5. Wireline Replacement

Another market that hasn't been on my radar is the burgeoning fixed cellular business. These devices come in phone and "terminal" forms and provide phone, fax and data service for users who can't get or don't want a normal telco wired line.

Telular told me that a large part of their business comes from Latin America, where their fixed cellular phones and terminals are used instead of conventional wired phones. In areas with inadequate or no existing wired phone infrastructure, it's a lot easier to throw up a couple of cell towers and deploy fixed cellular phones than it is to string cable.

Telular SX6P-300G Fixed Cellular Phone

The company announced a new CDMA2000 1X fixed terminal (SX6P) at CTIA. It also introduced its Telguard TG-7 and TG-8 for wireless alarm system applications.

An alternative approach to Telular's dedicated terminals is provided by AdvanceTec's PhoneLabs' Dock-N-Talk, which seems like a better deal at about $150 for the unit and $20 for a cable to match your phone.