Barry Ornitz <ornitz@kodak.kodak.com> (08/01/90)
We are in need of a number of intrinsically safe cellular telephones, i.e. those that can be used in locatations where flammable gases and vapors may be present while not causing ignition of the gases or vapors. To be classed as intrinsically safe, the units must undergo stringent testing by the Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FM). I know that Motorola has manufactured models in the past that meet these standards - I even have Motorola internal model numbers provided by FM. When I call Motorola, however, all I get is a runaround. The local cellular people have never heard of this safety rating. The Motorola communications people, who sell two-way radio systems such as our new trunking system with STX radios, are quite familiar with meeting the safety rating with their radios but they are not in the cellular business. I finally located a regional sales manager for Motorola cellular equipment who told me that virtually all Motorola cellular phones can meet the intrinsic safety rating with a special battery pack - only $80 extra. He has yet to be able to provide me with any documentation backing up his claim, however. We (Eastman Chemicals) will not purchase this equipment, unfortunately, without authenticated documentation in hand. My request to comp.dcom.telecom is this: Does anyone know of any competitor to Motorola with intrinsically safe cellular telephones? Or does anyone know who to contact in the Motorola organization that can discuss this need with me that is knowledgeable in this area? We recently had a presentation by Motorola on radio frequency data communication terminals. These people were quite familiar with the intrinsic safety requirements. While their present terminals cannot be used in many of our operating areas, this Motorola group is at least working to provide future future devices that will be FM approved for hazardous areas. Thanks for any help on this. Dr. Barry L. Ornitz WA4VZQ UUCP: ....rutgers!rochester!kodak!ornitz Eastman Kodak Company Eastman Chemical Company Research Laboratories P. O. Box 1972, Building 167B Kingsport, TN 37662 615/229-4904 INTERNET: ornitz@kodak.com