Qualcomm Announces Support for European eCall Public Safety Project
LONDON, Aug 06, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ --
Qualcomm Incorporated
(Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless
technologies and data solutions, today announced its support for the eCall
public safety initiative. eCall is a European Commission project designed to
improve transportation safety by providing rapid assistance to motorists
involved in a collision anywhere in the European Union. A collision activates
on-vehicle sensors causing an emergency voice call (E112) to be established
via the cellular network to local emergency agencies via the Public-Safety
Answering Point (PSAP). In addition to enabling two-way speech communication
between the motorist and the PSAP operator, eCall employs an in-band
voice-channel modem to transmit position location, airbag deployment, Vehicle
Identification Number and other relevant information over the cellular network
to the PSAP operator. The in-band voice-channel modem enables use of existing
cellular networks to support quick deployment of an end-to-end eCall solution
in vehicles and PSAPs.
An engineering team in Qualcomm Germany has been leading the system
development for an in-band voice-channel modem eCall solution that meets the
European Commission's requirements.
"Qualcomm fully supports the important eCall public safety project," said
Andrew Gilbert, executive vice president of Qualcomm and president of Qualcomm
Internet Services, MediaFLO Technologies and Qualcomm Europe. "Based upon our
extensive experience with modems and speech codecs, we realized that we had
the technology and understanding to develop a technical solution meeting the
eCall requirements."
To accelerate the deployment of the eCall solution, Qualcomm will not
charge royalties on sales of eCall in-band voice-channel modem equipment
located in the PSAP or core network that incorporate Qualcomm patents.
Qualcomm's licensing policy with respect to eCall solutions that are included
in WCDMA subscriber devices will be consistent with Qualcomm's standard patent
licensing policy, which does not increase Qualcomm's standard WCDMA royalty
rate for additional Qualcomm patented technical functionality that is included
in a dual-mode handset.
Qualcomm Incorporated (http://www.qualcomm.com) is a leader in developing
and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and
services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies. Headquartered in San
Diego, Calif., Qualcomm is included in the S&P 100 Index, the S&P 500 Index
and is a 2008 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 CDMA 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 30, 2007, and most recent
Form 10-Q.
Qualcomm is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Qualcomm Contacts:
Richard Tinkler, European PR and Marketing Director
Phone: +44 (0)-772-006-0619
Email: rtinkler@qualcomm.com
Tina Asmar, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-845-5959
Email: corpcomm@qualcomm.com
John Gilbert, Investor Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
Email: ir@qualcomm.com
SOURCE Qualcomm Incorporated
http://www.qualcomm.com