Compaq Streamlines Location Services With Industry's First Integrated Solution On a Single Platform; SignalSoft, SnapTrack, WFI and Compaq Team Up to Provide Wireless Operators With Turnkey Solution for FCC E9-1-1 Rules - and Enhanced Services
HOUSTON, March 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) today announced a significant step forward for wireless carriers worldwide that plan to provide location-based services for their customers, especially U.S. carriers planning to deploy Phase II E9-1-1. Compaq, along with partners SignalSoft Corporation (Nasdaq: SGSF), SnapTrack, Inc., a subsidiary company of QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) and Wireless Facilities, Inc. (Nasdaq: WFII), will deliver a complete location solution, integrated on a single platform, called the Compaq Discovery Location System. This solution enables a carrier network to determine the precise physical location of a wireless customer and route the call to the nearest Public Safety Answering Point. Wireless location capability, mandated for October 2001 deployment by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will enable local emergency 911 response teams to know immediately where they must go to deliver aid.
The Compaq Discovery Location System will support gpsOne(TM) position- enabled handsets based on QUALCOMM's Mobile Station Modem (MSM(TM)) family of integrated circuits. gpsOne-enabled handsets will be available in fall of 2001 through Sprint PCS and other U.S. carriers, and are expected to support E9-1-1 as well as a variety of wireless position-enabled applications.
In addition to E9-1-1 emergency services, Compaq's Discovery Location System also provides the network infrastructure that carriers need to deliver a wide array of useful, location-based information, such as directions to and information on shops, restaurants, hotels and special events, directly to customers' wireless telephones.
The Discovery Location System is a turnkey solution that Compaq is making available immediately. Compaq has completed the prime integration and testing work, and will provide "one stop shopping" for carriers that need to move quickly to deploy this capability in their networks. Compaq will also provide services and support.
Industry observers forecast that by 2004 these location-based services will generate almost $10 billion per year of new revenue globally for wireless operators (ICM, Mobile Location Services, 2001). In addition, wireless customers, with location-specific information, will be more likely to initiate mobile transactions -- thus generating more revenue for wireless operators.
Mitesh Desai, vice president of Marketing and Business Development for Compaq's telecommunications unit, Compaq Telecom, said, "Location-based services clearly represent a huge opportunity for wireless operators. Compaq and its best-in-class partners, SignalSoft, SnapTrack and WFI, are providing a single, turnkey solution that will enable operators to meet their legal 911 obligations, and get to market quickly and efficiently with revenue-producing services -- all on one very scalable platform. It's a very compelling proposition."
"As carriers are facing an escalating pressure to comply with the new Phase II E911 rules, Compaq is offering a fully integrated solution that is available for immediate deployment," said Francesca Mabarak, Senior Analyst, The Yankee Group. She added, "The added advantage is that the solution -- which incorporates key technology from SignalSoft, SnapTrack and WFI -- gives carriers a headstart on providing their customers with a wide array of location-based services."
Single Platform Delivers Key Advantages for Wireless Operators
To create its Discovery Location System, Compaq has integrated key elements from partners that are industry leaders in location-based services.
SignalSoft provides the fundamental location-based operating platform, including Location Manager which operates as the Mobile Positioning Center (MPC), MAPs Geographic Information System (GIS), and associated applications such as W911, Location Sensitive Billing, and local.info(TM), providing localized content to the customer.
SnapTrack contributes its SnapSmart(TM) Position Determining Entity (PDE) software, which uses a handset-based Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver in conjunction with innovative Wireless Assisted GPS(TM) (WAG) and Hybrid Position Location WAG technology at the network service control point to identify user location, regardless of terrain, much more precisely-and more quickly -- than with GPS -- or network-based positioning solutions.
The SnapTrack PDE provides optimized support for wireless handsets based on QUALCOMM's gpsOne position-enabled series of MSM-integrated circuits. The QUALCOMM MSM 3300(TM) gpsOne-enabled chipset is the industry's first wireless solution to feature a fully integrated low-power GPS baseband with RF capabilities. gpsOne is the only position location solution that offers all- terrain, high-availability performance and accuracy indoors, outdoors, and in urban and rural conditions where network or unassisted GPS solutions fail. QUALCOMM also offers gpsOne capability on its MSM 5000(TM) family of 3G wireless chipsets and MSM 6xxx family of multimode chipsets.
WFI, as a leading telecommunications outsourcing firm specializing in network architecture and mobile wireless systems, provides a complete range of network services, including RF engineering, fixed network architecture, IP and data engineering, among others. Working with SignalSoft, SnapTrack and Compaq, WFI integrates the Discovery Location System into the network, providing the network calibration that is essential for accurate position determination.
"SignalSoft and Compaq have had a long-standing partnership in marketing Wireless Location Services(R) to network operators worldwide," said Don Winters, chief operating officer of SignalSoft. "The Compaq Discovery Location System demonstrates Compaq's leadership and provides operators with a reliable solution to comply with the FCC's E9-1-1 ruling."
Compaq has combined these core elements into a fully integrated, fully- tested solution that is hosted on a single Compaq NonStop(TM) Himalaya(TM) server. Well known as the world's most reliable, scalable platform, Himalaya servers lead the off-switch intelligent network market with over 450 service control points at numerous carriers around the world.
