eQ-COM Signs Data Services Agreement With Vodafone Airtouch
- Vodafone Airtouch to Provide Pan-European Wireless Data Services to eQ-COM's
Fleet Management Products -
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- eQ-COM, a newly formed
European unit of U.S.-based QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), today
announced that it has signed an agreement with Vodafone Airtouch to provide
Pan-European data services for the Company's mobile fleet management system.
eQ-COM will provide wireless communications-based fleet management solutions
to the European freight transport industry and other transportation-based
industries. Debuting its products and services at the European Road Transport
Show in Amsterdam, the newly created eQ-COM will launch commercial operations
in four countries -- United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany and Italy -- in
Spring 2000.
Under terms of the agreement between eQ-COM and Vodafone Airtouch,
Vodafone Airtouch will provide Pan-European data services to eQ-COM through
its own network in the UK and its affiliate network operators throughout
Europe. Provision of data services across Europe will be phased in accordance
with eQ-COM's fleet management service roll-out plan. While the initial
eQ-COM product and service will utilize GSM SMS, it is envisioned that future
offerings could take advantage of upcoming wireless data services that provide
greater capabilities at lower costs.
"We selected Vodafone Airtouch as our supplier of data services for its
unique ability to offer service through its large number of affiliates across
the European continent," stated Phil White, president of QUALCOMM Wireless
Business Solutions.
"Geographic reach and scale are now more and more important for the
delivery of new products and services serving the mobile customer across a
range of different markets," said Chris Gent, chief executive of Vodafone
AirTouch Plc. "We are delighted to join together, once again, with the
QUALCOMM team with whom we have dealt, in different areas, for a number of
years."
Vodafone AirTouch Plc is the world's largest mobile telecommunications
company, with a current market capitalization of around 100 billion pounds
sterling. The Group is focused on mobile voice and data communications, two
of the fastest growing segments in the telecommunications industry. Vodafone
AirTouch is headquartered in Newbury, Berkshire, with San Francisco serving as
the US/Asia Pacific regional headquarters and technical center for the
combined Group. It has a global reach with operations in 24 countries and
more than 35.5 million proportionate customers worldwide.
QUALCOMM Incorporated (www.qualcomm.com) is a leader in developing and
delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services
based on the Company's CDMA digital technology. The Company's business areas
include integrated CDMA chipsets and system software; technology licensing;
Eudora(R) e-mail software for Windows(R) and Macintosh(R) computing platforms;
and satellite-based systems including OmniTRACS(R) and portions of the
Globalstar(TM) system. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., QUALCOMM is
included in the S&P 500 Index and is a 1999 FORTUNE 500(R) company traded on
the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol QCOM.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release
contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties, including timely product development, the Company's ability to
successfully manufacture significant quantities of CDMA or other equipment on
a timely and profitable basis, and those related to performance guarantees,
change in economic conditions of the various markets the Company serves, as
well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC
reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 26,
1999, and most recent Form 10-Q.
QUALCOMM, OmniTRACS and Eudora are registered trademarks of QUALCOMM
Incorporated. Globalstar is a trademark of Loral QUALCOMM Satellite Services,
Incorporated. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. Macintosh
is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
SOURCE eQ-COM
-0- 02/03/2000
/CONTACT: Susan Hind of QUALCOMM Wireless Business Solutions,
858-658-5878, fax 858-658-1578, shind@qualcomm.com; or Christine Trimble,
Corporate Public Relations, 858-651-3628, fax 858-651-2590,
ctrimble@qualcomm.com, or Julie Cunningham, Investor Relations, 858-658-4224,
fax 858-651-9303, jcunningham@qualcomm.com, both of QUALCOMM; or Marjolijn
Verleg, Marketing Communications Manager of eQ-COM, 31(0) 76 530 55 09,
fax 31(0) 76 521 28 93, mverleg@qualcomm.nl; or Emma Terleske, Press Relations
Manager of Vodafone Airtouch, 44 (0) 1635 673732, fax 44 (0) 1635 677139,
emma.terleske@vf.vodafone.co.uk/
/Web site: qualcomm.com
(QCOM)
CO: eQ-COM; QUALCOMM Incorporated; Vodafone AirTouch Plc
ST: Netherlands, California, England, Germany, Italy
IN: TLS CPR
SU: CON PDT |
