OpenSky is a registered trademark of
Harris Corporation
Harris Corporation was an American technology company, defense contractor, and information technology services provider that produced wireless equipment, tactical radios, electronic systems, night vision equipment and both terrestrial and spaceb ...
and is the trade name for a wireless communication system, invented by
M/A-COM Inc., that is now a division of Harris RF Communications. OpenSky technology applies
voice over IP transport to radio communications applications in a unique architecture.
In the mid-1990s
Federal Express invited proposals for a data and voice network to the vehicular level. As the world's largest shipper, FedEx was a key opportunity, and major market players presented their existing product offerings over some time.
M/A-COM presented their concept, and won the business. They delivered a standards-based infrastructure that attempted to leverage open systems to the largest degree possible, while adapting specific input/output to meet the customer's exact requirements.
OpenSky received the direct attention of
Tyco Electronics when they acquired it along with
AMP Inc.
TE Connectivity is an American Swiss-domiciled technology company that designs and manufactures connectors and sensors for several industries, such as automotive, industrial equipment, data communication systems, aerospace, defense, medical, o ...
Tyco Electronics funded the company to acquire the
EDACS radio system team and product line. The OpenSky system has since been sold into a number of important footprints, including the entire State of
Pennsylvania, and the State of
New York
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* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
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Film and television
* '' ...
.
On January 15, 2009, the State of New York terminated its contract with M/A-COM due to ongoing and unresolved deficiencies with the OpenSky system. On February 13, 2009, Tyco Electronics filed a complaint against the New York State Office for Technology (NY-OFT), in the New York State Court of Claims, disputing the claims made by the OFT. In the complaint, Tyco Electronics disputed many of the NY-OFT's public criticisms of both the company and the system, maintaining that SWN (which included OpenSky) ‘worked as contracted.’ The complaint also claimed the state hindered the company's ability to build the system in a timely manner, defamed the company by stating that its technology did not work, and that the state inappropriately drew $50 million from the standby
letter of credit the company established for the project.
On May 29, 2009, Harris Corporation purchased Tyco Electronics Wireless Systems, including its OpenSky and other wireless communication technologies, from Tyco Electronics for
US$675 million.
As of the end of 2014, it was announced that, due to ongoing problems faced by the State Police and other users, the Pennsylvania Statewide Radio Network will be replaced by a Project 25 Phase II system. It will be VHF/UHF/800 multi-band and is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2021.
References
External links
M/A-COM Wireless SystemsPennsylvania Statewide Radio Network
{{Trunked radio systems
Trunked radio systems