (M2M) functions found in a growing number of electronic devices will cause the market for value-added services (VAS) to also expand. The prediction is that the VAS market will rise from $1.5 billion in 2012 to $10 billion by 2017. "The next Internet wave
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Barcode Scanners BearCom Chris Pace Construction Education Enterprise Voice Solutions Events Government Healthcare Hospitality Hugh Johnston Intrusion Prevention IP Manufacturing Mark Crosby Mike Butler Motorola Petrochemical Public Safety Retail Scanners Security Success Story Today's Wireless World Transportation Two-Way Radio Rentals Two-Way Radios Video Surveillance Walkie-Talkies Wireless WLAN Motorola SolutionsJuly 09, 2013Today's Wireless World, an award-winning magazine focused on the latest innovations in wireless technology for commercial and government applications, has been re-launched online with the help of contributors from BearCom and Motorola Solutions. Both companies will offer their expertise as part of a greatly expanded effort to deliver up-to-date information on two-way radios and other wireless technologies. TodaysWirelessWorld.com offers a steady stream of coverage on the uses of two-way radios and related equipment across a wide range of industries, including construction, education, events, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, petrochemical, public safety, retail, security,
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June 26, 2013Part Two When companies weigh the relative merits of cell phones and two-way radios, there's one group that has to stay top of mind: the users. These are the people actually using the equipment, after all. This series of articles has examined communications philosophy, urgency, coverage, reliability, and security. Now we turn our discussion of cell phones and two-way radios to users' concerns, which center on durability and ease of use. How many people you know have cracked the screen on their smartphone after it fell out of their pocket or purse? Some don't even bother to get their phones repaired because they know in a few months, a new model will be available with a bigger screen and a better camera. Two-way radios last for years because they're built to higher standards. Among them are
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June 12, 2013Video surveillance cameras have been popping up in gas stations and parking lots for decades, but as budgets tighten and safety concerns rise, more organizations than ever are turning to them. As I travel around the country, I'm seeing them more and more in schools and retail stores.
IP Video Surveillance Systems Benefits
In Walpole, Massachusetts, high school officials had petitioned the town's budget committee for funds to install additional security cameras for the past few years. Finally, in April, the town voted to approve the funds. Once installed, the surveillance cameras will be used not only for security from outside intruders but also for monitoring student behavior and inside threats. Walpole High Principal Stephen Imbusch told Education Week that security cameras would prove useful in determining -
June 04, 2013At BearCom, we know all about how two-way radios make large events easier to manage, more enjoyable to attend, and safer for all. We've helped some truly high-profile events with two-way radio rentals. So it's with that experience that we tip our hats today to our partners at Vertex Standard.
Vertex Standard's New Digital Radios
A new case study from Vertex Standard details how its eVerge EVX-531 portable digital radios were used by Red Cross Disaster Relief -
April 24, 2013
Which one is Right for your Business Two-Way Radios or Cell Phones?
As companies evaluate their wireless communications needs, the discussion often turns to the relative merits of cell phones and two-way radios. Today, we're continuing our own review of the points of comparison generally used when evaluating the two technologies. The first post in this series explored overall communications philosophy and urgency. As we turn to questions of coverage, reliability, and security, we see again that frequently it's not a question of which technology is better, but which is better suited to a specific situation. You've heard the commercials. There's a reason that a major cellular phone company uses the catchphrase, "Can you hear me now?" Cell phone networks are notorious for dead spots, dropped calls, and service-level issues. Ever tried sending a text message from a crowded -
February 05, 2013Flying between our Seattle and Chicago branches last week, I was over South Dakota when I noticed a most unusual—but entirely appropriate—application for video surveillance cameras: large agricultural operations. Back at BearCom, I did a little research and came across the story of Joel Foxley, who farms with his brothers near the South Dakota town of Platte. He told The Daily Republic newspaper how he installed his first video surveillance camera a year and a half ago and now has 15 cameras keeping watch over his equipment, fuel, grain bins, and grounds. He said, "With the price of fuel and the price of everything, we just thought it would be a wise decision to have a little safety."
Video Surveillance Cameras "Are the Way the Industry is Going"
Ross Ringling, who runs a feedlot and trucking operation near Platte, told the paper how he has eight cameras monitoring gates and high-traffic areas at his business. He said he hadn't had any