STOCKHOLM, Sweden-L.M. Ericsson unveiled a mobile positioning system for Global System for Mobile communications networks that uses network idle time to calculate the position of a mobile subscriber on a given network.
The server-based technology allows positioning services to be deployed in any GSM network that has Ericsson switching systems, said the company. It will work with any GSM standard radio network and all existing GSM phones.
The system could be used in the United States by GSM carriers working to comply with the Federal Communications Commission’s phase II enhanced 911 requirements, said Ericsson.
The company said Swedish carrier Telia AB will trial the technology for its emergency services.
In related news, Omnipoint Technologies Inc. and Ericsson agreed to jointly develop location technologies for GSM-based systems. Omnipoint Technologies will market and sell the products on an original equipment manufacturer basis to Ericsson and other GSM infrastructure providers worldwide, said Omnipoint.
The agreement calls for the two to jointly develop radio base station equipment that will enable GSM systems to provide mobile location and positioning services. The project initially will focus on developing location-based services for personal communications services 1900 MHz GSM networks in North America.
