Talk:Motorola Type II SmartZone OmniLink

I am writing to suggest some edits to the SmartZone OmniLink article. The article contains a significant inaccuracy which is described below.

I started making some basic edits on the current article but once I started I found myself wanting to rewrite the whole thing and then realized I probably should take this on. I've provided a quick overview of my credentials and history with this technology.

I was hired by Motorola, relocated to Chicago to launch a product called "multizone" later branded SmartZone OmniLink. I was the 3.5 System Release Brand Manager and hired by Motorola because I have an BSEE from University of Michigan, RF Design and a had worked for 7 years in data networking in AA prior to Motorola. I was thrown headlong into what was called "3.5" by June of 1994 and worked on it for four years until it was released in April of 1998. I went on to manage the entire trunking portfolio.

Basically, I am the "Mother" of SmartZone OmniLink 3.5. I personally wrote, directed or approved all of the materials on teh platform published from 1994 through 2000. I later spent 3 years in Motorola's system architecture team and eight years in product management there.

Changes/Corrections 1) Proper markings should be used SmartZone(R) OmniLink(TM) (SZOL) 2) The subbrand "Type II" shouldn't be used since Motorola stopped using it a number of years prior to the release of SmartZone OmniLink. 3) **The article contains a significant technical inaccuracy.** It is not true that each Zone can have it's own System ID. In fact, all the zones MUST be the same Sys ID or SZOL will not operate. SZOL is an INTRA-system network interface only. This is a HUGE issue for radio system customers so having an entry which is inaccurate on this point is very damaging. 4) Remove comparison. Comparing trunked radio network roaming to cellular roaming is not helpful since there are more differences than there are similarities.

Suggested Additions to the Content 1) The platform was also known as "3.5", so proper name is "SmartZone(R)OmniLink(TM) 3.5" 2) Since its original release in April 1998, the brand name has been phased out. 3)The platform continued on but later became ASTRO(R) 4.1. 4) All radio system platform definitions must include a description of the air interface, because after all, this is its primary and defining function. 5) Readers may be interested in understanding why the 3.5 platform was developed, article touches on it but doesn't articulate directly. 6) It would be helpful to show a high level illustration. 5) The functionality is now referred to as "InterZone" and has become a platform mainstay in Motorola's ASTRO 25 and Dimetra systems used worldwide. 6) the project introduced the first packet-based network connection, taking a huge first step in the platform migration from circuit switched to IP packet based technologies.

DragonFishRadioHead (talk) 20:41, 16 September 2010 (UTC)