2-2-97: "Telecom equipment makers to develop encryption for mobile phones" Matsushita, NEC and Mitsubishi will cooperate in developing scrambler technology to prevent interception of mobile phone calls and other misuse, and will open a research laboratory in Yokohama on Feb. 12. Within five years the facility is to perfect encryption technology to protect wireless communications and data transmissions, and for possible use in electronic commerce. Researchers will work to develop a mobile communications version of "public key" scrambling technology now used to secure data transmitted online. "Electronic Cash Via Wireless Phone, Smart Card In Works" Wireless telephones are about to get a new mission as portable money machines. PacBell intends to test ways to blend its mobile phone technology with a smart card that can dramatically upgrade the intelligence of a wireless telephone. People on the go could transfer funds into the card's memory, slide the card into the phone, and then use the phone as a communications device to buy a variety of goods and services. "Sierra Wireless Combines Cellular Data, GPS; MP 200-GPS Modem Provides Both in a Single Package" The combination MP200-GPS product includes an MP200 rugged CDPD/cellular 3-watt mobile modem, a state-of-the-art Trimble GPS receiver module and a choice of magnetic mount or hard mount GPS active antennas. In addition, the MP200-GPS includes an internal microcontroller, so it can operate without a PC or mobile data terminal as a standalone tracking monitor. A remote host computer can wirelessly program the unit to report position on a preset timeout, whenever the unit moves a certain distance, or if an external alarm is triggered. ----- COM_int