Cisco Manager Touts Wireless Advantage for Mobile Applications

Announcement Link

Sensoria Corp.'s EnRoute500 Mesh Device Enhances Municipal Broadband's Value by Meeting Public Safety and Transit Needs; Mesh Network Device Launch

Announcement Link

March Networks Launches Advanced Transportation Solution including R5 Visual Intelligence Mobile Suite at APTA 2005

Announcement Link

MTA Subway Security Upgrade to Cost $130MM USD More Than Expected.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has already been criticized for moving too slowly in spending hundreds of millions of dollars set aside to upgrade transit security, and now it looks like the plan the agency came up with is going to cost a lot more than expected.

What's Going On With MSGI? Do They Have A Contract Or Not?

The recent announcement made by MSGI propped up their share prices but now their credibility is in question with the recent newstory released by Smart Money.

The Show Will Go On

APTA show is currently advising that show will go on in spite of Hurricane
Rita hitting the Texas coast on Friday and Saturday. Stay tuned...no one can predict the weather ; )

It's Not a New Idea But Now They Are Finally Considering Cameras in Planes?!?!?

Long discussed topic in the industry since 9/11. Will the idea ever take root among the 'spoon counters' concerned about fuel costs and additional weight that a camera system can add to the plane?

Digital Recorders, Inc. Slates New Transit Security Product Demonstrations

Here's the announcement released today about DRI's new product. Let's hear the reviews next week!!

City Buses Pick Up Wireless Broadband in Cedar Rapids - Providing Internet and Video Access Using Mesh Network Technology

Interesting announcement where buses are being used as routers and repeaters to create a fluid network allowing security and passenger entertainment connectivity.

Verint Announces Nextiva Transit - New Networked Video Security Solution for the Mass Transit Industry

New announcement from Verint shows company's product positioning for converged and real-time distribution of security intelligence from networked video infrastructure to first responders and security personell. Generally speaking the security industry is responding to mass transit's emerging requirements for filtering through mass amounts of video and security information. As one CEO stated to me...."I have 8000 cameras...what I need is software that will help me focus our attention and resources to respond immediately".

Many manufacturers have been working on security information convergence for fixed security assets. General Electric's Facility Commander, GVI's Mass Transit Intelligent Video System and Honeywell's Digital Video Manager are examples of new technologies where video, access and intrusion are networked together on one monitoring console. These and many other organizations are seeking to also combine information with mobile security assets such has video recorders and other telematics components. Few have rolled out a complete solution.

Of particular note is Verint's association with DRI (Digital Recorders Inc). On first appearance this alliance seems like a strategic sales intiative considering DRI's strong market relationship with the transit industry for their current spectrum of products. However, recent announcements from DRI would indicate that they are about to unveil new transportation security related products at the APTA conference this month and previous information releases would suggest that DRI is seeking to combine their technologies with Verint to provide an onboard and offboard synergy aligning GPS, AVL and AVM with video technology to create an 'actionable' ITS (Intelligent Transportation System). That coupled with Verint's Nextiva system would provide a converged security intelligence solution for the mass transit industry.

Let's see what's unveiled at APTA. Stay tuned.

Homeland Security Watch

The London Bombings: Protecting Civilian Targets from Terrorist Attacks

Testimony provided by APTA President,William Millar, to House Homeland Security and Subcomittee of Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, And Cybersecurity.

SAFETEA LU - Online Links and Resources

• American Bus Association
• APTA Online Links and Resources
• FTA

Transit Flasher Caught by Camera Phone

Interesting story about passengers taking surveillance into their own hands and helping catch flasher. Is this a trend?

Transportation Security Administration Still Wrestling with Old Security Technology