Qualcomm Atheros and Cisco Announce Indoor Location Technology Collaboration

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QTI) today announced that its networking and connectivity subsidiary, Qualcomm Atheros, Inc., and Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking, are collaborating to accelerate indoor location services for public and private venues that utilize Cisco wireless infrastructure, to provide an unprecedented set of benefits to venue owners, application developers, mobile device and networking OEMs, and consumers. The combination of the Qualcomm IZat™ indoor location services platform and the Cisco "Connected Mobile Experience" solution will improve indoor location accuracy and enable service discovery and context awareness in some of the world's leading retail, travel and hospitality venues. The leadership positions of the Cisco enterprise wireless solution and Qualcomm mobile technology will accelerate market adoption and foster further technology innovation to grow the indoor location ecosystem.

Many connected consumers rely on their mobile devices and location-based apps for information, interaction and context. However, the majority of these apps and services are challenged in urban environments and indoors, where satellite systems are unable to provide location data. Together, Qualcomm Atheros and Cisco are focused on accelerating more precise indoor location capabilities and ensuring interoperability between their respective solutions in order to enhance service discovery, provide greater contextual awareness, and deliver a better experience in the world's leading venues.

"Qualcomm Atheros is enhancing the mobile experience by providing more precise context about who, and what, is nearby – in any environment," said Cormac Conroy, vice president, location products and technology, Qualcomm Atheros. "Working with Cisco to build an ecosystem of interoperable positioning technologies, we are creating new opportunities for mobile OEMs, operators and venues to roll out location-based services that deliver relevant and timely information to the customers they serve, whenever a smartphone based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon™ processor is near or within a Mobile Services Engine powered Wi-Fi network."

Qualcomm Atheros' location technologies have shipped in more than one billion devices operating in mobile networks worldwide. The company recently enhanced its IZat location platform to enable more precise positioning (within 3-5 meters) inside buildings to make indoor positioning more useful to consumers. Overcoming the traditional challenges of indoor positioning brings Qualcomm Atheros, Cisco and the industry one step closer to their goal of providing always-on location awareness in any environment.

Cisco Connected Mobile Experiences offers the first Wi-Fi Passpoint (HotSpot 2.0) solution to integrate indoor location and real-time analytic technologies to deliver personalized mobile services and content. The solution is built upon the Cisco Mobility Services Engine, the industry's only available technology that can leverage an existing access point infrastructure to determine indoor location for mobile devices. This solution enables app developers to leverage this contextual information to deploy mobile applications and services that engage the customer more effectively.

"We want to take the current popularity and reach of conventional outdoor navigation and location apps and extend it to indoor venues all over the world," said Sujai Hajela, vice president and general manager, wireless networking business unit, Cisco. "Combining the strengths of the leader in mobile-based positioning — Qualcomm Atheros — and our position as the leader in WLAN networking, creates new and exciting opportunities for our customers across industries such as retail, hospitality, entertainment, travel, healthcare and more. Together, we allow businesses to leverage the intelligence in their network and uncover additional revenue opportunities."

Working together, Cisco and Qualcomm Atheros will differentiate the indoor location experience in venues where Cisco network infrastructure and Qualcomm-enabled handsets are being used, and accelerate indoor location capabilities on mobile devices in popular venues around the world. For more information, please visit www.qca.qualcomm.com and www.cisco.com.

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to newsroom.cisco.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.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

Qualcomm Contacts:
Laurie Falconer, Qualcomm Atheros
Phone:  1-408-616-3036
Email:  [email protected]  

Tina Asmar, Corporate Communications
Phone:  1-858-845-5959
Email:  [email protected]

Warren Kneeshaw, Investor Relations
Phone:  1-858-658-4813
Email:  [email protected] 

SOURCE Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.; Cisco