Seeker Wireless powers innovative new Local Zone product from ...

Tag : Fixed Wireless GSM
Auckland and London, July 3, 2008 - Seeker Wireless, one of theleading location based service technology companies announced todaythat its SeekerZone(tm) solution has been deployed to power the newLocal Zone product launched this week by Vodafone New Zealand.

Created expressly to support fixed mobile substitution strategies,SeekerZone(tm) allows operators such as Vodafone to motivatesubscribers to continue using their mobile phones instead of afixed line by setting innovative tariffs for subscribers aroundtheir "local zone".

Unlike HomeZone solutions currently deployed in Europe, the Seekersolution provides much smaller home zones, meaning mobile operatorscan reduce the revenue leakage caused when subscribers attemptcalls some distance from their actual home.

Results from recent operator trials and live deployments have shownthat by locating mobiles more accurately, Seeker is able to greatlyreduce the size of home zones by up to 45 times compared toexisting Cell-ID based home zone systems.

Seeker's technology has an accuracy rating of several hundredmetres for built up urban areas and the use of smaller zones byVodafone New Zealand and other mobile operators means thataffordable home calling is now available on a standard mobilephone.

Seeker's unique technology does not require operators to invest innew handsets or add-ons such as GPS. It can be deployed quickly asthe solution is pre-loaded onto the SIM card and does not rely onthe design and manufacture of new chipsets or devices, and works onboth 2G and 3G networks.

"Operators have been impressed with how Seeker's technologyperformed against existing Cell-ID based systems" said Dr ChrisDrane, CEO of Seeker Wireless. "By locating callers much moreaccurately, Seeker's solution can help reduce revenue leakageimpacts that have dogged current Cell-ID based home zone systems.We are delighted that Vodafone New Zealand has chosen our solutionto power their new Local Zone product.

The value of Seeker's technology extends beyond home zonesolutions. It can be deployed to drive revenues from otherlocation-sensitive services such as location based advertising andmobile search.

Dr Drane concluded: "Location based technology is much more thanjust navigation and tracking. We believe that high accuracylocation solutions should be an enabler to drive LBS revenues foroperators from a number of different services that deliver tangiblebenefits to subscribers. Consumers do not really care about theconvergence of technologies, what they really want is services thatprovide genuine convenience and value for money.

About Seeker Wireless

Founded by two of the brightest minds in location, Seeker Wirelesshas approached the issue of cellular location in a highlymathematical, yet practical manner. Seeker has offices in Londonand Sydney.

Seeker Wireless focuses on Fixed Mobile Substitution "home zone"solutions for mobile operators wishing to provide fixed-linecalling services using standard GSM or UMTS handsets. The company'ssolution provides high accuracy handset location depending on localcell density. Location sensitive search and mobile marketingapplications are also supported by Seeker's patent pending zonedetection technology.

More information is available at www.seekerwireless.com

Vodafone Local Zone product information is available atwww.vodafone.co.nz/local-zone/