News release

Compaq Launches Industry-Leading Wireless Location Solution for GSM Market

Mobile Users Receive Useful Information When and Where They Need It

Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ) today announced a powerful mobility solution that will enable GSM-based mobile operators to deliver location-based services to their wireless subscribers. With the Compaq Discovery Location Services solution, mobile operators can identify the physical location of a mobile customer—and deliver attractive, location-sensitive services via the customer's wireless handset.

Compaq and industry-leading location partner SignalSoft® Corporation (NASDAQ: SGSF) are offering mobile operators a choice of GMLCs (Gateway Mobile Location Center), which is the standards-compliant network infrastructure for GSM-based location services. The Discovery Location Services solution is available on both the Compaq NonStop Himalaya server and the AlphaServer system running Tru64 UNIX.

The GMLC offered by Compaq and SignalSoft is critical to mobile operators worldwide for the delivery of advanced public safety services and commercial services that are enhanced by location, such as information on local entertainment and special events, sales promotions for nearby stores, and directions to restaurants, banks and hotels, among others.

Location services are widely expected to be one of the key engines of growth in next generation networks. The Ovum Group forecasts that the number of mobile location services connections worldwide will grow dramatically from 1,805,000 in 2001 to 564,044,000 in 2006. The growth curve for GSM markets in Western Europe is similar, expanding from 902,000 in 2001 to 182,293,000 in 2006.

Mitesh Desai, vice president, Compaq Telecom Solutions, said, "Mobile users in Europe and North America are learning the advantages of receiving useful information at just the right time and place. For mobile operators, location services represent a huge market opportunity, and Compaq, along with SignalSoft, is providing the tools operators need to exploit that opportunity." Desai added, "With the GMLC solutions announced today, operators can choose the location services framework that best suits their business and technology needs."

"Compaq and SignalSoft have a long-standing and very successful partnership in location-based services with many leading customers throughout the world. With these new products, we continue to lead the industry to mass adoption of location-based services by the worldwide mobile community," said David Hose, president and CEO of SignalSoft. "Compaq's new GMLC infrastructure, with SignalSoft's wireless location software products, help mobile operators stay competitive by quickly bringing innovative location-based services to their subscribers."

The Compaq Discovery Location Services solution is the leading location services solution in North America, where major wireless operators have deployed the product to provide emergency services to their subscribers. This same location-based services technology can be used for revenue-producing commercial services. Bell Mobility recently announced the first commercial location-based services contract in North America with the purchase of Compaq's solution.

In December of last year, the European Commission issued a directive to provide a single European emergency call number (112). In most European Union countries, emergency location service for mobile phones will be required in early 2004. Compaq's Discovery Location Services solution will provide operators the ability to meet this directive.

Compaq GMLCs Leverage Proven Location Technology from SignalSoft

Compaq has worked closely with several best-of-breed partners to build the Discovery Location Services solutions, including the two GMLC options. Chief among these partners is SignalSoft.

To create the new GMLCs, Compaq has integrated two key building blocks from SignalSoft: 1) Location Manager™, an industry-leading location gateway that brings together a subscriber's location with the valuable location-based services subscribers demand; and 2) Location Studio™, which controls privacy and authentication and enables customers to define how and when they will receive location-sensitive information.

In Compaq's mixed platform GMLC, the Location Manager runs on the Compaq NonStop Himalaya server, which is well known as the world's most reliable, most scalable platform. Compaq NonStop servers lead the off-switch intelligent network market with over 425 service control points (SCPs) at numerous carriers around the world. The Location Studio runs on Compaq's proven telecommunications platform, the carrier-grade AlphaServer system running Tru64 UNIX. This standards-based AlphaServer platform provides mobile operators with a significant advantage in price/performance.

In Compaq's integrated single platform GMLC, both Location Manager and Location Studio run on the UNIX-based AlphaServer. This offering is an entry-to-mid level solution, which enables operators to launch location services on an attractive ROI (return on investment) basis—and then scale up smoothly and cost-effectively as subscriber demand grows, thus protecting the initial investment.

Both SignalSoft and Compaq will market and sell the two GMLC solutions worldwide through their global sales organizations. Compaq will provide comprehensive integration services and ongoing support through Compaq Global Services.

About SignalSoft

SignalSoft Corporation (Nasdaq: SGSF) offers mobile operators worldwide the software products and solutions needed to effectively implement location-based services. The company's Wireless Location Services® software suite provides operators the ability to deliver new services to their subscribers, differentiate their offerings, increase revenues, reduce churn and build subscriber loyalty. Some of the largest U.S. mobile operators, including AT&T Wireless, Cingular, Sprint PCS and VoiceStream, and leading operators in Europe, such as Cegetel/SFR, Libertel-Vodafone, Orange and Telia, use SignalSoft's products. Founded in 1995, SignalSoft is headquartered in Boulder, Colo., USA, with offices in Canada, Singapore, Sweden and the United Kingdom. For more information visit the company's Web site at www.signalsoftcorp.com.

About Compaq

Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation is a leading global provider of information technology products, services and solutions for enterprise customers. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures and markets information technology equipment, software, services and solutions, including industry-leading enterprise storage and computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, communication products, personal desktop and notebook computers, and personal entertainment and Internet access devices that are sold in more than 200 countries directly and through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners. Information on Compaq and its products and services is available at http://www.compaq.com.