Qualcomm Expands Market-Leading IZat Location Platform to Enable
Indoor Positioning Experiences for Consumers, Revenue Opportunities
for Businesses
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Qualcomm
Technologies, Inc. (QTI) today announced that its networking and
connectivity subsidiary, Qualcomm Atheros, Inc., expanded the
Qualcomm IZat™ location platform with enhancements that bring
precise indoor positioning capabilities to the leading brands of
mobile phones, tablets and network infrastructure. IZat indoor
location solutions will enable compelling consumer experiences in
public places and help open revenue streams in the retail, travel,
entertainment and hospitality industries.
These new indoor positioning capabilities enhance the end-to-end
IZat location platform designed to deliver ubiquitous, always-on
location. The platform is based on Qualcomm's broad technology
portfolio, including cellular, global navigation satellite system
(GNSS), Wi-Fi, sensor and cloud-based assistance solutions, as well
as the industry's most widely deployed location core, already found
in more than one billion devices on mobile networks worldwide.
With its leadership position, Qualcomm Technologies can now
deliver new indoor location capabilities on a large number of
mobile devices. The enhanced IZat location platform enables more
precise positioning (within 3-5 meters) inside buildings to ensure
an optimal consumer experience. The Qualcomm IZat Indoor
Positioning Software debuted on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4
processors, including the MSM8960 Pro and APQ8064 coupled with the
MDM9x15. IZat indoor solutions provide up to 10 times greater
accuracy in both open and closed environments over existing
platforms. Additionally, the Snapdragon SDK for Android now
includes tools and APIs that provide unique location capabilities
for, and simplify the development of, indoor location-based apps
for Snapdragon devices.
In addition to enhancing the location capabilities for mobile
devices, the IZat location platform includes infrastructure
technologies that enable Wi-Fi networking customers to deliver
location-aware networks. Qualcomm Atheros' latest 802.11ac and
802.11n access point solutions feature advanced Wi-Fi-based
positioning calculations to pinpoint locations with greater
accuracy.
"Outdoor navigation and location apps are already an essential
part of the mobile experience, while indoor location represents the
next frontier in location-based applications. With the unmatched
capabilities of the IZat platform, Qualcomm is enabling precise
indoor location and fostering a strong partner ecosystem," said
Amir Faintuch, senior vice president
and general manager, consumer business unit, Qualcomm Atheros. "By
coupling the industry's leading mobile platform with
enterprise-class Wi-Fi networking capabilities, Qualcomm is
providing a solution that addresses the entire end-to-end indoor
location framework. We are delivering the key elements of the
indoor location ecosystem in collaboration with other technology
leaders to offer more compelling mobile experiences for consumers
and businesses alike."
Indoor positioning systems require multiple network and mobile
technologies, maps, applications and middleware working together.
Qualcomm Atheros is collaborating with industry leaders to
streamline the way location data is shared across elements of the
ecosystem, and to accelerate the deployment of indoor location
systems and services that deliver value to businesses and
consumers.
Cisco is working with Qualcomm Atheros to optimize the indoor
positioning capabilities of its Mobility Services Engine to enhance
service discovery and location-based apps in public venues such as
shopping malls, retail chains, hotels, airports, hospitals, college
campuses, entertainment destinations and enterprises.
Meridian is a mobile-software company for location-based
businesses. Used by everyone from the Venetian Hotel-Resort-Casino
to the New York City subway
system, Meridian's platform is the first for developing both indoor
navigation and location-based services for mobile apps.
"Location-based apps will revolutionize how businesses reach
mobile consumers and enhance their experiences in a variety of
public places, particularly indoors," said Kiyo Kubo, chief executive officer of Meridian.
"By working with Qualcomm and its partners, we can take full
advantage of the latest mobile and network capabilities to create
innovative apps with indoor positioning that deliver real value to
consumers and businesses."
The Qualcomm IZat indoor location platform is now available. To
help drive the standardization and proliferation of indoor
positioning solutions, Qualcomm is an active member of the
In-Location Alliance. For more information, please visit
www.qca.qualcomm.com.
About Qualcomm Technologies Inc.
Qualcomm Technologies Inc. (QTI), a wholly owned subsidiary of
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM), is redefining the way people
incorporate wireless devices and services into everyday life. QTI
and its subsidiaries operate substantially all of Qualcomm's
research and development activities, and product and services
businesses, including Qualcomm's semiconductor business, QCT. QTI's
developments enable opportunities across the wireless and wired
value chains by making devices and networks faster, content richer
and communications more personal and affordable to people
everywhere. For more information, go to www.qualcomm.com.
Qualcomm Atheros is a trademark of Qualcomm Atheros Inc.
Qualcomm, Snapdragon and IZat are trademarks of Qualcomm
Incorporated. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi
Alliance. All other trademarks are the sole property of their
respective owners.
Qualcomm Contacts:
Laurie Falconer, Qualcomm
Atheros
Phone: 1-408-616-3036
Email: laurief@qca.qualcomm.com
Tina Asmar, Corporate
Communications
Phone: 1-858-845-5959
Email: casmar@qualcomm.com
Warren Kneeshaw, Investor
Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
Email: ir@qualcomm.com
SOURCE Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.