Vertex Standard is introducing a new series of portable two-way radios, the VX-450. Keeping in line with its other radios, Vertex Standard’s new series will be compact, feature-rich and competitively priced. You can also expect the VX-450 to have expanded safety and security functions.

“Safety compliance remains a top priority for construction jobsites, industrial plants and commercial facilities where the key foundation to safety is effective communications,” said Mike Gray, North America LMR Sales Vice President. “For communication to be effective, employees must be equipped with the right tools to ensure safety and security on the job. Vertex Standard is introducing the VX-450 Series of portable radios to help meet these needs in the market.”­

The new series will feature Emergency and Lone Worker safety alerts as well as the options of Man Down alerts and intrinsically safe radios. Channel announcement, 700 mW audio output and voice-operated transmission are also included for increased reception and efficiency.

The series will include models with a full keypad or a four-key display, both with 8-character alphanumeric display, a non-display option, and 512 and 256 channel capacity respectively. Additional features offered will include voice inversion encryption, MDC-1200® encode/decode and 2-tone/5-tone encode/decode. Frequency ranges include 134-174 MHz, 400 – 470 MHz and 450 – 512 MHz.

Vertex Standard will announce additions to this new platform including LTR/Passport trunking models later in 2010.

Motorola, Inc. is scheduled to report second-quarter 2010 earnings  around 6 a.m. U.S. Central Time this Thursday. A quarterly conference call with financial analysts at 7 a.m. will follow. The conference call will be webcast live with audio and slides at www.motorola.com/investor. A replay of the conference call will be available online at www.motorola.com/investor around three hours later.

Vertex Standard plans to offer a new series of digital land mobile radio communications based on two-slot Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) 6.25 kHz efficient digital technology. The new series is designed to maximize bandwidth and increase audio clarity and range.

You can expect the new Vertex Standard digital radio series, including a portable, mobile and repeater, later in 2010. The series will include a portable, mobile and repeater. The radios will operate in analog or digital mode—and the best part—they will not require future software upgrades! The flexibility to operate in both analog and digital mode will allow users to adjust their platform of two-way radios one at a time or one channel at a time if their functional and fiscal needs cannot switch their entire system at once.

Vertex Standard is a founding member of the Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) Association and offers digital radio technology based on the DMR protocol, which is the most widely adopted digital two-way radio system actively used in over 100 countries. This protocol assures long-term stability and provides end users with a choice of interchangeable digital equipment. This, in turn, optimizes productivity and ROI.

Nokia Siemens Networks, a joint venture between Nokia and German industrial group Siemens, recently announced the acquisition of the majority of Motorola’s wireless network infrastructure assets for $1.2 billion. The deal is expected to close by the end of this year following regulatory approval.

The deal is expected to connect Nokia Siemens Networks with more than 50 operators and strengthen its position with China Mobile, Clearwire, KDDI, Sprint, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone. The deal would make it the number one foreign wireless seller in Japan and strengthen its position as the number two telecom infrastructure maker in the world. NSN and Motorola are also looking into a global relationship in the public safety arena that would combine Motorola’s command in delivering solutions to public safety organizations with NSN’s commercial LTE solutions.

Motorola likewise prepares to undergo the separation into two independently traded businesses—the Enterprise Mobility Solutions and Networks Businesses and the Mobile Devices and Home businesses. Until the transition, Motorola’s Networks business will continue to operate as usual. Around 7,500 Motorola Networks employees are expected to transfer to NSN. These include personnel at research and development sites in the US, China and India. Upon completion of the transitions, Motorola will be one fortified company providing next-generation communications for its government, public safety and enterprise customers.

Co-CEO of Motorola Greg Brown comments on the acquisition: “Motorola is very proud of the operational and financial performance of our Networks business and its employees, who will now become a valuable addition to Nokia Siemens Networks. We are excited to have reached this agreement to combine our Networks team with such an industry leader. This is great news for our customers, our investors and our people and will allow us to sharpen our strategic focus on providing mission and business critical solutions for our government, public safety, and enterprise customers.”

The Motorola CLP Series was specially designed for the retail, restaurant and hospitality industries.

TwoWayRadiosFor.com is thrilled to announce the pending arrival of the Motorola CLP1010 and CLP1040. Lightweight and stylish, Motorola’s new CLP series offers simple one-button push-to-talk operation, strong audio for noisy environments and a voice-driven menu. They’re not available until August 2010, but you can reserve yours now and get a discount at TwoWayRadiosFor.com.

Each two-way radio product in the CLP Series features:

• An internal antenna for wide coverage in a sleek, compact design;
• An oversized, textured and centrally located push-to-talk button that offers easy, instant voice communication;
• Voice-driven menus for quick access to pre-programmed channels, call tones and other programmable features;
• Customizable programming to keep individual work teams connected;
• 16 adjustable volume levels for easy-to-hear communication even in noisy environments;
• And Bluetooth technology that enables hands-free operation.

The CLP1010 and CLP1040 are designed specifically for fast-paced and noisy retail, hospitality and restaurant environments. In fact, Motorola’s research and product development teams interviewed scores of restaurant, retail and hospitality managers and staff to find out what they were looking for in the perfect two-way-radio. The result is a series that offers comfort, durability and high performance – all packed into a fashionably sleek and small design that measures the size of a business card. Both the CLP1010 and CLP1040 are 40 percent smaller and 50 percent lighter than traditional two-way radios.

If you’re looking for a communication system that boosts your restaurant, hospitality or retail staff’s productivity and customer service levels in a fashionable and affordable way, order your Motorola CLP1010 or CLP1040 and receive discounts of up to $30 on each unit at TwoWayRadiosFor.com.

