TCS Issued PatentTCS Issued Patent

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS), a leading provider of mission-critical wireless communications, today announced the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued patent number 7,355,990 for "Mobile-Originated to HTTP Internet Communications." The patent describes a means for triggering an Internet informational query or search using a simple text message originated from a cell phone or mobile device, and is widely used today for two-way premium messaging services.

This TCS invention allows a wireless user to send a short message to a predefined address that represents an IP Server and to receive a return message back. A simple example is to send a query to the short code 4636, "INFO," and receive a response from a web-based server. The patent provides the basis for wireless users to participate in text message marketing and voting campaigns, such as those utilized by popular television contest shows, search for local information through text messages, such as SMS 411 services, on-demand pull services and popular mobile local search services. Text messaging as an interactive medium is facilitated by Common Short Codes, a 5 or 6 digit number to which a user can send a text message and receive a response. M:Metrics forecasts that the U.S. Mobile Marketing industry will be $2.9 billion by 2011.

"A mobile phone is now the third screen for consumer brand, enterprise and entertainment companies to reach customers," said Drew Morin, Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer for TCS. "Text messaging is the best medium for interacting with wireless users, as virtually all users can receive and respond to text messages. This patent combines these two to create a powerful tool for internet access from mobile devices."

TeleCommunication Systems Inc. (TCS) (Nasdaq: TSYS)