Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)

[Data_Rox]

Curitel adopts Wavecom's wireless standard modules
THE KOREA HERALD
January 30, 2003

Wavecom S.A., a French-based major provider of integrated wireless modules and leader in GSM technology solutions, signed a contract yesterday to provide its products to Curitel Communications Inc., a major handset manufacturer in Korea.

Nasdaq-listed Wavecom said it will provide its quadband WISMO (wireless standard modules) to Curitel for integration into the company's new line of sophisticated GSM/GPRS multi-media mobile phones, which are to be launched in the Chinese and U.S. markets in the third quarter this year.

"We evaluated all available solutions in the market and decided on Wavecom because its technology is proven, with millions of WISMOs in daily use all over the world, and because they propose a real partnership with close cooperation throughout the development process," a Curitel official in charge of overseas marketing said. Song Mee-hee, managing director of Wavecom Korea Co. said, "This new contract reflects customers' continuing recognition of our WISMO technology and the integration and support services we provide. We are glad to initiate this partnership with a leading Korean handset vendor like Curitel."

Wavecom's quadband WISMO products are the only integrated wireless modules on the market to cover all four GSM/GPRS frequencies. The WISMO modules offer a complete range of fully integrated GSM/GPRS voice and data options, in the form of a single, ready-to-use, compact component. Wavecom was the first company to commercialize GSM technology in the form of a standard module, the WISMO, which was designed to be adaptable to many different kinds of wireless technology. WISMO modules are compact devices that contain all the digital, baseband and radio frequency hardware and software to enable highly adaptable and versatile wireless communications over GSM/GPRS, CDMA and future 3G networks. Wavecom S.A., a French concern, was founded in 1993 and is headquartered near Paris in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. Wavecom has subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Seoul and San Diego California, and has 825 employees as of September, 2002 worldwide. Curitel Communications, Inc., a Korean firm, was founded in 1983 as a telecommunications division of Hyundai Electronics Industry, Inc. Curitel manufactures CDMA and GSM handsets and WLL terminals. The company was spun off from Hyundai in 2001 and renamed Curitel Communications Inc. in 2002. Curitel has 1400 employees.

In February 2002, Curitel signed a $730 million contract with Audiovox for providing its CDMA handsets to the U.S. market. Curitel is affiliated with the major Korean handset manufacturer Pantech, and in Korea it operates under the name "Pantech&Curitel."

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