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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 19, 2013They said it, we said it, now we'll say it again: The shutdown of the Nextel National Network is happening at the end of this month. Are you ready with another wireless communication solution to replace Nextel push-to-talk phones? We've known for years that the Nextel National Network, which is based on iDEN technology inadequate to meet the data needs of modern smartphones, was on its way out. Sprint, which now owns the network, announced the shutdown in late 2010. Later it set the date: June 30, 2013. Earlier this month, Sprint laid out the plan down to the minute. In a news release the company said, "Sprint remains on schedule to decommission the iDEN Nextel National Network beginning at 12:01 a.m. eastern time on June 30. iDEN devices will then no longer receive voice service—including 911 calls and push-to-talk—or data service. Sprint will shut down switch locations in rapid succession on June 30, followed by powering down equipment and eliminating backhaul at each
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May 29, 2013We have plenty of people at BearCom with decades of experience in two-way radios and other wireless products and solutions, but no one here can match the longevity of Chester Matusek. At 91, Chester is perhaps the oldest and longest-tenured employee of Motorola Solutions. The Algonquin, Illinois, resident is a metal mold maker who has worked on some of Motorola's most famous products, including the first DynaTAC cell phone. "At the metal shop, we were involved in everything at Motorola," Chester said in a recent story in suburban Chicago's Daily Herald newspaper. "I really liked working on the DynaTAC. That was an interesting job. Right now, I am repairing World War II walkie-talkies, because people like to talk on them when they visit our museum. It's not easy getting them up
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May 22, 2013Nearly five months after the FCC's narrowbanding deadline, people are still talking about the mandate for users of two way radios to convert to 12.5 kHz technology. Among them is Al Ittner, Senior Manager of Spectrum Strategy for Motorola Solutions. Ittner was in Houston last week to speak at the Utilities Telecom Council's annual conference. His topic was "Narrowbanding: I Missed the Deadline. Now What?" The narrowbanding mandate from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is familiar to most everyone who works with two way radios. After all, the FCC began the narrowbanding initiative way back in 1992 in order to increase capacity and efficiency for the industrial/business and public safety radio pools in the private land mobile radio services category. In its simplest form, the mandate requires public agencies and companies that use two way radios to upgrade their technology. The FCC set the deadline of January 1, 2013,
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May 14, 2013Some executives shy away from social media networks or leave the tweeting to other professionals on their staffs. But Motorola Solutions Chairman & CEO Greg Brown sure doesn't appear to be one of them. Brown's Twitter feed (@GregBrownMoto) shows that he is a leader, is interested in politics, and loves his sports teams. "One of the most unbelievable Bulls games ever. One for the ages!" he said after a triple-overtime Chicago win on April 27. Brown also cheers hard for his alma mater: "Rutgers had seven players taken in this year's NFL draft, second only to Alabama. Congratulations to the Scarlet Knights." Brown also has tweeted about the Congressional deal making on the so-called fiscal cliff, the failure of cyber security legislation, and even the elections in Greece. He talks about his time with everyone from Ben Bernanke and Henry Kissinger to Bruno Mars and Bobby Flay, his visit to
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May 07, 2013BearCom is out with the latest edition of Today's Wireless World, our award-winning magazine that focuses on the latest innovations in wireless technology. This issue is all about solutions for manufacturers. Available in digital and print formats, the Special Manufacturing Issue of Today's Wireless World focuses on how manufacturers are using wireless technology to solve problems and increase productivity. It discusses how, with two-way radios, analog technology has given way to advanced digital systems, like the MOTOTRBO line from industry leader Motorola Solutions. "Today's Wireless World provides a wealth of information on the ongoing improvements in wireless technology," BearCom President & CEO Jerry Denham said in a
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April 30, 2013Businesses are always looking for options, and a once-important wireless communications option is going away on June 30, 2013. That's the date the Nextel National Network is being officially decommissioned. With just two months left, plenty of businesses are considering their options to replace their push-to-talk communications systems; and BearCom has them.
Nextel Network Shut Down
To highlight the choices available, BearCom this week published a white paper, Considering All the Options for Replacing Nextel Push-to-Talk Communications Services. In it, BearCom reminds organizations impacted by the shutdown that they have choices from among push-to-talk phone systems but can consider two-way -
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 -
April 17, 2013Motorola Solutions makes some of the toughest two-way radios on the market, and this fall, a couple of them will be put to the ultimate test during an amazing expedition being sponsored in part by BearCom.
BearCom's Involvement with Expedition Outreach
Expedition Outreach, a charitable organization based in Boston, will be traveling to Iceland in August to try and set the Guinness Book World Record for the fastest alpine face-first luge. Team leader Michael Coyne, who already holds the world record for the highest-altitude luge run, will attempt to be the fastest person on Earth using an alpine skeleton-style sled.