TruePosition announced that U-TDOA has been formally standardized by the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project). 3GPP, the official governing body for development and standardization of GSM and UMTS networks, announced the decision at the 14th meeting of GERAN (GSM EDGE Radio Access Network) held in Munich, Germany on April 11th. The decision comes shortly after recent decisions by three of the U.S.'s national GSM operators to use U-TDOA to support their FCC E-911 needs.

Standardization by the 3GPP provides wireless operators with the assurance that a technology will have seamless interoperability between various vendors' equipment and that the technology will be widely accepted and maintained. With its acceptance into the 3GPP standard, purchasers of the technology can expect substantially reduced equipment costs and easy integration within GSM networks.

"We're pleased to see U-TDOA has been accepted as a 3GPP standard location method," said Kent Sander, COO and President, TruePosition, Inc. "The positive response about U-TDOA from global wireless operators is encouraging and we look forward to expanding our presence in GSM markets."

U-TDOA is one of three high-accuracy wireless location technologies now supported by the 3GPP. The technology, which has long since been standardized for AMPS, TDMA and CDMA systems is now being deployed throughout the U.S. to support Phase II of the FCC's Emergency 911 location mandate.

U-TDOA technology locates wireless phones by comparing the time it takes a mobile station's radio signal to reach several Location Measurement Units (LMUs) installed at an operator's base stations and can be used to enable location-based services such as emergency location, asset tracking, and mobile concierge services.

Some of U-TDOA's distinguishing features include the ability to produce high-accuracy locations, typically 50m or better, with a near 100% success rate across all usage scenarios, including indoor and heavily obstructed areas. In addition, U-TDOA is the only high-accuracy location technology not requiring an upgrade of the users' phones to operate. High accuracy combined with the ability to function almost anywhere with any existing or future phone or wireless device, enables operators to offer location-based services to their entire subscriber base immediately.