Hughes Telematics, Inc. (“HTI”), (OTCBB: HUTC)(OTCBB: HUTCW), Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) and American Medical Alert Corp. (Nasdaq: AMAC) recently announced a joint venture to deliver mobile health services through Lifecomm LLC. The entity, formed with cash and in-kind contributions by the parties, will operate as a majority-owned subsidiary of HTI and plans to launch a mobile Personal Emergency Response Service (PERS) focused on seniors and their caregivers in the United States in 2011.
The device will enable wireless voice and data communications, and an embedded GPS combined with other sensors will enable location-based tracking and monitoring of the person wearing the device. A personalized web portal for the user and/or caregiver will provide access to information about user activity and location. AMAC will be the anchor Value Added Reseller of the Lifecomm mobile PERS offering and support the venture through its highly trained personnel, marketing expertise and existing relationships with hundreds of healthcare entities as well as national direct to consumer outlets and other channel opportunities.
The venture will utilize HTI’s infrastructure and call center expertise to support Lifecomm. Qualcomm is contributing expertise to the effort that was developed under its internal “Lifecomm” initiative and will provide further engineering services, technical resources and capital for the development of the mobile PERS solution. The mobile PERS device will utilize Qualcomm’s Wearable Mobile Device module and wireless chipset technology.
“Wireless health services offer substantial benefits to the medical and patient communities,” said Steve Altman, president of Qualcomm. “The mobile PERS solution will allow seniors to maintain their independence by providing them immediate, push-button access to emergency services. Mobile PERS is a compelling offering that Lifecomm is well positioned to provide and we’re pleased to help enable.”
