 
|
|
Connexion by Boeing and UTStarcom Make In-Flight Mobile Phone Calls a Reality17 October 2005
Connexion by Boeing, a business
unit of The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA), recently concluded a week of
demonstration flights in Europe that showed travelers how mobile telephony in
flight can be provided safely and conveniently for passengers in flight.
During flights aboard a Boeing 737-400 test and demonstration airplane,
Connexion One, guests sampled not only the Connexion by Boeing(SM) high-speed,
real-time Internet service, which now includes four channels of live TV, but
also used roaming-enabled mobile phones to make and receive phone calls.
"Enabling people to make and receive phone calls during flight
demonstrated the flexibility of a high-speed connectivity system like ours,"
said Chris Petersen, program manager for voice and cellular service at
Connexion by Boeing. "We allowed our guests to make calls to the ground while
we flew over international waters, and almost everyone's first call was to
their boss. Both callers and call recipients were equally excited and
impressed by the voice quality and the reliability of the connection."
The ability to make Global Standard for Mobile (GSM) and code-division
multiple-access (CDMA) calls over Connexion by Boeing's system was made
possible through Alameda, Calif.-based UTStarcom, Inc. (Nasdaq: UTSI), a
global leader in IP-based, end-to-end networking solutions and services.
UTStarcom supplied its MovingMedia 2000 all-IP mobile network infrastructure
equipment to Connexion by Boeing and also provided technical support on the
ground for call switching and completion.
"Our MovingMedia 2000 product is the only all-IP mobile infrastructure
solution on the market today, and is designed to provide significant
operational cost savings to service providers as it does not require
traditional TDM transmission backhaul," said Jack Mar, president of the
CDMA/GSM division at UTStarcom, Inc. "UTStarcom's MovingMedia 2000 network
solution is compact, uses IP transport technology and is capable of working
over satellite transmission medium, making it an ideal solution to offer
cellular service for passengers on commercial airlines."
Connexion by Boeing intends to enable mobile phone devices onboard
commercial airplanes utilizing the existing broadband satellite link and make
this available to its airline customers as early as 2006. "Enabling mobile
connectivity is a natural service evolution for our system, which currently
allows passengers on more than 120 flights a day to use WiFi-enabled laptops
to connect to what is important to them," said David Friedman, Connexion by
Boeing vice president of marketing and direct sales. "We plan to make it
available to our airline customers should they want it, once discussions
between regulatory authorities and airline customers worldwide have been
concluded, and the industry has come to an agreement on how to implement it in
practice."
About Connexion by Boeing
Connexion by Boeing is, for the second year running, the recipient of the
World Travel Award for World's Leading High-Speed In-flight Internet Services
Provider. IDC wireless services analysts recently named Connexion by Boeing as
one of the wireless companies to watch in 2005, and it is also the recipient
of Network Magazine's Innovation Awards 2005 honor for "Product Breakthrough."
Through a broadband connection to an equipped airplane, high-speed Internet,
data and entertainment connectivity is delivered directly to travelers in
flight. The Connexion by Boeing service is available today on flights offered
by Lufthansa, SAS, Japan Airlines, ANA, Singapore Airlines, China Airlines,
Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and El Al Israel Airlines. In addition, Etihad
Airways and Austrian Airlines have announced their intent to install the
Connexion by Boeing system on their long-range airplanes. Connexion by Boeing
also offers a high-speed connectivity solution for the business aviation
market and has announced Teekay Shipping as its launch customer for the
maritime market. For more information, please visit
http://www.connexionbyboeing.com.
About MovingMedia 2000
As a leading vendor of wireless infrastructure technology, UTStarcom's
MovingMedia 2000 aims to provide wireless operators with a complete, all-IP
solution to reap the multiple advantages of 3G networks. The solution is
designed to offer a smooth migration path for CDMA2000-based providers,
allowing them to utilize emerging technologies such as CDMA2000 1XEV-DV as
they become available. The system is backwards compatible with CDMA 2G (IS-95)
technology. Moreover, all solution components are standards based, providing
complete interoperability with other standards-based products and allowing
wireless operators to preserve their existing equipment investment.
The MovingMedia 2000 solution leverages market-proven technologies and
UTStarcom's extensive experience in building IP equipment and deploying IP
networks. The MovingMedia 2000 product suite utilizes UTStarcom's distributed
softswitch architecture for switching, transport, signaling, and call control.
The MovingMedia 2000 product line includes a comprehensive suite of RF network
elements, including base stations (BTS) and base station controllers (BSC),
wireless softswitch components, and core data network components, including
the packet data server node (PDSN) and home agent (HA).
About UTStarcom, Inc.
UTStarcom is a global leader in IP-based, end-to-end networking solutions
and international service and support. The company sells its broadband,
wireless, and handset solutions to operators in both emerging and established
telecommunications markets around the world. UTStarcom enables its customers
to rapidly deploy revenue-generating access services using their existing
infrastructure, while providing a migration path to cost-efficient, end-to-end
IP networks. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Alameda, California, the
company has research and design operations in the United States, China, Korea
and India. UTStarcom is a FORTUNE 1000 company.
For more information about UTStarcom, visit the company's Web site at
http://www.utstar.com.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Forward-Looking Information is subject to Risk and Uncertainty
Some of the statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking
statements" that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts.
These forward-looking statements reflect our intentions, plans, expectations,
assumptions and beliefs about future events and are, therefore, subject to
risks, uncertainties and other factors and conditions, many of which are
outside our control. Important factors and conditions that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the
forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks. Among other
things, the forward-looking statements relating to Connexion by Boeing's
service evolution and new feature introductions could be impacted by a number
of factors, including market conditions and others. Because actual results
could differ materially from our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions
and beliefs about the future, you are urged to view all forward-looking
statements contained in this news release with caution.
The foregoing statements regarding, without limitation, the features and
functionality of the MovingMedia 2000 solution, including, without limitation,
its ability to provide cost savings to service providers, offer a smooth
migration path for CDMA2000-based providers and allow wireless operators to
preserve existing equipment investments and the expected rollout of mobile
phone devices onboard commercial aircraft by Connexion by Boeing, are forward-
looking in nature and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause
actual results to differ materially. These factors include rapidly changing
technology, the changing nature of the telecommunications market in general
and the market for in-flight mobile services in particular, the possibility of
slower than expected growth in the telecommunications market, evolving product
and application standards, changes or delays in product introductions and
deployments, including those of Connexion by Boeing, possible downturns in the
telecommunications market, the termination of significant contracts,
partnerships or alliances, and other uncertainties, such as changes in
government regulation and licensing requirements in relevant markets.
UTStarcom also refers readers to the risk factors identified in its Annual
Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on
Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Elissaveta Bahovska of Connexion by Boeing (London)
+44 20 7747 5533; or Stephanie Gallagher, Engage PR, +1-510-388-3287, for
UTStarcom
Source: PR Newswire
All trademarks and copyrighted information contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Related Articles
|
|
 
|
