SCHAUMBURG, Ill.-Motorola Inc.’s Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector
announced it entered into a software alliance agreement with Cerulean Technology Inc. in an effort to beef up its
wireless information solutions aimed at public-safety agencies.
Under terms of the agreement, Motorola will resell
Cerulean’s PacketCluster product suite as part of its Private DataTAC solution. The Private DataTAC solution is a 19.2
kilobit-per-second dedicated wireless data network featuring an Internet Protocol networking interface with advanced
data compression and system security measures.
PacketCluster extends desktop applications to mobile users
equipped with wireless capabilities, such as wireless modems on laptops for two-way wireless access to information
stored in intranet databases or Internet-based content. The suite includes the popular PacketCluster Patrol system,
designed for law enforcement agencies who use the system to give officers in the field access to police databases and
other information; and PacketCluster Rescue, for fire and emergency rescue personnel.
“Cerulean’s
PacketCluster software is an ideal addition to our portfolio of total solutions,” said Greg Townsend, vice
president and general manager of Motorola’s Worldwide Systems Development Division. “Through our
relationship with Cerulean, Motorola can continue to offer its public-safety customers a total wireless data solution,
providing mobile workers with on-the-spot access to mission-critical information stored in multiple databases at
headquarters or remote locations.”
The PacketCluster Patrol application also is available on BellSouth
Wireless Data L.P.’s wireless data network. The addition of Motorola as a reseller extends Cerulean’s reach even
further.
“I think it’s a really big announcement,” said company spokeswoman Stephanie Smith.
“This is an alliance encouraged by our customers. For the public-safety field … they’re the ultimate
winners.”
Some 70 percent of the wireless data market has been directed at the public-safety field, which has
been a primary driver of wireless data so far. Smith said its agreements with Motorola and BellSouth will allow
Cerulean to develop solutions for other fields in the future. Many industry watchers agree.
“Systems
connectivity and interoperability as well as turnkey solutions are emerging wireless data trends,” said Mark
Desautels, managing director of the Wireless Data Forum. “The Motorola-Cerulean alliance has the potential to
eliminate many barriers to successful implementation of wireless data. Together, they are meeting the needs of mobile
workers with an approach that will not only simplify procurement, but also reduce system complexity.”
