[ Thanks to Matt for
this link. ]
“Researchers have successfully tested a system that can replace
a cellular tower’s room full of communications hardware with a
single desk-top style computer, making the technology affordable
for small, rural communities.“The software is also capable of running emergency
communications–such as police, fire and ambulance channels–on the
same device as the civilian system, eliminating the need for a
separate network of emergency communications towers.“‘Rural customers are the first application of the technology,
but large carriers are watching to see what happens,’ said John
Chapin, chief technology officer at Vanu, Inc., the Cambridge,
Mass. Company that tested and markets the software, which it calls
Vanu Software Radio…”