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VoiceAge Announces the Conclusion of a Patent Pool for AMR Narrowband
Technology
CANNES, France, Feb 24, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- VoiceAge Corporation is pleased to announce the conclusion of a joint patent pool for the AMR (Adaptive Multi-Rate) narrowband codec, an ETSI and 3GPP ratified standard, with Ericsson and Nokia. The creation of this patent pool will accelerate market development by providing users of the AMR codec with simplified access to the technology.
The patent pool has put in place an essentiality evaluation process and determination of patents that are essential to AMR for these three major contributors, in order to provide users with convenient, fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory access to a portfolio of essential worldwide patents under a single license agreement. Other patent owners wishing to join the pool are welcome to submit their patents for evaluation.
Through VoiceAge, the pool will grant essential patent licenses for a new range of applications such as bridging wireless telephony and content to desktop computers, VoIP telephony, VoIP gateways, content applications and media players.
"The conclusion of this agreement is a significant milestone as it eliminates the last barriers to access and commercially deploy the AMR technology," says Laurent Amar, President of VoiceAge. "Emerging new tool and application developers will all benefit from this initiative."
For more information on licensing terms and conditions, please contact VoiceAge.
About AMR-NB
The AMR standard (Adaptive Multi-Rate) is a speech coding algorithm operating at variable bit rates in the range of 4.75 to 12.2 kbps in its narrowband configuration. This technology was initially developed for the GSM System, the single most deployed 2nd generation mobile telecommunication system worldwide used mostly in Europe and Asia. It was later adopted by the 3GPP as the mandatory codec for 3rd generation wireless systems based on evolved GSM core network (WCDMA, EDGE, GPRS). The AMR narrowband codec was standardized by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) in 1999.
About Ericsson
Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet communications through its continuous technology leadership. Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries, Ericsson is helping to create the most powerful communication companies in the world.
About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia is dedicated to enhancing people's lives and productivity by providing easy-to-use and secure products like mobile phones, and solutions for imaging, games, media, mobile network operators and businesses. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on five major exchanges.
About VoiceAge
VoiceAge is a leading provider of multimedia codec solutions adapted to specific market requirements for mobile handsets, consumer electronic devices, entertainment and telephony infrastructures. VoiceAge offers a complete line of wireless multimedia products such as SPOT xde(R) Media Platform, a powerful, rich media content creation and adaptation platform. VoiceAge's technology is positioned in 16 international wireless and wireline telecommunication standards. VoiceAge's renowned ACELP(R) patented technology, at the foundation of AMR, has been deployed in more than 1 billion mobile phones and 500 million PCs worldwide. VoiceAge plays a key role in setting industry standards as an active member of several standards organizations including ITU-T, ETSI/3GPP, 3GPP2 and OMA.
SOURCE VoiceAge Corporation


CONTACT: Nathalie Beaudoin of VoiceAge Corporation, [phone], ext. 232, [e-mail]: http://www.voiceage.com http://www.prnewswire.com
Copyright (C) 2004 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.
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