Cape Town-based Psitek develops solutions using cellular and wireless technologies to provide access to voice and data services to people in under-serviced areas of the world. It is active throughout Africa and Latin America, and is now focusing on strengthening its position in North Africa and expanding its footprint into the Middle East.
Psitek products belonging to its Access to Voice business unit, to be showcased at North Africa Com, will be its Adondo and Jembi payphones, its new range of Fusion fixed wireless terminals, and its Psitek Desktop Phone.
The first supervised GSM payphone, the Adondo, was introduced in 1997, to meet the need within under-serviced markets for easier access to communications facilities. Its was followed by the portable Jembi in 2004. These payphones enable vendors to instantly set up business anywhere within GSM coverage.
Psitek will also be showing its new range of Fusion terminals, which amongst others, reduces the costs associated with interconnect traffic. The new models comprise the Fusion 230 Least Cost Router, the Fusion 220 GSM Interface and the Fusion 210 Wireless Local Loop (WLL), all of which have recently been released.
The Psitek Desktop Phone, which combines a home phone with the functionality of a GSM mobile phone, will be shown to the public in Cairo. It is for use in an environment where landline access is either unavailable or the mobility and personal nature of a GSM handset is inappropriate.
To be exhibited under the Access to Services banner will be Psitek's content and data services offerings. An example is Kazang, which provides quick and easy access to prepaid services, such as electronic airtime or electricity recharge. Access to Services will also be exhibiting Psitek's first dedicated vending terminal, Timpa. Designed to be a one-stop vending device, it works wirelessly via GPRS and has an integrated printer and battery.
Another solution to be showcased to the public in Cairo is the Streetwise. It provides access to information and connectivity via a range of internet-based services, including email, search, news and document creation. Based on the concept of lean content, delivered to lean terminals, Streetwise streamlines internet content and radically reduces bandwidth requirements, thereby allowing access into areas with only GSM GPRS network infrastructure. Streetwise comprises a main terminal which can be used as a standalone or in conjunction with up to four extension terminals as well as a fax machine or USB peripherals. These terminals have been designed to be highly cost effective, reliable, easy to use and secure. Streetwise overcomes the financial, social and technical barriers which have prevented other solutions from working in under-serviced areas.
