ENCINITAS, Calif.-CommQuest Technologies Inc. won a multimillion-dollar contract to design and supply chipsets for SOS Wireless Communications Inc.’s emergency 3-button phone, after it completed the design of the printed circuit board in eight weeks, the company said.
SOS targets consumers who would like to have a mobile phone for emergencies, but don’t necessarily want to own or pay for complete wireless access. One button on the SOS phone dials 911, another button connects the caller’s emergency roadside assistance provider of choice, and the third button allows operator-assisted calls to 10 pre-selected numbers anywhere in the United States. The phones cannot receive incoming calls.
SOS Wireless functions much like a reseller, purchasing airtime at wholesale rates from B-side cellular carriers, and the phones can operate in North America where Advanced Mobile Phone Service cellular service is available.
The new contract with CommQuest calls for it to supply its AMPS-XL chipsets for high-volume production of the SOS handsets over the next two years, CommQuest said.
