Disaster Planning

Airbiquity will partner with Continental AG to exhibit its in-band modem technology in the demonstration of an emergency call (eCall) at the UEFA Euro 2008 Cup.

 

During the exhibition, a Volkswagon Passat CC demo car fitted with a Continental wireless module will demonstrate the initiation and outcome of an eCall.

 

Airbiquity is a provider of data transport solutions to the telematics and M2M markets. Its in-band band modem technology uses the aqLink in-band modem and aqServers to transport data during wireless communication.

 

The aqLink in-band modem uses any existing mobile communications network (UMTS, GSM and CDMA) to transmit data via either an embedded system or a Bluetooth hands free system. The aqServers incorporate a standard T1/E1 telephony Interface and decode and transfer received data to a backend call center or public service answering point (PSAP) application servers via standard IP transport.

 

The eCall project is part of the European Commission’s eSafety initiative that was launched in 2002 for road safety and to reduce the number of road accidents. Using mobile networks, the project aims to contact PSAPs automatically through in-vehicle sensors (such as an airbag-deployment) or manually through the activation of an eCall button located in the vehicle’s cockpit area.

 

Once voice contact is established, the in-band modem technology allows for the transfer of data over the voice channel, enabling PSAPs to not only communicate with accident victims through the mobile network but also automatically obtain the location of vehicles via GPS, along with other critical accident-related information.

 

According to Kamyar Moinzadeh, CEO and president of Airbiquity, “The eCall initiative is simple: Help save lives by reducing the time it takes for emergency services to reach accident victims.”

 

“Our in-band modem software is the best choice for the eCall application. The PSAPs require robust and highly reliable, time-critical data transmission over the largest available coverage area. We’re enthusiastically committed to meeting the European Commission’s aggressive rollout deadline,” added Moinzadeh.

 

The European Commission is expected to complete the standardization of eCalls by late summer 2008, which would be followed by the implementation of the eCall initiative into all new European automobiles from 2010.