UC TODAY A Penton Media Property June 30, 2009 Volume 7, Number 53 If you want to view this on the web go to: http://enews.penton.com/enews/mobileradiotech/v/498 ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT Free On-Demand Webinar: Enabling First Responders with Mobile Devices The evolution of mobile broadband networks has spawned an enormous amount of innovation in terms of the devices and applications that leverage those networks. Meanwhile, a plethora of applications have emerged -- video, photo/document transmission, location, personnel tracking/monitoring, medical telemetry, emergency alerts and gunshot location, to name a few -- that are making first responders more effective in the field, and safer. This event will examine what's currently available to the public-safety sector and provide insight as to how the future evolution of such devices and applications will unfold. View Free On-Demand Webinar Now! https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=registration.jsp&eventid=149484&sessionid=1&key=76C6AAD711199A7B8EF3137C14176C7E&partnerref=UcEnewsletter&sourcepage=register ---------------------------------------- WAVELENGTHS --Next-gen satellite promises additional options By Donny Jackson If all goes well tomorrow, TerreStar Networks will launch a new satellite that is so big that the traditionally large antennas found on satellite devices no longer will be necessary. With these next-generation satellites, device antennas can be small enough to fit into the form factors of traditional commercial wireless handsets. TerreStar is not alone in launching such satellites, but the company is the first to have announced a reciprocal roaming agreement with a major carrier — AT&T Mobility. By the end of the year, consumers should be able to buy an HSPA handset that also provides communications via the new TerreStar satellite when outside the range of AT&T's terrestrial network. For the satellite industry, seeing this vision become a reality is huge, because it allows the sector — traditionally a niche-market player — to tap into the commercial wireless market's massive economies of scale. Instead of customers having to buy dedicated (and typically expensive) equipment and learn specialized operating procedures to access a satellite network, they can use the same devices they use every day. To view the full article go to: http://urgentcomm.com/networks_and_systems/commentary/next-gen-satellite-advantages-20090630/ A note to our readers: We will not publish Urgent Communications Today on Thursday because of the holiday. We will resume our regular publishing schedule next week. In the meantime, have a happy and safe Fourth of July. ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT Station Style Design Awards: Call For Entries Now Open! Have an exceptional project that deserves national recognition? Want to showcase your best work to the largest audience? FIRE CHIEF's Station Style Awards gives your project more national exposure than any other station design competition. Fire departments and architects are invited to enter FIRE CHIEF's 2009 Station Style Awards competition. The entry can reflect an entire fire station or a specialized part of the facility. Entry Deadline August 14. Submit your entry today! http://firechief.com/stationstyle/stationstyleawards/index.html ---------------------------------------- IN THE NEWS --Genachowski sworn in as FCC head By Donny Jackson New FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski was sworn in today, providing the agency with its first permanent chairman in five months and marking the end of Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein's tenure on the commission. To view the full article go to: http://urgentcomm.com/policy_and_law/news/genachowski-fcc-chairman-20090629/ --TerreStar readies for launch of next-gen satellite By Donny Jackson Satellite-communications provider TerreStar Networks is scheduled to launch a next-generation satellite tomorrow that is expected to bring satellite functionality to everyday devices, including consumer wireless handsets and — eventually — LMR radios used by public-safety personnel. To view the full article go to: http://urgentcomm.com/networks_and_systems/news/terrestar-1-satellite-launch-20090630/ --OnStar system alerts first responders about serious injuries By Mary Rose Roberts OnStar has developed an Injury Severity Prediction system that will let OnStar advisors alert first responders when a vehicle crash is likely to have caused serious injury to the occupants, said Catherine McCormick, the service line manager for the company's Emergency Services division. To view the full article go to: http://urgentcomm.com/networks_and_systems/news/injury-severity-prediction-system-20090629/ --Reporter's notebook: DHS announces $1.8 billion in grants By Mary Rose Roberts States and cities at risk of natural disasters and terrorism will receive nearly $1.8 billion in federal preparedness grants to protect, prevent, respond and recover from potential calamities this fiscal year, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Also, news from Digi International, Etherstack, EF Johnson, Klein and Freewave. To view the full article go to: http://urgentcomm.com/policy_and_law/news/dhs-federal-preparedness-grants-20090629/ ---------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT What are our editors talking about this week? Get your fix on the lastest industry news, gossip and commentary directly from those who are in the know. Check out Urgent Communications' new blog, SquawkBox, for a truly unique, insider's view into the industry. Plus you can join the discussion and add your "two cents!" Visit www.UrgentComm.com/squawkbox http://blog.urgentcomm.com/squawkbox/ to see what they're talking about today! ---------------------------------------- ON THE WEB --Find more content online Find more content at UrgentComm.com (http://www.urgentcomm.com), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Urgent-Communications/55732540756#/pages/Urgent-Communications/55732540756?v=wall&viewas=1136067143) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/UrgentComm) ---------------------------------------- Today's Urgent Communications Today Newsletter is brought to you by: Read FREE White Papers from Motorola. Download Now! http://urgentcomm.com/whitepaper/motorola-wpp/ ---------------------------------------- ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER You are subscribed to this newsletter as #email# To subscribe to this newsletter go to: http://subscribe.urgentcomm.com/?tc=NLSUB To unsubscribe from this newsletter go to: http://subscribe.urgentcomm.com/?tc=NLSUB&cid=#message_id#&lid=#list_id#&email=#email# For information on advertising in this newsletter, please contact: Dennis Hegg, mailto:dennis.hegg@penton.com. For questions concerning delivery of this newsletter, please contact our Customer Service Department at: US Toll Free: 866-505-7173 International: 847-763-9504 To get this newsletter in a different format (Text or HTML), or to change your e-mail address, please go to your profile page here: http://subscribe.urgentcomm.com/?tc=NLSUB&email=#email# Penton Media 9800 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park, KS 66282 Copyright 2009, Penton Media. All rights reserved. This article is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of Penton Media.