Aussies Pick Moto Mobile DataAussies Pick Moto Mobile Data

MELBOURNE, Australia -- The Victorian Government today signed a contract with Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) to provide an integrated public safety Mobile Data Network (MDN). The contract, valued at US90 million, will allow the state's public safety agencies to share information and communicate more effectively. The integrated solution is part of Motorola's extensive portfolio of integrated communications and information solutions designed to address mission-critical public safety and security requirements worldwide.

Victoria's Police and Emergency Services Minister, Andre Haermeyer, said the high-tech interactive data communications system would boost response capabilities and slash paperwork for police and paramedics.

Signing the contract with Motorola, Mr. Haermeyer said the new dedicated wireless communications network was the centrepiece of a new era in emergency services despatch, response and data capability.

He said police and paramedics would access the network via in-car touch-screen computers which would be linked to centralised Victoria Police and Metropolitan Ambulance Service databases and despatch hubs.

"The Mobile Data Network will significantly reduce response times and allow police and paramedics to arrive at emergencies and crime scenes better briefed than ever before," Mr. Haermeyer said.

"This investment in technology is part of the Victorian Government's commitment to providing safer streets, homes and workplaces. Most importantly, we are building a new emergency communications network, independent of the existing radio communications system, which will provide mutual redundancy. This capacity is vitally important for Victoria's emergency and disaster planning and response capabilities," he said.

Spiros Nikolakopoulos, Managing Director of Motorola's Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS), Australasia, said Motorola was well equipped to provide the MDN for Victoria, drawing on 65 years of experience in meeting the mission critical needs of public safety agencies.

"We are excited to be embarking on this project under the Partnerships Victoria framework and look forward to serving the emergency services of the state and the public of Victoria. This pacesetting technology will place Victoria's emergency services on the world map as leaders in law enforcement and public safety. It gives our emergency services the ability to do their jobs better and provides solutions that can help them save lives and protect the community," Mr Nikolakopoulos said.

The MDN system will:

In the first phase of the contract, Motorola will fit out 700 Victoria Police operational vehicles and 310 ambulances. In addition communications software applications will be installed at every police station in the operational area and key links will be provided for police and ambulance from regional and central headquarters.

The MDN will be based on a number of Motorola's latest technology platforms, integrated to form an end-to-end wireless information network.

One of the key technologies is Motorola's Premier MDC mobile data application, a client-server architecture customised for Police, Fire, Ambulance and other emergency service users. This application will run on Motorola's latest Mobile Data Terminal, the MW800, a Pentium IV based computer especially designed for use in vehicles to meet stringent safety requirements and Australian Design Rules. The Premier MDC application will send and receive information from the emergency services computer-aided dispatch centres, databases and other information stores via a high-throughput mobile data network based on Motorola's dedicated wireless data technology, RD-Lap.

Another critical aspect of the MDN Service is its ability to capture detailed information about when, where and how data is transmitted and received, to ensure users are gaining maximum use of the service and that response times in emergencies are the minimum possible. A Network Operations and Control Centre (NOCC) will be purpose built in Melbourne to provide this data management function. This NOCC will also be the maintenance and support hub with 24x7 operations, management and support.

Mr. Haermeyer said the network was one of the most significant Australian developments in community safety in decades. "It will provide police with access to up-to-date operational information, allowing officers to spend more time patrolling the community and less time filling out paper work.

"MDN -- with its capability for accessing police databases quickly and securely in the field -- will be an important weapon in apprehending wanted persons. Mr. Haermeyer said, "It will also provide a significant boost to fighting car theft, allowing police to quickly check vehicle registrations and search databases for stolen vehicles."

Mr. Haermeyer said MDN would back up and work in tandem with normal radio despatch via Emergency Communications Victoria (ECV). "MDN is based on Motorola's refined and proven technology, which is highly reliable and secure, with a guaranteed reliability of more than 99.5 per cent," he said.

"The technology and the contract terms will also allow the State Government to extend the benefits of MDN to other emergency services, as well providing a growth and development path for technological enhancements. It is part of the Victorian Government's State-wide Integrated Public Safety Communication Strategy -- an overarching framework for emergency services communications in Victoria," Mr. Haermeyer said.

MDN is a "Partnerships Victoria" project and as such Motorola will own and operate the system for a minimum period of five years. The State Government will have the option to extend the service provision or purchase the MDN equipment at the conclusion of the project. The project is managed by the Bureau of Emergency Services Telecommunications.

MDN will service Greater Melbourne and the state's second largest city, Geelong. It will be linked with the LEAP Interface (Victoria Police criminal database), the Warrants Database (Sheriff's Office interface) and the ECV CAD Interface (000 - Emergency call taking and despatch system).

Motorola Inc.