Wireless GPS Accessory Successfully Demonstrated Throughout North America & Europe --
Airbiquity's GPS Battery Accessory Operates on Every Major Wireless Voice Network
Story Filed: Thursday, November 16, 2000 3:37 PM EST
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash., Nov 16, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Airbiquity, Inc., formerly Integrated Data
Communications (IDC), an integrator of wireless voice and data solutions for mobile devices, today announced that its GPS
Accessory is able to operate on every major wireless network in North America and Europe. This news comes just days after
the introduction of the product, the first of its kind on the market.
(Photo: newscom.com )
Airbiquity's GPS Accessory easily attaches to an extensive line of Nokia- brand portable phones, and privately and securely
sends GPS information at the touch of a button to call centers, Internet portals, and wireless carriers. The product makes
sought-after applications such as roadside assistance, enhanced 411, concierge services, and workforce management instantly
and economically available to worldwide to users of Nokia 5100, 6100, and 7100 series wireless phones. The GPS
Accessory can also be used with most other wireless phone accessories, including chargers, car kits, cradles, and cases.
In addition, the product can support E911 use and help wireless carriers meet the deadlines imposed by the Federal
Communications Commission's Phase II mandate, which requires carriers to select a method for locating wireless phones in
emergency situations.
"Our GPS battery accessory has been demonstrated in nearly every major US city, on every wireless air interface -- including
CDMA, TDMA, GSM, and AMPS -- and across two continents," notes Dan Allen, president and CEO of Airbiquity. "We
have conducted tests in Canada and Western Europe by simply replacing an existing wireless phone battery with our GPS
Accessory, placing a call to our aqServer in the United States, and pressing the Push-to- Pinpoint(TM) button. The
implementation is that simple."
In Europe, the product was demonstrated in conjunction with the inaugural meeting of the Location Interoperability Forum
(LIF), recently held in Nice, France. Airbiquity is a charter member of the LIF.
Featuring a "clip-and-go" design, the accessory adds no weight or size to the supported line of wireless phones. The
accessory weighs less than three ounces and contains a lightweight 1400mah lithium-ion battery, a built-in RS-232 data
connection for transporting location and other data to and from Personal Digital Assistants, and Airbiquity's unique,
user-activated "Push-to-Point(TM)" button. This button ensures subscriber privacy by sending location to authorized service
providers only upon the user's command.
The product design was supported by Axiom Navigation and features the latest GPS SiRFStar II(TM) chipset from SiRF
Technology, GPS antenna from RangeStar Wireless, and Airbiquity's in-band data communications software. Axiom
Navigation is currently manufacturing the initial run of production units.
The GPS accessory is available for wireless carrier demonstrations and trials today. Units will be available for commercial sale
in 1Q 2001 upon completion of FCC type acceptance testing.
About Airbiquity
Airbiquity (Bainbridge Island, WA), formerly Integrated Data Communications, develops intelligent wireless communications
solutions that integrate voice and data to support location-based and other high-value data applications and services on any
wireless network or air interface. The company's patented, complete, end-to-end digital voice channel software solution -
aqLink(TM) - enables automobile manufacturers, wireless carriers, commercial call centers and Internet portals to offer to
their subscribers unique location-based and other "micro-data" services that enhance productivity, manage assets, and deliver
personalized content. The company's premier product enabled with aqLink(TM) is a breakthrough Global Positioning System
(GPS) Accessory, which leverages our software solution with commercial GPS to instantly create a complete, nationwide
Location Commerce(SM) solution for any wireless application service provider. Airbiquity's major investors include Acorn
Ventures, InfoSpace Ventures, The Madrona Group, the Carlson Group, and Broe Enterprises. Their web site is available at
airbiquity.com.
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