Wavecom to Design WISMO-Based GSM System for Automotive Industry
15 February 2000
Wavecom to Design WISMO-Based GSM System for Automotive Industry; Integrated Voice and Data Communications System Will Be Available in 2000
ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX, France, Feb. 14 -- Wavecom S.A.
(Nouveau Marche: WAVECOM), a leading developer of digital
Wireless Standard Modules (WISMO(TM)), today announced it has signed a general
purchase agreement with automotive instrumentation giant, Mannesmann VDO, the
world's leading maker of fully integrated car information systems. Mannesmann
VDO will be employing Wavecom's WISMO GSM technology in systems to be
integrated in cars beginning this year.
"We are pleased with how quickly major auto manufacturers have recognized
the advantages offered by our GSM technology," said Aram Hekimian, CEO of
Wavecom. "The automobile market is ripe for GSM capability, and WISMO gives
dual-band capability, to cover a maximum range of GSM networks."
Wavecom's GSM solutions for Mannesmann VDO, to begin production in 2000,
will enable European motorists to receive a host of road and travel
information via a computer screen right on their dashboards. At the touch of
a button, remote servers will provide drivers with information on traffic
conditions, emergency assistance, routing, hotel and restaurant possibilities,
and more.
The Mannesman VDO general purchase agreement involves second-generation
dual-band GSM WISMO modules, the latest addition to the WISMO product family.
WISMO, which stands for Wireless Standard Module, is a highly compact, fully
integrated device containing all of the software, hardware and other
technology needed to implement a wireless telecommunications standard.
Automatic vehicle location (AVL) systems are one of the four market
sectors Wavecom is targeting for its WISMO modules. The other sectors are
Multimedia (personal digital assistants, notebook computers, smartphones),
Telemetry (remote data measurement) and Telephony (mobile phones and fixed
terminals).
Founded in 1993 and headquartered near Paris in Issy-les-Moulineaux,
Wavecom designs, develops, manufactures and sells a range of fully integrated
plug-in modules for GSM communications. Divided into three distinct lines --
WISMO modules, external modems and integrated modems -- all Wavecom products
are based on its unique WISMO technology. WISMO, which stands for Wireless
Standard Module, is a compact, fully integrated device containing all of the
software, hardware and other technology needed to implement a wireless
telecommunications standard. Designed for use in a wide variety of systems
and wireless terminals, WISMO(TM) modules constitute complete implementation
of the GSM Phase 2+ standard in the 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz bands. Company
revenues totaled 19.6 million euros in 1998 and 36.6 million euros in 1999.
Wavecom is publicly traded on the Nouveau Marche exchange in Paris and the
NASDAQ exchange in the US.
http://www.wavecom.com
For further information please contact:
General
Sabine Longin - Interangle
Tel: 33 (0)1 44 69 99 50
Fax: 33 (0)1 44 69 99 51
sabine@interangle.com
Financial
Nancy Block - Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Tel: (212) 419-4248
Fax: (212) 838-3393
nblock@dewerogerson.com
This press release may contain forward-looking statements that relate to
the Company's plans, objectives, estimates and goals. Words such as
"expects," anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," and "estimates," and
variations of such words and similar expressions identify such forward-looking
statements. The Company's business is subject to numerous risks and
uncertainties, including probable variability in the Company's quarterly
operating results, manufacturing capacity constraints, dependence on a limited
number of customers, variability in production yields, dependence on third
parties and risks associated with managing growth. These and other risks and
uncertainties, which are described in more detail in the Company's most recent
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause the Company's
actual results and developments to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by any of these forward-looking statements.