O2 Airwave and Motorola Sign First Commercial Contract for TETRA PDAs

Motorola announced today it has signed a contract with Airwave O2 Limited to supply Motorola MTC100 PDAs (personal digital assistants) that operate on TETRA (TErrestrial Trunked RAdio) networks. The agreement is the world's first commercial contract for TETRA PDAs.

The Motorola MTC100 will host a number of mobile applications intended to help police officers spend more time on visible, active patrol and increase their productivity. Software applications will be developed by O2 Airwave and will operate through its existing mobile applications gateway.

Benefiting from O2 Airwave's national footprint, officers will be able to use the secure TETRA network to ensure data integrity, remotely accessing criminal intelligence databases such as the Police National Computer and other sources, as well as compiling and submitting crime reports without having to return to a police station. Officers will also benefit from rapid information transfer with the MTC100 through the use of TETRA multi-slot packet data capability.

The MTC100 TETRA PDA offers a comprehensive suite of communication services and features with a range of options to meet the needs of public safety and enterprise customers. All devices include the following core features: latest Microsoft Windows 2005 Mobile Edition with security and messaging enhancements, large 3.52 TFT touch screen, integrated camera and flash, allowing pictures to be taken and circulated quickly and TETRA wide area radio (WAN) with optional encryption and authentication to provide secure connectivity.

Additionally, customers can select from a range of options including: integrated 802.11 WiFi radio, for connection to wireless local area networks (W-LAN) enabling rapid synchronization of data and applications while in the office, Bluetooth wireless radio, to create a personal area network (PAN) for connection to devices such as data scanners or portable printers and integrated Global Position System (GPS), so a user's position can be located.

Motorola will start the shipment at the end of 2006.