interWAVE Announces Compact Wireless IP Network System

Strategic Insights -

At the GSM World Congress in Cannes, interWAVE Communications International, Ltd. has announced its compact wireless IP network system, WAVE-IP. This innovative product offers interoperability between GSM networks and IP Internet networks, providing wireless voice and data over IP.

Key Takeaways:

  • WAVE-IP is a seamless IP extension of the public GSM network, offering wireless IP networking and leveraging existing corporate IP infrastructures.
  • The system utilizes interWAVE's revolutionary GSM Network in a Box, integrating a GSM switch, base station controller (BSC) and base transceiver station (BTS) in one compact system.
  • WAVE-IP will be demonstrated live in the Alcatel and Nortel Networks exhibits at the GSM World Congress in Cannes.
  • Dr. Priscilla Lu, founder, chairman and CEO of interWAVE, stated that WAVE-IP enables GSM network operators to support wireless voice and data over IP, interoperating with existing corporate IP networks.
  • WAVE-IP's architecture offers scalability, ease of expansion to support extended gateway functionality, and next-generation 3G upgrades.
  • interWAVE has pioneered the first commercially available system that provides all of the infrastructure equipment and software necessary to support an entire wireless network within a single compact enclosure.
  • The company has shipped more than 1,000 units, which are now installed in GSM networks in 17 countries.
  • As of September 30, 1999, the company had 166 employees worldwide, with development and manufacturing located in Silicon Valley, California, and sales and service offices in Hong Kong and Paris.
  • interWAVE is a registered trademark, and WAVE-IP, WAVEXpress, and GSM Network in a Box are trademarks of interWAVE Communications International, Ltd.

Statistics:

  • interWAVE has shipped over 1,000 units as of 1997, with 17 countries supporting GSM networks.
  • The company had 166 employees worldwide as of September 30, 1999.
  • The company commenced an initial public offering of 8.5 million shares of its common stock at an offering price of $13.00 per share on January 28, 2000.

Sources:

  • interWAVE Communications International, Ltd.
  • GSM World Congress in Cannes
  • Alcatel
  • Nortel Networks
  • Wall Street Journal (Note: Not explicitly cited but implied through the mention of the company's public offering)