Motorola CLP1010 from www.twowayradiosfor.com

Motorola CLP1040 from www.twowayradiosfor.com

If you live in Delaware and operate a fixed two-way radio in your vehicle, you just got a reprieve of sorts. A new state law signed into effect earlier this month bans use of hand-held cell phones and texting devices while driving – and it almost cost businesses and individuals the right to use much-needed two-way radios in their vehicles.

The bill was drawn up and supported for the obvious reason. Distracted drivers have caused numerous deaths and serious injuries to pedestrians, passengers and occupants of other vehicles while dialing, texting, reading emails or even surfing the web on their handheld devices despite being behind the wheel. Avoiding such tragedy is a cause that anyone would support.

However, millions of people working in businesses that rely on two-way radio communications for their day-to-day operations, the original bill would have cost them their livelihoods and put thousands of companies out of business. In its original form, House Bill 229 would have outlawed all use of two-way radio devices with handheld transmitters. But House Bill 493, filed just in the nick of time, exempted two-way radios attached to vehicles, protecting the livelihoods of thousands of service and delivery workers throughout the state.

Similar laws have been passed in California, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington and other states are following suit with legislation of their own. Of course, law enforcement and emergency personnel are exempt from the law, as are workers operating farm equipment, farm tractors and farm trucks. And drivers may use handheld cell phones to report emergencies while driving.  If your state or municipality is considering such a ban, contact your representatives to make sure that use of two-way radios for businesses is not compromised.

TwoWayRadiosFor.com offers a range of two-way radios with hands-free capabilities that allow you to be both productive and safe on the road.

The Hampton Township Fire Department will receive a Homeland Security grant amounting to $358,848 which will be used for the purchase of 800 MHz two-way radios for several agencies.

The award is a result of the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The grant will supply 14 different agencies in Bay County with 75 radios, base units and portable units.

Grants are awarded directly to fire departments and EMS organizations to improve the effectiveness of operations and health and safety programs, and to increase fire prevention programs throughout the U.S.

See the full article here.

Also see How to apply for a Homeland Security Grant.

View our two-way radios for firefighters.

Here are some helpful resources to make it easy for your fire department to apply for a Homeland Security Grant. Much of this information can be found on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s website on their page for first responders.

1.  Visit http://www.dhs.gov/xgovt/grants/index.shtm and click on your state for your homeland security contact and information on the allocations offered. Your contact may be able to offer practical information on the frequency of allowances as well as tips on how to better your chances of receiving a grant.

2.  Check the different types of available grants for firefighters at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/.  There are a number of grants to assist stations in safety and communication. Another list of available grants and assistance programs can be found at http://www.fema.gov/emergency/grant.shtm.

3.  Apply for your grant. Follow the steps at https://portal.fema.gov/famsVuWeb/home to apply online. Be sure to note that your time expires thirty minutes after you begin the application.

Questions regarding the Fire Prevention & Safety Grants can be directed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) AFG Program staff at 1-866-274-0960 or e-mail firegrants@dhs.gov.

If you have already received a grant and are looking for the right radios to purchase for your station, visit our firefighters page.

Vertex Standard now offers an enhanced series of mobile radios, the high-capacity VX-4500/4600. This series features convenient 2-tone and 5-tone encode/decode and MDC-1200® encode/decode along with built-in voice inversion for the security of your calls.

The new VX-4500/4600 mobile radio series also allows you to announce channels. It includes the built-in Emergency alert and frequency ranges 134 – 174 MHz, 400 – 470 MHz and 450 – 512 MHz with no sub-bands. The VX-4600 model will feature an 8-character alphanumeric display, 512 channel capacity and 6 programmable buttons for enhanced group communications.

Mike Gray, North America LMR Sales Vice President was quoted:  ”Vertex Standard is committed to providing feature-rich, enhanced mobile radios that give users added communications flexibility.  Our new VX-4500/4600 mobile radios will provide the dependable performance users need in mobile radio communications combined with added value in expanded signaling, security and safety capabilities built-in with wide band coverage.”

Something to look forward to: LTR/Passport trunking models may be added to this mobile radio platform. More information TBA 2010.

President Barack Obama earlier this month visited officials in the Gulf states affected by the BP oil spill and heard from locals that boat owners working the cleanup efforts needed two-way radios. The radios are needed to help boaters better communicate with each other and with helicopters and planes flying over the Gulf looking for oil.

A contractor launches his jon boat at Branch Terrebonne Parish, LA July 1. Boat owners like this one say they need two-way radios to better communicate in the Gulf oil spill cleanup efforts. U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class John D. Miller.

Boats moored in the Gulf Region are being used to deploy oil-absorbing boom. But Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood says numerous boat owners have said they don’t know where to go because they’re unable to communicate with one another or with BP officials.

“We’re gathering up facts, stories, right now so that we have an absolutely clear understanding about how we can best present to BP the need to make sure that individuals and businesses are dealt with in a fair manner and a prompt manner,” President Obama said.

That got us to thinking: If you are looking for a way to assist in the Gulf oil spill cleanup efforts but are unable to volunteer time, why not donate your unused two way radio system or purchase new two-way radios for a Gulf Region boat owner? Thus far, we haven’t found an organization specifically requesting donations of two-way radios. However, if you know a boat owner who is helping out with the cleanup efforts, chances are he or she may be in need of a reliable communications system that includes handheld VHF two-way radios.  Ask around and we bet you’ll find a boat owner who will be grateful for your donation. If so, be sure to let us know by leaving a comment on our blog.