"SnapTrack is very pleased to be working with Compaq, one of the wireless industry's most innovative technology solutions providers," said Bret Sewell, vice president, worldwide sales and customer operations of SnapTrack. "The integration of SnapTrack's SnapSmart and SignalSoft's Wireless Location Services platform into the Compaq Discovery Location System will provide the wireless industry with a high performance, robust solution for their E9-1-1 and mobile location services needs."
"We are very excited about the opportunity to work closely with such innovative companies as Compaq, SignalSoft, and SnapTrack," added Scott Fox, president of network management and operations for WFI. "This relationship leverages one of our core competencies in the areas of testing and verification of wireless systems to support a true turnkey solution that will accelerate the delivery of advanced E9-1-1 services to network operators worldwide."
The integration of the location-based applications and position determination equipment on a single platform provides carriers with a key benefit. Data communication between the PDE and the MPC occurs within the host processor platform -- and not on the SS7 network. This frees valuable bandwidth on the SS7 network for voice and data. It also enables carriers to scale up the solution faster and more efficiently to accommodate growth in user volume.
Information on Compaq in telecommunications can be found at www.compaq.com/telecom
About Compaq
Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is a leading global provider of technology and solutions. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures, and markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, and communications products, commercial desktop and portable products, and consumer PCs that are sold in more than 200 countries. Information on Compaq and its products and services is available at www.compaq.com.
About SignalSoft Corp.
Founded in 1995, SignalSoft Corp. is the developer of Wireless Location Services(R), a software suite that enables location-based wireless services for information, safety, tracking and billing. SignalSoft's operating platform and related applications transform raw location data into revenue sources that help differentiate wireless network operators and build customer loyalty. SignalSoft's technology also helps drive m-commerce (mobile commerce) in the wireless marketplace. Some of the largest U.S. operators, including AT&T Wireless, Cingular, and Sprint PCS, and wireless operators in Europe, such as diAx, Libertel Vodafone, and Orange Switzerland, are SignalSoft customers. SignalSoft has established partnerships with many companies that provide network infrastructure and location technology; and with a broad range of application, content and service providers through its local.info(TM) Alliance program. SignalSoft is based in Boulder, Colo., USA and has offices in Canada, Singapore and the United Kingdom. For more information about SignalSoft and its products, please call 303-381-3000, email info@signalsoftcorp.com, or visit the company's Web site at www.signalsoftcorp.com.
About SnapTrack
Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., SnapTrack is focused on integrating GPS and two-way wireless technologies. SnapTrack's patented architecture offers anytime, anywhere, accurate, high-speed location of a wireless caller, even inside buildings where conventional GPS does not operate. SnapTrack pioneered Wireless Assisted GPS and owns patents that are fundamental to the cost- effective deployment of Wireless Assisted GPS-based location systems. The company's Wireless Assisted GPS products include the SnapSmart location server software system, the SnapCore(TM) multi-mode GPS solution and the SnapWARN GPS reference service. SnapTrack has commercial agreements with major wireless chipset vendors that provide most of the wireless modem chipsets to the industry. In addition, many major carriers have chosen to deploy products and services incorporating SnapTrack technology. For more information, please visit snaptrack.com.
About WFI
A global leader in telecommunications outsourcing, Wireless Facilities, Inc. designs, deploys and manages wireless networks for some of the largest cellular, PCS and broadband wireless carriers and equipment suppliers worldwide. Specializing in network architecture and dimensioning of mobile and high speed wireless data systems, including third generation (3G) networks, WFI provides a complete range of network services -- from business and market planning to RF engineering, fixed network engineering, IP and data engineering, site acquisition and development, installation, optimization and maintenance. Headquartered in San Diego, WFI has grown to more than 2,000 employees worldwide and has performed work in over 100 countries since the company was founded in late 1994. The company has offices in Dallas, Chicago, Seattle, Reston VA, Montvale NJ, London, Gothenburg, Frankfurt, Madrid, Mexico City, Sao Paulo and New Delhi. News and information are available at www.wfinet.com.
Compaq, NonStop, Himalaya and the Compaq logo Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: component shortages, delays in the implementation of changes in delivery models, increased competitive environment and pricing pressures, delays in product rollout schedules, slow acceptance for new form factors, employee retention, disruptions related to restructuring actions, the financial condition of resellers, delays in new systems implementation, operational inefficiencies related to sales cycles, equity investment volatility, and emerging market political or economic instability. Further information on the factors that could affect Compaq's financial results is included in Compaq's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including the latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and the latest quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Wireless Location Services(R) is a federally registered trademark of SignalSoft Corporation. BFound(TM), BFound.com(TM) and local.info(TM) are trademarks of SignalSoft Corporation. All other trademarks are acknowledged.
Wireless Assisted Global Positioning System, SnapCore, SnapSmart and SnapWARN are trademarks of SnapTrack, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE Compaq Computer Corporation
CO: Compaq Computer Corporation; SignalSoft Corporation; SnapTrack, Inc.; QUALCOMM Incorporated; Wireless Facilities, Inc.
ST: Texas, Colorado, California
IN: CPR NET TLS STW
SU: JVN PDT
03/27/2001 11:03 EST prnewswire.com |
