Wireless Carriers Large-Sample QOS Data From The User's Perspective

IRVINE, CA (PRWEB) May 17, 2004--QualiPoc, introduced today by COMARCO (NASDAQ: CMRO) Wireless Test Solutions, in partnership with SwissQual AG of Zuchwil, Switzerland, is a Smartphone-based system that, for the first time, allows wireless carriers to get QoS (quality of service) data from up to thousands of locations in order to assess user-perceived quality. QualiPoc is a software application that runs on commercially available handsets. These phones are distributed to users who go about their daily tasks throughout the carrier's usage area. In its automated mode, called QualiPoc ADVANCE, a central Web-based test manager remotely controls and manages all of the QualiPoc phones in the area, testing voice, data and multimedia performance. Measurement data collected by the QualiPoc phones is automatically uploaded to a server over a wireless data connection. Tests are performed autonomously, with no required user intervention.

"This is a major advance in user-perception QoS testing," notes Greg Maton, senior vice president of COMARCO. "While user-perception testing has always been a strength for COMARCO, we have never before been able to put our sensors in the hands of thousands of people simultaneously. With QualiPoc, carriers can monitor actual customer perception on a very large scale, making measurements from the locations where their customers live, work and travel."

QualiPoc Tests All Major Forms of Usage

QualiPoc can be configured for: Voice testing, using SQuad-LQ, Data testing, including Ping, FTP and UDP, Browser testing, including WAP and HTTP, Messaging testing, including SMS, Email and MMS, Voice mail testing.

Key to the development of QualiPoc was the porting of the real-time voice quality assessment tool, SQuad-LQ to the Smartphone. SQuad-LQ measures the perceptual difference between a reference clean-speech sample and the coded sample, outputting the result as an MOS value.

For voice quality testing, calls can be established to another QualiPoc phone, as well as to an automatic responding station. Upon connection, the called QualiPoc phone or responding station sends a pre-recorded speech sample. The transmitted voice clip is then automatically assessed and scored in real-time by the calling QualiPoc phone.

Semi-automatic Operation is Offered: A QualiPoc phone can also be used as a handheld testing device, providing instant feedback on service quality and performance. Upon startup, a menu guides the user to select and define the specific tests to be executed. Once started, the tests are repeated with the defined test parameters until stopped. The related measurement log files are stored directly on the phone, until commanded to be downloaded using FTP, memory card, Bluetooth or Infrared.

Air Interface Data is Acquired: While making all of its normal measurements, the QualiPoc phone also records air interface data, such as CellID, LAC, MNC and MCC. It can also be configured to support GPS. If GPS is not built into the Smartphone, a small GPS receiver is available that connects to the Smartphone via Bluetooth.

Pricing for QualiPoc systems starts at around $5,000(US). Availability is four to six weeks from receipt of order.

About COMARCO: Based in Irvine, Calif., Comarco is a leading provider of wireless test solutions for field test applications, ChargeSource® universal mobile power products and wireless emergency call box systems. Comarco's industry-leading Seven.Five™ wireless test system for field test applications allows cellular telephone system operators to improve the quality of their cellular phone service through voice, video and data benchmarking and system optimization using advanced QoS algorithms and a unique multi-technology RF scanner. Seven.Five's open architecture supports both current cellular operating system technologies and the new 3G systems being implemented in international markets.

Based on reported year-to-date sales data, ChargeSource is the largest selling line of products able to recharge and power a variety of mobile devices, including laptop computers, cellular telephones, digital cameras, PDAs and other handheld devices, through a single power source.

In addition, Comarco's call box systems are in place on most major highway systems throughout the United States and are used by motorists to contact local authorities for rapid assistance. More information about Comarco's product lines can be found at www.comarco.com and www.chargesource.com.

Safe Harbor Statement: This release may contain forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended to date. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. A number of important factors could cause our results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, the impact of perceived or actual weakening of economic conditions on customers' and prospective customers' adoption of new wireless communications technologies, and, therefore, spending on our products and services; risks related to market acceptance of our products and our ability to meet contractual and technical product performance commitments with our customers; activities by us and others regarding protection of intellectual property; and competitors' release of competitive products and other actions. Further information on potential factors that could affect our financial results are included in risks detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including without limitation our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2003 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2003.

Corporate Information: Comarco Wireless Test Solutions is located at 2 Cromwell, Irvine, CA 92618-1816. The company can be found on the Web at www.comarco.com.

Editorial Contacts: COMARCO Wireless Test Solutions- Malcolm Levy, 949/599-7587, mlevy@comarco.com,

KPR, Inc. - David Kaye or Barbara Evans 818/368-8212, dave@kprinc.com or barbara@kprinc.com

Company Contacts: Tom Franza President & CEO, COMARCO, Inc., (949) 599-7440 tfranza@comarco.com, Dan Lutz Vice President & CFO, COMARCO, Inc., (949) 599-7556 dlutz@comarco.com, Investor Contact: Doug Sherk Founder & CEO, EVC Group, (415) 659-2285 dsherk@evcgroup.com