June 2 1999

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Approval of QUALCOMM Phones Paves Way for Regulatory Consensus in Other Countries

The Globalstar satellite telephone system achieved an important regulatory milestone recently when its fixed telephone unit was formally approved for use throughout the European Union (EU). 

This approval will significantly expedite the certification process for this phone in other countries and will facilitate similar approval of Globalstar portable phone units.

The fixed-location telephone, which is manufactured by QUALCOMM Incorporated of San Diego, California, received European Type approval from the British Approvals Board for Telecommunications (BABT). 

Certification from this agency is automatically recognized by authorities in all 15 EU countries, and it also allows QUALCOMM to register this phone with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) -- a critical step in ensuring that these products will be recognized by the more than 130 signatories of the ITU's Memorandum of Understanding for Global Mobile Personal Communications 

By Satellite (GMPCS). Products approved under this memorandum of understanding may be used without restriction across national borders between signatory countries.

"The technical requirements for European approval of telecommunication products are recognized as among the most stringent worldwide and hold the credibility and respect of many regulatory authorities outside the European community,'' said Gerald Beckwith, president, QUALCOMM Wireless Systems. 

"We anticipate that the global recognition of the European approval and the ITU registry will help in minimizing the time and expense spent on the approval process in other countries around the world.''

The fixed-unit phone covered by the BABT certification is a stationary telephone intended for use in remote office or commercial locations where access to the terrestrial public-switch telephone network is either impractical or uneconomical. 

This QUALCOMM phone looks and works much like a desk phone but uses a rooftop antenna to communicate directly with the Globalstar low-earth-orbiting satellite constellation, connecting back to a Globalstar ground station where the call would be routed on to its final destination.

The Globalstar system will provide simple, reliable, and affordable satellite-based personal communications services to users virtually anywhere in the world. 

Globalstar's service will provide not only wireless digital telephone services, but also data transmission, paging, facsimile and position location. Globalstar is scheduled to begin progressive roll-out of its services in the third quarter of 1999.

"This European approval now brings the Globalstar system an important step closer toward final completion,'' said Gloria Everett, senior vice president of operations for Globalstar. "It paves the way for uniform use throughout all the European Union countries.''

Other Globalstar products that will be available in the future from QUALCOMM include:-0-

Analog Fixed Terminal: 
Similar to the BABT-approved Fixed Terminal but 
provides for the use of a standard telephone 
and supports fax and asynchronous data; 

Tri-mode Handheld Phone: 
Provides for Globalstar satellite-based communication, 
plus communication with analog Advanced Mobile
Phone Systems (AMPS) and Code Division 
Multiple Access (CDMA) digital terrestrial-based 
cellular networks;

Car Kit: 
Includes a privacy handset and privacy headset for
portable phones, along with accessories such as chargers,
cigarette-lighter adapters, and cables to plug the 
Tri-mode phone into a personal computer for e-mail 
and other applications.

Other Globalstar phones, including dual-mode phones, are being manufactured by Ericsson and Telital.

Testing of the phone was conducted by TUV Product Service. Based in Titchfield, England, TUV is a laboratory recognized by BABT to manage the testing of Globalstar products manufactured by QUALCOMM, Ericsson and Telital. 

Testing measured the ability of the product to co-exist with other systems used throughout the world, as required by the ITU and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. 

Approval testing for the "Terminal Essential Requirements'' measured in-band and out-of-band emission, as well as network control reception, and TUV also performed electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) tests.

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