NEW ORLEANS, ATA BOOTH #418, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- QUALCOMM Incorporated
(Nasdaq: QCOM - news) today announced that it has changed the name of its OmniTRACS
Division to QUALCOMM Wireless Business Solutions (QWBS) and has strategic plans to enter
new wireless data markets around the world. By leveraging QUALCOMM's Code Division
Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology and other complementary technologies, the
group's vision is to bring wireless data solutions to businesses worldwide by developing new
products and expanding into other markets. While maintaining its focus on the long-haul truckload
industry with the OmniTRACS(R) and TruckMAIL(TM) product lines, QWBS will develop new
products targeted at other areas of freight transportation, as well as other businesses with a need for
mobile data. QUALCOMM currently has in development terrestrial-based products designed to
connect to cargo capacity, such as untethered TrailerTRACS(R) and a communications product
targeted at the short-haul industry, and pick-up and delivery fleets. These products and others will
have the potential to give cellular carriers the opportunity for additional network airtime.
According to Phil White, senior vice president and general manager of QUALCOMM Wireless
Business Solutions, ''Our mission is to build integrated wireless data solutions that will forge
competitive advantages for both our current and new customers. The reason for the name change is
simple -- we are no longer a one product line business group and we are broadening our direction.
Our new name is better aligned with our strategic plan and corporate charter of building wireless
systems around the world. We have enjoyed success in the domestic truckload segment with the
OmniTRACS system, and believe we can apply our core competencies and offer new, innovative
wireless solutions to other businesses.'' White added, ''We will continue to support existing products
and develop new ones, bringing the finest products and services to our trucking customers such as
TruckMAIL, untethered TrailerTRACS and Internet-based host applications.''
Introduced in 1989, the OmniTRACS system revolutionized the manner in which trucking companies
do business around the world. This cost-effective system provides data transmission and position
reporting services to over 800 trucking companies and other mobile customers including railroad and
maritime fleets. Part of the reason for this system's success is the superior operation of its Network
Service Center (NSC) in San Diego, Calif. Staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,
QUALCOMM's state-of-the-art NSC processes over four million transactions each day and is
unsurpassed in the industry. To ensure system reliability, the center maintains fully redundant
computer systems. A duplicate backup center in Las Vegas provides additional system safeguards to
assure continuing service in the case of natural disasters or other emergencies. QUALCOMM has
sold over 250,000 OmniTRACS terminals worldwide, with systems operating in the United States,
Canada, Europe, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Korea and Malaysia.
QUALCOMM plans to capitalize on its trucking industry success by positioning itself to help other
businesses move into the next millennium. ''We will continue to use leading-edge technology to
deploy innovative wireless data solutions around the globe,'' said George Mansho, vice president
and general manager of international business for QUALCOMM Wireless Business Solutions.
''Internationally, we already have experience addressing customer needs in markets other than
long-haul trucking which we have traditionally dominated. Requirements like security are driving
sales in these markets along with the basic need for data communications and positioning. Our
strategy is to continue to deliver solutions to our partners that give them a strong market advantage,
to offer the same solutions to new and potential markets like China and the Middle East, and to
increase our penetration in regions where we already have a presence, such as Europe, Russia and
South America.''
To signify the new name and direction, QUALCOMM has incorporated the theme ''This Way to
the Future'' into its marketing activities at the American Trucking Associations Management
Conference & Exhibition in New Orleans, October 25-28. QUALCOMM will be demonstrating
some of its current and upcoming products including OmniTRACS, TruckMAIL, TrailerTRACS(R)
and CabCARD(R), as well as the complete suite of vehicle information reporting systems.
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