Cadec OBC Getting Aether Wireless Service

An agreement between Cadec Corp. and Aether Systems Inc. will bring broad wireless connectivity and back office integration to Cadec’s Mobius TTS onboard computer (OBC). Announced today at the National Private Truck Council Annual Conference in Nashville, TN, the alliance pairs the OBC with Aether Fusion, a wireless data system that can communicate over any wireless network and deliver that data in a number of open industry standards that can be easily integrated with most business applications running on most of the common platforms.

Currently the Mobius OBC uses short-range RF to transmit data when a vehicle enters or leaves a company facility. It has also been designed to accommodate wireless modems for most popular land-based and satellite data networks.

Aether Fusion allows fleets to use any mix of wireless networks for vehicle communications with the company’s network operations center. The data is then translated into any protocol needed by the fleet including XML, WAP, LDAP and SNMP. The system also protects against technical obsolescence since it will allow fleets to move to future wireless networks and systems without re-engineering their applications or purchasing new hardware, according to Aether.

Aether Fusion will be available with the Mobius TTS “within the next few quarters,” according to Aether. Under terms of the agreement, Cadec will supply the OBC and Aether will supply modems, data translation and monthly wireless service over the fleet’s choice of networks.