Team,

I just wanted to send to a note to share with the team that I just received confirmation that our PS-LTE handheld will be able to support both assisted GPS (A-GPS) as well as Advanced Forward Link Trilateration (AFLT) by R3 in order to be in line with Verizon Wireless’ current wireless E911 solution.  This applies to the commercial CDMA 2G and 3G networks.

As you may know, Verizon’s CDMA network uses A-GPS/AFLT technology for its wireless E911 compliance requirement.  For more background on the various triangulations methods used by commercial carriers today to comply with wireless E911 please see the link below:

http://www.ipcgps.com/uploads/docs/Intro_to_Location_Technologies-1.pdf

About Wireless E-911 compliance:

· Commercial carriers have very specific wireless Enhanced 911 (E911) requirements regarding voice services in emergency response situations.

· The FCC’s rules require wireless carriers to identify the caller’s location for a specified percentage of 911 calls within a range of 50 to 150 meters for carriers that use handset-based technology, and 100 to 300 meters for carriers that use network-based technology.

· In September 2010, the Commission adopted benchmarks for wireless carriers to meet these handset- and network-based accuracy thresholds at the county or Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) level for increasing percentages of 911 calls over an eight-year period.”

· The FCC is currently evaluating E911 options for VoIP services and they are also asking for ways it might ensure that all interconnected VoIP providers can provide automatic location information for VoIP 911 calls to PSAPs.

· Lastly, below is an excerpt from the latest FCC unofficial announcement of commission action (dated July 12, 2011)

FCC Strengthens E911 Location Accuracy for Wireless Services http://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-strengthens-e911-location-accuracy-wire…

“E911 technology automatically provides a 911 call operator with the caller’s telephone number and location information from either a landline or a wireless phone. Wireless carriers have historically provided E911 location information by one of two methods: “handset-based,” where location information is generated by GPS or similar technology installed in the caller’s handset, or “network-based,” where location information is generated by triangulating the caller’s wireless signal in relation to nearby cell sites in the carrier’s network. The FCC’s rules require wireless carriers to identify the caller’s location for a specified percentage of 911 calls within a range of 50 to 150 meters for carriers that use handset-based technology, and 100 to 300 meters for carriers that use network-based technology. In September 2010, the Commission adopted benchmarks for wireless carriers to meet these handset- and network-based accuracy thresholds at the county or Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) level for increasing percentages of 911 calls over an eight-year period.”

“With respect to VoIP services, the Commission is seeking comment on whether it should apply existing 911 rules that cover two-way interconnected VoIP services to “outbound-only” interconnected VoIP services, which allow users to place outbound telephone calls but not to receive inbound telephone calls. The Commission is also asking for ways it might ensure that all interconnected VoIP providers can provide automatic location information for VoIP 911 calls, rather than relying on the subscriber to register his or her location with the VoIP provider. This includes considering mechanisms that would enable “over-the-top” interconnected VoIP service providers and underlying network access providers to jointly support the provision of location accuracy information to PSAPs.”

Thanks,

Carlos