Snaptrack - SnapWARN GPS Data Feed
BW)(CA-SNAPTRACK/TELECOM)(QCOM)(TSYS) SnapTrack Announces Commercial
Availability of SnapWARN Global Positioning Satellite Data Feed to
Support gpsOne-based E911 Wireless Location Systems for Cell Phone
Safety
Business Editors/High-Tech Writers
CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 2001--
SnapTrack Forms Strategic Relationship with TeleCommunication Systems
to Operate and Manage the SnapWARN System
SnapTrack, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of QUALCOMM
Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), today announced the general commercial
availability of its Wide Area Reference Network (SnapWARN(TM)) Global
Positioning Satellite (GPS) system data feed in partnership with
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: TSYS). The SnapWARN system
provides Position Determination Entities (PDE), such as SnapTrack's
SnapSmart(TM) PDE software, with a continuous stream of GPS satellite
reference information to be used in gpsOne(TM) location calculations.
The SnapWARN system supports North American carriers using QUALCOMM's
gpsOne-based cell phone location systems. Available through SnapTrack
PDE distributors, the SnapWARN system helps carriers reduce costs and
speed their deployment of gpsOne-based Enhanced 911 (E911) emergency
cell phone location systems.
The jointly designed SnapWARN data system was built by
TeleCommunication Systems (TCS), the pioneer in delivering Phase I
wireless E911 location service. TCS will also host and maintain the
service, providing carrier-grade, fully redundant, fault-tolerant data
feeds via its Xypoint GPS Reference Network for carriers deploying the
QUALCOMM gpsOne system.
"We're pleased to be working with TCS in a strategic relationship
to support gpsOne deployments in North America," said Bret Sewell,
president of SnapTrack. "By combining forces with TCS, we've been able
to field the carrier-class SnapWARN service for North American
carriers in a cost-effective, rapid way -- which translates to faster
deployment times for carriers and reduced costs, both in terms of
up-front capital and on-going costs."
"TCS' wireless E911 location expertise enables us to offer the
SnapWARN GPS data feed to carriers with 99.995 percent reliability and
accelerate carrier gpsOne deployment," said Gregg Blodgett, senior
vice president of TCS. "The WARN system TCS developed and is hosting
for SnapTrack provides a cost-effective means of getting the GPS
satellite reference information needed for GPS position calculations
for wireless E911 or value-added location-based services."
SnapTrack is currently working with a number of U.S. carriers that
will utilize the SnapWARN GPS data feed to support their deployment of
gpsOne cell phone location systems for E911 as well as value-added
location-based services.
The SnapWARN GPS system continuously monitors the 24-satellite GPS
constellation, and provides this reference information to the PDE via
a 24/7 high-availability backbone developed and maintained by TCS. The
SnapWARN system provides coverage for North America, including Canada
and Mexico, as well as Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The system can also be
deployed to support service providers in other markets utilizing
SnapTrack's location software products. PDEs in carrier facilities or
application environments can be located anywhere within SnapWARN
coverage and receive a data feed to support the location determination
of mobile devices.
The SnapWARN system consists of an interconnected network of GPS
reference receivers and fully redundant communications links connected
to data gateways and from there to location servers operating
SnapSmart PDE software. Each SnapWARN service connection receives the
combined input from the networked GPS reference receivers optimized to
a single narrow-band filtered data feed with full data-integrity
checking performed in real time. gpsOne and Wireless Assisted GPS
positioning accuracy is further enhanced when SnapWARN input is used
in the differential GPS computations performed by SnapSmart software
to refine and improve the position fixes and tracking of mobile
devices. A SnapWARN data feed can be structured for any wireless
market and is specific to a particular geographic region. The SnapWARN
system will work with the SnapTrack PDE and Qualcomm gpsOne handsets
(currently shipping with the MSM3300(TM) chipset and shortly with the
MSM5100(TM) chipset) to provide industry leading accuracy, speed and
availability.
TCS is evolving wireless technology. As the key architect of
wireless messaging and location technology, TCS is delivering
essential software, services and solutions to carriers that enable
people to better manage their mobile lifestyle. TCS occupies a
privileged position within the core of the wireless carrier network,
enabling it to develop technology that ensures the security,
reliability and privacy of wireless messages.
TCS provides Phase I wireless location services to 20 wireless
carriers, including Verizon Wireless, U.S. Cellular and Cricket
Communications. With more than seven million wireless subscribers
nationwide, the company's Xypoint Location Platform is the only
software and network services platform to combine presence, location
and privacy centers in one unit. For further information on TCS and
its Xypoint location platform, visit www.telecomsys.com.
Headquartered in Campbell, California, 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(TM) 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. SnapTrack is a wholly owned
subsidiary of QUALCOMM Incorporated. For more information, please
visit snaptrack.com.
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 CDMA chipsets and system software; technology
licensing; the Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless(TM) (BREW(TM))
applications platform; Eudora(R) e-mail software; digital cinema
systems; and satellite-based systems including portions of the
Globalstar(TM) system and wireless fleet management systems,
OmniTRACS(R) and OmniExpress(TM). QUALCOMM owns patents that are
essential to all of the CDMA wireless telecommunications standards
that have been adopted or proposed for adoption by standards-setting
bodies worldwide. QUALCOMM has licensed its essential CDMA patent
portfolio to more than 100 telecommunications equipment manufacturers
worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., QUALCOMM is included in
the S&P 500 Index and is a 2001 FORTUNE 500(R) company traded on The
Nasdaq Stock Market(R) 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 the Company's ability to successfully
design and have manufactured significant quantities of CDMA components
on a timely and profitable basis, the extent and speed to which gpsOne
is deployed, 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 24, 2000, and most recent Form 10-Q.
QUALCOMM, OmniTRACS and Eudora are registered trademarks of
QUALCOMM Incorporated. gpsOne, OmniExpress and BREW are trademarks of
QUALCOMM Incorporated. Globalstar is a trademark of Loral QUALCOMM
Satellite Services, Incorporated. Wireless Assisted Global Positioning
System, SnapCore, SnapSmart and SnapWARN are trademarks of SnapTrack,
Inc. TeleCommunication Systems, Inc is a registered trademark and
XyPoint is a trademark of TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
--30--
CONTACT: SnapTrack, Inc.
John Cunningham, 408/626-0522, Fax: 408/626-0550
cunningh@qualcomm.com
or
QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies
Stacy O'Brien, 858/845-7674, Fax: 858/651-7385
sobrien@qualcomm.com
or
TeleCommunication Systems
Matt Gillingham, 206/972-2596, Fax: 206/224-4344
mgilling@apcoworldwide.com |
