PLANTATION, Fla. DHL is adopting the latest new generation scanning technology across its entire U.S. network to provide enhanced shipment visibility for customers.

Over 20,000 of the new scanners will be placed into operation in the U.S. over the next nine months. The communication system will be deployed in the U.S. by the third quarter of 2007.

Wireless handset technology has already proven to be successful for DHL Express International Americas. Canada has already been using a previous version of the scanning device (the Motorola HTD600) since the beginning of 2005.

The adoption of this new technology will allow us to provide enhanced service, and yield greater efficiencies, said DHL Express USA Chief Information Officer Jose Eiras.

Unlike many other systems used throughout the transportation industry, the handheld Motorola HC 700 will use General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) to transmit customer shipment information automatically without a transmission cradle.

The information will be fed immediately into DHLs back-end systems, providing instant visibility to customers looking for shipment status through calls, customer service, and the DHL web site or shipping systems.

The new technology is also RFID-ready (Radio Frequency Identification), allowing DHL the ability to integrate with future RFID products that are currently in development. RFID is used to read and store data with the need for contact or direct line of sight, promising improvements in supply chain management for industries worldwide.

According to a DHL spokesperson, the new technology will not change or raise the companys rates for users.