51.1 F
Laguna Hills
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
-Advertisement-

Motorola’s going with go2, in the Technology column



Conexant All Amped Up; QLogic Connects with Toshiba

Irvine-based go2 Systems Inc., which provides location-based directory information to users of cellular phones and other Web-linked handheld devices, is attracting some attention.

First, Motorola Inc. announced a multi-year strategic alliance to integrate go2 Systems’ directory service into its phones. The deal is a big-name boost for go2 Systems, which also counts alliances with Sprint PCS, Verizon Wireless and Nextel Communications.

Motorola also plans to offer go2 Systems’ service through Invisix, Motorola’s joint venture with Cisco Systems Inc.

Then the November issue of Grok, a supplement of The Industry Standard, named go2 Systems of Irvine as one of 25 wireless companies to watch. Grok said the company’s key service is its global addressing and directory service that connects customers with real-world businesses.

Go2 Systems acts like a search engine for handheld devices, providing information about retailers and services via phones, pagers and electronic organizers linked to the Internet. Directory customers include Howard Johnson’s, Jiffy Lube, Ramada, House of Blues, Diedrich Coffee, Cinnabon, and Ruth’s Chris steakhouses, among others.

Conexant Unveils Phone Amps

Newport Beach-based Conexant Systems Inc. is rolling out a new family of power amplifiers for wireless phones using Europe’s global standard for mobile communications that are designed to let mobile phones be used around the world.

Conexant said the amplifiers process twice as much data as traditional ones and support emerging data services, such as Internet browsing, online shopping, video messaging and other interactive applications. Power amplifiers are a critical component of wireless handsets, determining the length of talk time and battery life available to the user.

Toshiba Gets QLogical

Aliso Viejo-based QLogic Corp., a provider of speedy fibre channel components for data storage networks, said Irvine-based Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. plans to integrate QLogic’s QLA2200 Series host adapters into its Magnia series servers with attached storage subsystems.

BridgeGate Honors Techies at Gala

BridgeGate LLC, a high-tech executive recruiting firm, held its second annual BridgeGate 20 in Costa Mesa to honor new media and information technology organizations.

The honorees included a who’s who of OC tech, including Robert Hoff, general partner at the Irvine office of Crosspoint Venture Partners; Paul Folino, chief executive of Emulex Corp.; H.K. Desai, chairman of QLogic; and Safi Qureshey, head of Irvine Ventures.

The guest speaker was Tim Draper, head of the Draper Fisher Jurvetson venture capital fund and the driving force behind the Prop. 38 school voucher initiative. The proceeds from the event went to Orange County Works, which provides job training and placement for at-risk youth and young people who leave the foster care system at age 18.

EMusement’s EverQuest Alums

Fans of the online role-playing game “EverQuest” may find some kindred spirits at a new company, eMusement Inc.

Five of the software company’s seven co-founders worked for San Diego-based Verant Interactive Inc., where they were instrumental in helping develop EverQuest, the game produced by Sony Corp.’s 989 Studios. The online game counts 230,000 subscribers who pay $10 a month to play.

Among the co-founders of eMusement are Kevin McPherson, one of the primary EverQuest programmers and previously a programmer on Sony Computer Entertainment’s “Rally Cross,” and Douglas Johnson, an EverQuest artist and animator. Other EverQuest alums joining eMusement include Sean McPherson, John “Spyke” Alexander and Brian Canary.

Leading eMusement is Laguna Hills resident and Chief Executive Greg Peterson, former marketing director for role-playing games at Irvine-based Interplay Entertainment Corp. The seventh co-founder is Guido Henkel, who was producer and project director on Interplay’s “Planescape: Torment” role-playing game.

The founders began the company in January and it is currently headquartered in Peterson’s Laguna Hills home. The company plans to open an office soon, most likely in northern San Diego County. It currently has bridge financing and it’s planning to make virtual technology for game publishers as well as for Hollywood and corporate clients.

Microsemi’s ‘Bearish Wedge’

Shares of chip maker Microsemi Corp. of Santa Ana have had a nice run in the past six months, going from 20 to around 38 early last week. But columnist Gary B. Smith of TheStreet.com isn’t impressed. He said the stock is in a “bearish wedge,” saying that while the price has increased, the volume of shares traded has decreased. “Be careful,” he wrote, saying its next move could be southward.

Bit:

Santa Ana-based Ingram Micro Inc. announced that its U.S. subsidiary has distributed more than $1 billion in Cisco Systems Inc. products during the latter’s fiscal 2000.

Want more from the best local business newspaper in the country?

Sign-up for our FREE Daily eNews update to get the latest Orange County news delivered right to your inbox!

-Advertisement-

Featured Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-

Related Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-