SIMON TUCK
TECHNOLOGY REPORTER
Monday, May 28, 2001

OTTAWA -- Ottawa-based Spotwave Wireless Inc. says it has developed technology allowing cellphone users and other wireless devotees to use their gadgets inside large buildings, basements and even elevators without sacrificing audio quality.

Chief executive officer Shane Young said other companies offer signal boosters to partly aid indoor wireless, but Spotwave's "always-on" device makes almost anywhere wireless-friendly. It uses so-called smart antennas that gauge a building's signal needs and optimize signal routes. Targeted at building landlords or tenants, it sells for $2,500 (U.S.), including an outside wall-mounted device about the size of a pizza box, an inside wall-mounted, book-size unit, an interconnecting unit and a power adaptor. Despite skepticism about the future of wireless on-line shopping, many analysts say the popularity of wireless devices -- and Internet-based applications for them -- is set to soar. The Spotwave device holds promise to facilitate e-commerce. Forrester Research Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., forecasts the use of 177 million mobile phones and other handheld devices by 2005, 97 per cent with Internet access.

Spotwave has secured $3-million in first-round financing from Ottawa-based Venture Coaches and Primaxis Technology Ventures Inc. of Toronto.