Technology Briefs — Jan. 3 - Jan. 8

This briefing can be e-mailed to you every week. Just click here to register.The Latest Headlines:

• TransCore Inks Satellite Pact with Norwegian Firm
• WTO Urged to Scrap Duties on ‘Green’ Technology
• Iowa Judge to Rule on Speed Cameras

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TransCore Inks Satellite Pact with Norwegian Firm

Transportation software firm TransCore said Wednesday it signed a five-year agreement for Norwegian firm Telenor Satellite Services to serve as a distributor of TransCore’s GlobalWave asset-tracking products in Europe.This multi-year agreement with Telenor will expand TransCore’s satellite offerings in the international market, the company said in a statement.“Telenor is universally respected and known for top-quality service,” said John Worthington, TransCore’s president.“We believe this agreement will translate into increased market position for our GlobalWave product line and provide Telenor access to an additional satellite communications service,” he said. Transport Topics

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WTO Urged to Scrap Duties on ‘Green’ Technology

World Trade Organization governments should scrap all customs duties on technologies that generate environmentally clean power, European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said, Bloomberg reported.Since climate change is now "incontrovertible," meeting the targets of reducing emission of gases that cause it will be the biggest challenge for governments in the next 50 years, Mandelson said, Bloomberg reported.Trade policy can help by promoting the transfer of technologies for renewable power, creating “an open global market in environmental technologies,” he said, Bloomberg reported. Transport Topics

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Iowa Judge to Rule on Speed Cameras

An Iowa judge is expected to rule soon on whether the city of Davenport’s automated camera-ticketing system has violated the rights of thousands of motorists, the Associated Press reported.Scott County District Judge Gary McKenrick heard arguments in December from two attorneys claiming that the system contradicts the state vehicle code and serves as an unlawful money-making machine for the city, AP said.Attorneys are representing a resident of Rock Island, Ill., in what they would like to become a class-action lawsuit for thousands of drivers who have received citations, AP reported.They argue that the system contradicts state law by treating the citations as civil matters, despite a state law that requires criminal citations be issued to people who speed or run a red light.Assistant City Attorney Chris Jackson said the camera system and city code do not conflict with the state vehicle code, AP reported. Transport TopicsPrevious Technology Briefs