Hughes leverages telematics technology in personal emergency medical alert application

Hughes Telematics, Inc. (HTI), Qualcomm Incorporated and American Medical Alert Corp. have formed 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 Hughes Telematics and plans to launch a mobile Personal Emergency Response Service (PERS) focused on seniors and their caregivers in the United States in 2011.

The introduction of a state-of-the-art mobile PERS solution is expected to be a major advancement in providing connected location-based services. It will consist of a wearable lightweight device with one-touch access to an emergency assistance call center. Inside the device, a cellular modem 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.

Hughes Telematics is the exclusive provider of connected safety, convenience and location-based services to Mercedes-Benz mbrace™ customers. Hughes’ infrastructure, call center expertise and flexible technology platform will be leveraged to support Lifecomm. HTI will provide engineering, information technology and product development services for the subsidiary.

“Our venture with Qualcomm and AMAC will enable Lifecomm to deliver a compelling mobile personal emergency response service to seniors and their caregivers,” said Hughes Telematics chief executive officer Jeff Leddy. “Using HTI’s back office architecture and call center network as the backbone of the Lifecomm service will allow for a seamless integration with a new growth market. We are excited about extending our business to deliver high value location-based services to the individual.”

Qualcomm is contributing expertise 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.

AMAC, with nearly 30 years experience delivering personal emergency response solutions, will be the anchor Value Added Reseller of the Lifecomm mobile PERS offering. With a robust call center infrastructure, highly trained personnel, marketing expertise and existing relationships with hundreds of healthcare entities as well as national direct to consumer outlets, AMAC will be a primary contributor to the initial distribution of the Lifecomm solution and immediately open up channel opportunities for mobile PERS.