WaveCall Software Integration

	WaveCall™ MCM3 high speed multi channel modem for data and voice

WaveCall is a subsidiary of Sea Tel, the world's leading manufacturer of marine stabilized antenna systems for satellite communications and satellite television at sea. Sea Tel antennas, which can be many meters in diameter, are common sights on large, ocean going ships all over the world.

The WaveCall™ series of products were launched to provide a small, inexpensive option for voice and data services on ships at sea. Utilizing a mini size antenna, the first WaveCall product release, the 2100R, delivered clear digital voice and data at 9.6K. using Global Star's world-wide network of communication satellites.

But Peter Whyte, WaveCall's President, knew that many of his customers wanted more bandwidth and speedier service.

Working with Global Star, WaveCall was introduced to ePipe, an Australian based company that had just released a product that enabled the bonding of multiple communication paths. In the ePipe architecture, data is pumped out using multiple communication channels. A host receives the multiple transmissions, arriving over different routes, and aggregates the bandwidth by reassembling the original data stream. By using this technology, combined with data compression software, Wavecall's studies predicted equivalent bandwidth approaching 144K.

Peter Whyte started searching for a partner to handle the integration of ePipe, the compression software and the Wavecall electronics. His short list of requirements included proficiency in telecommunication and data protocols, along with a full understanding of data security. In addition, he wanted his technology partner to take responsibility for hosting and managing the bonding and compression servers, providing a 24/7 service.

Welch Business Systems was selected from a series of candidates suggested by Global Star and other sources. Peter Whyte explains, "All the candidates had good technical abilities. Some were much larger companies than WBS. But we knew this was going to be a tough project and we wanted a firm that would focus on our needs. Ultimately the decision came down to which firm we thought would be the best partner. And that, clearly, was Welch Business Systems".

And a tough project it was. The ePipe product was a new release and the WaveCall project was one of the first real world implementations. The compression software required substantial tuning to run properly over multiple channels. And everything had to be properly documented and fed back to WaveCall's engineering group.

The multiple channel product, the WaveCall MCM3, was introduced at the Miami boat show in 2002 and was an immediate success. The broadband circuits the MCM3 provides have enabled commercial shippers and yacht owners to access and use the internet fully, as if they were sitting in their corporate office. While the bandwidth may be the same, the experience of being connected seems completely different while taking in some sun and a cool sea breeze.