SAN RAMON, Calif., April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Wireless Corporation
(Nasdaq: USWC) today announced the completion of the first phase of a trial
for enhanced wireless 9-1-1 service. The trial demonstrated the successful
integration of the nation's first end-to-end wireless E9-1-1 system with
integrated continuous caller location capability. The commencement of the
system's operation capped a 5-month cooperative development effort involving
the State of Montana, the local Billings 9-1-1 center and six leading
telecommunications organizations. Participants in the field trial include U.S.
Wireless Corporation, US WEST Corporation (NYSE: USW), XYPOINT, Nortel
Networks (NYSE: NT; Toronto: NTL), Western Wireless (Nasdaq: WWCA) and William
Communications Solutions, LLC (NYSE: WMB).
The Montana field trial was designed to test an end-to-end wireless E9-1-1
system based on U.S. Wireless' RadioCamera(TM) and Location Fingerprinting(TM)
technology. The first phase of testing demonstrated the system's ability to
continuously locate multiple wireless 9-1-1 calls originating within the
greater Billings, Montana area. During this phase the system identified a
caller's phone number, location coordinates and nearest street address. The
information was then sent to the appropriate Public Safety Answering Point
(PSAP), where it was displayed on an electronic map on an operator's
workstation. The RadioCamera(TM) continuously updated the location
information, allowing the PSAP to monitor the caller's location throughout the
call.
The Montana field trial is in preparation of the Phase II requirements of
the Federal Communications Commission's memorandum opinion and order 94-102.
The FCC order requires wireless carriers to provide public safety agencies
with the location of a 9-1-1 caller, with an accuracy of 125 meters 67 percent
of the time, by October 1, 2001.
"We're demonstrating in Montana today the only E9-1-1 trial system in the
nation to identify and continuously update a caller's location," said Dr.
Oliver Hilsenrath, President & Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Wireless.
"Unlike other location systems, which merely identify the position of the
caller at the onset of the transmission, our system lets E9-1-1 dispatchers
monitor the position of the caller throughout the entire call. This enables
the dispatchers to provide timely and more accurate information to emergency
service personnel."
The Montana field trial required the close cooperation of wireless
carriers, local exchange carriers, public safety agencies, systems integrators
and others. The system is composed of U.S. Wireless Corporation's
RadioCamera(TM) location system operating over the cellular network and
infrastructure of Western Wireless Corporation. US WEST, Inc. is providing
the network connection between the 9-1-1 caller and the emergency center.
XYPOINT Corporation is providing advanced intelligent network services and
location database processing for the system. Nortel Networks(TM) is supplying
its Symposium(TM) ENR(TM) enhanced public safety workstations for processing
and displaying 9-1-1 caller information and is also providing advanced mapping
software, developed by Combix Corporation, for these workstations. William
Communications Solutions is supplying the Nortel Networks Meridian 1(TM)
Option 11 telecommunications system for the emergency center. Calls to the
9-1-1 emergency center will be received and responded to by the Billings 9-1-1
Center. The Montana 9-1-1 Program, a state agency responsible for oversight
of Montana's statewide 9-1-1 system, is assisting with system analysis and
evaluation of overall system performance.
"This milestone represents a significant step for public safety," said
Surry Latham, Montana 9-1-1 Program Manager. "Emergency dispatchers have no
way of knowing the location of wireless calls today. The implementation of
location technology will give emergency personnel the information they need to
reduce response times, increase efficiency and save lives."
With the successful completion of the first phase of testing, the Montana
trial will begin a 3-month evaluation period to assess and refine overall
system performance.
"We believe this project leads the nation in the effort to bring
realistic, leading-edge technology, solutions and tools to emergency response
professionals," said Derek Prada, Director, 9-1-1 Enterprise Solutions at
Nortel Networks. "This is historically significant technology. Mobile
communications will continue to become more and more a part of our everyday
lives, and, over time, technology like this will undoubtedly help save
thousands of lives."
U.S. Wireless Corporation (http://www.uswcorp.com) is a leading developer
and provider of high-performance network-based location systems that enable
wireless carriers and others to provide value-added services including
wireless Enhanced 911, live navigation assistance, enhanced directory
assistance, asset and vehicle monitoring and network management services. The
Company's premier product, the RadioCamera(TM) System, pinpoints the location
of a mobile telephone subscriber within a wireless network using "Location
Fingerprinting," a proprietary technology developed by U.S. Wireless. The
RadioCamera(TM) does not require direct line of sight to multiple base
stations to identify locations, making it highly effective in dense urban
environments. It integrates easily into the existing network infrastructure
and requires no modifications to the base station or subscriber handsets.
NOTE: RadioCamera(TM) and the U.S. Wireless logo are trademarks of U.S.
Wireless Corporation. Nortel Networks, Symposium, ENR and Meridian 1 are
trademarks of Northern Telecom.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: A number of
statements contained in this press release, which are not historical in
nature, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or
implied in the applicable statements. A description of these and other risks
and uncertainties can be found in the companies' filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE U.S. Wireless Corporation
-0- 04/27/99
/CONTACT: Randy Miller, Vice President, Financial & Media Relations,
201-476-0123, fax, 201-476-0888 or Randy@uswcorp.com, or Paul Brunato,
Director, Corporate Communications, 925-327-6236, fax, 925-830-8821 or
Paul@uswcorp.com, both of U.S. Wireless Corporation/
/Web site: uswcorp.com |
