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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
Supplied by Compaq Computer Corporation Public Relations Department, March 27, 2001
 Houston, TX., March 27, 2001 -- 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?) 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™, providing localized content to the customer.
SnapTrack contributes its SnapSmart? Position Determining Entity (PDE)
software, which uses a handset-based Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver in
conjunction with innovative Wireless Assisted GPS? (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? 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? 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® 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? Himalaya? 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.
More About SignalSoft Corp. - Founded in 1995, SignalSoft Corp. (Nasdaq: SGSF) is the developer of Wireless
Location Services®, 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™ 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.
More 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? 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
http://www.snaptrack.com
More 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, São 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® is a federally registered trademark of SignalSoft
Corporation. BFound™, BFound.com™ and local.info™ 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.
For additional editorial information, contact:
Compaq Computer Corporation
David Collins
408-285-9233
d.collins@compaq.com
http://www.compaq.com
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