Network equipment giant Nortel has sold its wireless
location assets to communications component maker Andrew Corp. , the companies announced today.
Andrew Corp. will integrate Nortel’s products, which include systems that
process and calculate the position of mobile devices, into its Geometrix
business unit.
The Orland Park, Ill.-based company will also add about 40 employees from
Nortel’s Wollongong, Australia R&D center. Andrew Corp. will also continue
to provide warranty and maintenance support existing Nortel customers.
“With the addition of Nortel’s employees and products, Geometrix is ideal
for operators everywhere in the world who need a versatile, cost-effective
way to introduce and support location-based services for a variety of
applications,” Terry Garner, an Andrew group president, said in a
statement.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Location-based services help businesses and consumers track items such as
packages and delayed or stolen shipments. The technology is also used to
provide accurate location of mobile users who call police, fire, and medical
emergency services from wireless devices.
Andrew Corp. was founded in 1937. In addition to location-based services,
its technology is used in the broadcasting and navigation sectors.