Survey Reveals Public Safety Market's Affinity for Multimedia Mobile Broadband Applications

BELMONT, Calif.--July 11, 2005--PacketHop(TM), Inc., a leader in mobile mesh networking software for instant wireless group communications, today announced that 96 percent of respondents in a survey of first responders felt that it is valuable to have instant mobile broadband communications whenever and wherever needed. Over 75 percent of police officers, firefighters and emergency personnel also said that they prefer open, wireless broadband communications running on 802.11 standards-based mobile devices, like notebook PCs, tablet PCs and PDAs, over proprietary hardware tied to fixed infrastructure.

These findings, among others, are the result of a PacketHop survey conducted at the Law Enforcement Information Management (LEIM) Section Training Conference and Exhibition from May 23-25 in Greensboro, N.C.

"Mesh networking in various applications is becoming a low-cost alternative for municipalities," said Jeff Vining, vice president of Gartner Research, in a Gartner market research report titled "Mesh Networking Improves First Responder's Efficiency." "Cities and towns should evaluate mesh technologies to enhance data communications and improve public safety interoperability. Behind such deployments are productivity gains, ease of deployment, and the ability to deliver first responder interoperability at a fraction of the cost of a land mobile radio system."(1)

Respondents also highly regarded real-time multicast video, global positioning system (GPS) resource tracking, whiteboarding and multimedia instant messaging (IM) -- all of which are part of the PacketHop Aware(TM) for public safety situational awareness application. The Aware server-less application helps first responders to share mission-critical information in order to do their jobs more safely and better serve the public. It will be commercially available in Q3 2005.

Real-Time Multicast Video

Eighty-one percent of respondents said that it is valuable to view real-time multicast video. Real-time multicast video enables users to efficiently stream live video to all users on the network. During emergencies and everyday situations, first responders can attach a video or still camera to their mobile devices and transmit exactly what they're seeing over the wireless network. Rather than describing what they're seeing via the radio, real-time multicast video enables scene commanders to make critical decisions based on direct observations, not second-hand descriptions.

GPS Resource Tracking

Seventy percent of respondents strongly felt that it is valuable to know exactly where each first responder is located during an emergency. GPS resource tracking enables users to be located in real-time on a high-resolution map or image that can be simultaneously shared by all users on the network. Scene commanders can more easily position and track first responders at an incident area.

Whiteboarding

Ninety-two percent of respondents said that it is valuable to share tactical information by "whiteboarding" on a map, video frame or image. Whiteboarding enables users to "mark up" a captured video image, map or photo and simultaneously share it with one or all users on the network. Scene commanders can clearly mark the location of an emergency or suspect, reposition first responders in the field or draw where a perimeter needs to be established -- silently and discreetly. Similar to how a football coach draws up a play on a whiteboard, a scene commander can easily convey tactical information to other first responders at an emergency and collaborate on a course of action.

Multimedia Instant Messaging

Seventy-three percent of respondents said that it is valuable to significantly reduce voice traffic by utilizing non-voice communications like multimedia instant messaging. The application enables users to communicate not only via text-based instant messages, but to also share files in a variety of formats -- including selected video frames, still digital photographs and diagrams. PacketHop's software also includes "quick phrases" such as "be on look out," which users can customize to match their particular jargon and relieve the burden on voice radio channels.

"The results of our LEIM survey reflect the communication needs of law enforcement personnel everywhere," said Michael Howse, president and chief executive officer of PacketHop. "We are utilizing 802.11 technology to enable first responders to create instant, high-bandwidth wireless networks anywhere, anytime, featuring new multimedia applications that focus on real-time group information gathering and sharing. Reliable communications, security and safety are essential for all law enforcement personnel."

About PacketHop

PacketHop, Inc. develops mobile mesh networking software that enables instant wireless group communications for commercial enterprises, government organizations and consumer markets. PacketHop Communication System software enables 802.11 standards-based devices to create extended Wi-Fi hot-zones on the fly -- known as autonomous mobile mesh networks -- which can securely operate with or without access points. By making infrastructure completely optional, PacketHop delivers coverage wherever and whenever instant wireless broadband communications are needed -- with greater resiliency, reliability and robustness than any other comparable technology. Along with the company's device agnostic mobile mesh networking solution that enables rapid and cost-effective deployments, PacketHop offers the Aware(TM) for Public Safety suite of multimedia applications, including real-time multicast video, resource tracking, instant messaging and whiteboarding. Founded in 2003 and based in Silicon Valley, Calif., PacketHop is funded by venture firms U.S. Venture Partners, Mayfield and ComVentures. For more information on PacketHop, please visit www.packethop.com.

PacketHop and Aware are the trademarks of PacketHop, Inc. The names of other companies and their products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

(1) Mesh Networking Improves First Responder's Efficiency, Jeff Vining, vice president of Gartner Research, November 19, 2004.
 
Contacts 
A&R Partners for PacketHop
Greg Wood, 650-762-2838