
Plan to equip 50,000 with pocket PCs
By Vivian Yeo
Published: 25 November 2005 09:05 GMT
Transportation player FedEx Express plans to equip 50,000 couriers located in 60 countries with wireless devices by 2008.
The FedEx PowerPad, a Windows Pocket PC-based device, is Bluetooth-enabled and uses GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) connectivity. The handheld is able to capture signatures electronically, and couriers can access dispatch information without having to go back to their dispatch vehicles.
The new FedEx PowerPad will replace the FedEx SuperTracker developed 20 years ago.
Linda Brigance, FedEx's vice president and CIO for the Asia-Pacific region, said that with the new features, a courier using the new device is expected to save between 10 seconds and 35 seconds at each location.
The device was piloted in Hong Kong early this year, according to Brigance. Response from customers towards the project, which was completed last month, was "very positive", she added.
She said: "We've had some good take-back from our Hong Kong experience, which we've been able to learn and [improve on] for the other countries."
Brigance noted that FedEx will commit $200m globally in new wireless technologies and implementations. The investment will be carried out over a period of five years.
In the Asia-Pacific region, FedEx targets to implement more than 2,500 devices by 2007. Besides Hong Kong, the FedEx PowerPad will be made available in Australia, Guam, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan.
Vivian Yeo writes for ZDNet Asia
We are ranked 20th in the Global Top Companies for Leaders 2007 and ranked #5 in the Asia-Pacific Region. With over 25 years in the Information ...
Motor Trade Jobs in Asia- Aftersales Managers, Brand Managers, General Managers & Sales ManagersHCP International are a leading automotive ...
We are ranked 20th in the Global Top Companies for Leaders 2007 and ranked #5 in the Asia-Pacific Region. With over 25 years in the Information ...
Agenda Setters 2008
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.
Stories from the web...
Copyright © 2008 CBS Interactive Limited. All rights reserved. Top of page
Seb Janacek Minority Report: What's up with Apple's laptops? WWDC keynote: Few surprises but plenty of questions
Seb Janacek Minority Report: My predictions for the Mac developer event From OS update to new iPhone handset