Oregon Implements Enhanced 9-1-1 Service for Wireless Phones,(NOW THEY ALWAYS KNOW WHERE YOU ARE)
BEND, Ore., BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. & TEMECULA, Calif.--(BUSINESSWIRE)--April 8, 2002--
Customers of Edge Wireless LLC will be the first on the West Coast to use GPS-enabled wireless phones to send their location to emergency service providers when they dial 9-1-1.
This landmark implementation of what is known as "Phase II" wireless service is the result of a collaboration between location technology providers Airbiquity Inc. and Plant Equipment Inc. (PEI), working in tandem with Edge Wireless and the State of Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
Beginning in April, Edge Customers in Douglas County can use Airbiquity's GPS Accessory to transmit a GPS signal to the nearest public safety answering point (PSAP).
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office Communications Center utilizes an integrated 9-1-1 telecommunications system with digital mapping from PEI to receive the data and pinpoint the caller's location. By June, Edge customers in Josephine, Curry and Coos counties will have the same availability of service.
"This four-county region is by far the largest geographic area in the United States to implement Phase II for wireless users and we are pleased to be a part of this highly effective solution," says Dan Allen, president and chief executive of Airbiquity. "With the increased public demand for wireless services, especially emergency location services, this is a solution that can be deployed effectively and affordably in many areas of the country."
The GPS Accessory is a battery attachment that is compatible with 40 different Nokia-brand phones. The device allows users to "fix" their position via satellite with the push of a button, and send the location data over the wireless voice channel to the PSAP.
At the PSAP, the high-accuracy GPS data is decoded by Airbiquity's aqServer and VESTA, a computer telephony integration (CTI) based telecommunications system. The precise location is then plotted on ORION MapStar, a digital mapping display. The VESTA and MapStar systems are from Plant Equipment Inc.
"The combination of equipment provides a proven platform that does not require cellular service providers to implement any additional network infrastructure," says Timothy J. Fuller, president of Plant Equipment Inc. "This makes it a viable option for public safety uses across the United States, and it also opens the door for commercial uses such as telematics, asset tracking and automatic vehicle location (AVL). Our telecommunications and mapping platforms blend very well with the GPS location technologies from Airbiquity."
In Oregon, Edge Wireless customers will be able to purchase the GPS Accessory battery pack for far less than the cost of a stand-alone GPS unit. The result is an economic and efficient solution for locating wireless callers.
According to the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), nearly one-third of all accident victims in rural areas do not arrive at the hospital within an hour, largely due to the inability of public safety providers to quickly locate the victims and reach the scene.
"Today, more than 40 percent of our emergency calls are coming in on wireless phones, and that number is on the rise," says Ken Keim, section director for technology and response services for OEM. "Our primary concern is to provide the public with the best possible emergency services. This collaboration of vendors, service providers and agencies working together is an excellent example of getting the job done for the benefit of the public."
About Airbiquity
Airbiquity(TM) (www.airbiquity.com) is the location technology company that delivers global positioning system (GPS) data to any wireless network worldwide.
The company's patented aqLink(TM) software enables wireless carriers, automobile manufacturers, commercial call centers and Internet portals to offer their subscribers location-based services that enhance productivity, manage assets, and deliver personalized content.
Airbiquity's top-tier customers include AAA, RESPONSE Services Center (a wholly owned subsidiary of AAA), Wingcast (a joint venture of Ford Motor Company and Qualcomm Incorporated), Edge Wireless LLC (a member of the AT&T Wireless Network), Agere Systems (formerly Lucent Microelectronics), and Security Associates International.
About Plant Equipment Inc.
Established in 1968, Plant Equipment Inc. (PEI) is a major solutions supplier for public safety equipment providers including: Motorola, Qwest, SBC, Sprint, and Verizon.
The industry leader in public and private safety telecommunications, PEI's products include key telephone systems, ANI/ALI controllers, computer telephony integration (CTI), critical application software, digital-logging systems, intelligent workstations, mapping applications, high-speed notification and a comprehensive suite of professional services.
PEI is a Microsoft Certified Partner.
The press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Because these statements apply to future events, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that could affect actual results include: the company's limited operating history, the need for additional financing, variable economic conditions and customer tastes, regulatory risks, and restrictions imposed by existing debts and future payment obligations.
Airbiquity, aqLink, and aqServer are trademarks of Airbiquity Inc. All other trademarks are marks of their respective companies.