Wavecom Announces 10 Millionth WISMO used in GSM, GPRS, CDMA and 3G Wireless Networks

Wavecom SA announced the delivery of its 10 millionth WISMO module in late July 2002, since production of WISMOs began.

This new milestone in what is already a successful year for the company is a strong confirmation of the widespread take up of the product by manufacturers driving the wireless communications revolution worldwide.

The WISMO module - a compact device that includes all of the hardware, software and other technology needed to enable wireless communications over the GSM/GPRS, CDMA and future 3G networks - was launched in 1997. Since then, Wavecom has boasted a spectacular growth, especially in the Asia Pacific region where a steadily increasing number of manufacturers are basing their next generation wireless products on WISMO technology. 2001 revenues were Euro 322.7 million, an increase of 392% from the year before, and the company's growth continues in 2002 with revenues of Euro 244.6 million for the first six months of the year, up 91.4% from the first half of 2001.
WISMO applications include mobile telephones, automotive navigation and information systems, personal digital assistants with wireless communications functions, and machine-to-machine communications solutions. The majority of the ten million WISMOs already in use across the world are powering Personal Communications Devices such as mobile telephones and PDAs, but strong future growth is also anticipated in the Machine to Machine and Automotive markets, which will further drive product demand.
Aram Hekimian, Wavecom CEO, commented: "With the introduction of the very first WISMO five years ago, Wavecom challenged the existing business model of the wireless industry. Not only did we enable a range of new players to enter the booming market for mobile telephones; we also created entirely new markets such as machine-to-machine communications by making wireless technology available to everyone. We always believed that WISMO was the answer to the future of wireless communication, and are delighted to see this wireless revolution become a reality."

The WISMO product range

There are currently two WISMO module families available:

- The WISMO Quik range is unique in the market in that it includes both GSM/GPRS and CDMA-compatible modules. The WISMO Quik Q2400 series concentrates all components on one side of the module only, resulting in a very thin (3.9mm) and light (11g) product. The CDMA version is expected to be available before the end of 2002.
- WISMO Pac offers the world's first complete GSM/GPRS solution in the form of a single component, and is ideally suited for personal communications devices. The WISMO Pac is super-compact, with an area of less than 15cm2, a width of 5.1mm and weighing just 11g. A patented Column Grid Array(TM) (CGA) design provides shielding and connectivity in a single element, enabling WISMO Pac to be automatically positioned and soldered onto a circuit board like any regular IC - a real leap forward in terms of industrial design.

The company also offers two wireless modem models, Integra and Fastrack, which are pre-certified for compliance by the appropriate regulatory authorities, which means that customers can immediately make wireless applications without having to undergo approval procedures. They are ready for immediate use.