Otto launches wireless solutions division - 28 April 2010 - Otto Marketing

Otto Marketing made the most of the opportunity provided by the recently held National Electronics Week event by using it as a springboard to launch its new specialist wireless division.

Otto Wireless Solutions was officially launched on 1 March this year. Previously, Otto Marketing had been distributing and promoting SIMCom wireless products in addition to its ranges of connectors, cable assemblies, antennas, RF cables and other products. Due to the rising demand for wireless, and specifically low-cost GSM and GPS products, and their associated support and marketing needs, the company made the decision to create a wholly separate entity, whose sole purpose is to promote and support wireless products.

The new division’s purview includes the SIMCom range of GSM and short-range RF devices, as well as the GTOP range of GPS products, as well as antenna and RF cables. Otto Wireless Solutions has a highly experienced and well qualified team, made up of Barry Culligan (founder of Otto Marketing and Otto Wireless Solutions), Mark Coxen (head of the technical division), J.D Visagie (technical specialist) and Christopher Viveiros (marketing and sales). It is a distribution-model entity, with strong technical resources to provide a high level of support and assistance to its clients.

At the exhibition, the company’s regular running demonstrations on its stand attracted plenty of interest. These demos included one showing the ease with which a GPRS connection can be established in under 20 seconds from power-up, using SIMCom’s SIM340. Although this in itself impressed visitors to the stand, Otto was quick to point out that the SIM900 module can perform the same task in less than 10 seconds.

The second demonstration showed how to establish a video call to a cellphone using the SIM5218E, a high-end HSDPA/HSUPA module. This video call was established using only five simple AT commands. The SIM20, a short-range RF transceiver operating in the 433 MHz band, also attracted interest. In field tests with the device, Otto staff crawled through bushes and found that with a simple, low-cost quarter wavelength stubby antenna, they could achieve transmission distances of 350 m when impeded by vegetation, and 420 m with clear line of sight.

For more information contact Chris Viveiros, Otto Wireless Solutions, +27 (0)11 791 1033, wireless@otto.co.za, www.otto.co.za