Unlock cellular phone

The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association's "Wireless Apps '97," which is being held this year at Seattle's Convention Center Oct. 27-29, is, like the wireless industry at large, focusing more and more of its know-how onto the handset platform. At press time, the CTIA reported that 56 organizations have reserved more than 13,000 square feet of exhibition space - nearly twice the footage of last year's show in Las Vegas.

More gizmos, it seems, are migrating to the voice environment. These selections from the exhibitors' list support the trend:

* Amik Inc. will present its CallPrint line, a package for the rental of cellular phones. The system provides full cellular rentals in a single package taking little more than a foot of counter top space. (Contact: 604/436-5900.)

* Cell-Loc Inc. will preview its "Cellocate" product that addresses the FCC's E-911 cellular location mandate. (Cassy Weber, Cell-Loc, 403/569-0760.)

* CellPort Labs premiers its new technology initiatives to help applications developers deal with the fragmented airlink environment. CellPort also will show off the MobileWeb-based Daimler-Benz "Internet car." (Jerry Blake, Cellport, 303/541-0722.)

* Communications Product Development Inc. (CPD), an industry leader in supplying PC-based call processing platforms, will show some of the features of its call control software supports for prepaid wireless, long-distance and other prepaid services. (Cullen Wymore, CPD, 360/694-2977.)

* Lucent Technologies [LU] will exhibit its Open Systems Innovation program which catalogs and promotes wireless voice and data applications to carriers and end users. (Gerry Lapidus, Lucent, 201/386-8716.)

* OnStar, the in-vehicle communications service, will show off its combined hands-free, voice activated cellular phone, global positioning system (GPS) technology and 24-hour customer service. The service provides drivers with directions and such remote safety features as automatic airbag deployment notification, stolen vehicle tracking, roadside assistance with location, remote diagnostics and remote door unlock. (Todd Cartensen, OnStar, 248/269-1395.)

* SCC Communications Corp. exhibits its infrastructure that connects wireless voice users to public safety answering points via 911.

* Visteon Automotive Systems, a new division of Ford Motor Co. [F], will showcase its new RESCU system, which brings GPS and cellular phones together to aid drivers in distress. (Wendi Parson, Visteon, 313/390-9344.)