TeleCommunication Systems Eases NG9-1-1 Transition with EMedia™

ANNAPOLIS, Md., Jan. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS), a world leader in highly reliable and secure mobile communication technology, today introduced EMedia™, a solution delivering 9-1-1 text messages from any carrier to any choice of Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) interface (TTY, Web or text-enabled CPE), enabling PSAP transfer capabilities for text, and integrating with CAD and recording systems. PSAPs that have not deployed an NG9-1-1 solution can receive text-to-911 sessions from EMedia's future-proof NG9-1-1 compliant solution. EMedia also sends texts to existing Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) systems which then do the routing of the text to the proper PSAP. EMedia's support for text and multimedia communications, will guide the evolution to future NG9-1-1 systems.

In addition to phone calls for assistance, PSAPs are preparing to receive Short Message Service (SMS) text messages from the public. However, these messages come from a variety of wireless carriers, are processed by multiple Text Control Center (TCC) vendors, and arrive in various formats at PSAPs in different states of transition to NG9-1-1, resulting in a complex mesh network with inherent connectivity challenges. As a result, only a small percentage of the 6500 PSAPs in the country have currently deployed SMS-to-911 solutions.  TCS' EMedia solution simplifies that complex network, aggregating the incoming messages and routing them to the correct PSAP. The result is an easy-to-manage, single-source network that provides the foundation for a straightforward transition into a robust and NENA standards-compliant Emergency Services IP Network (ESInet).  With EMedia, every PSAP, even legacy or mixed legacy/NG9-1-1 environments, can safely take the initial step to NG9-1-1, allowing them to accept existing SMS messages from multiple wireless carriers.

News Facts:

• TCS' EMedia solution helps make the PSAP ready for text-to-911.
• EMedia aggregates all text-to-911 traffic from multiple wireless carriers and TCC vendors, allowing public safety authorities to interact with a single entity for text-to-911.
• EMedia supports transfer of text sessions between different text handling interfaces.
• EMedia allows a PSAP to utilize a single-user interface for text-to-911 (TTY, Web or text-enabled CPE).
• EMedia supports any Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) compliant text-enabled CPE interface; TCS is a co-creator of the ATIS/JSTD-110 standard.
• EMedia complies fully with National Emergency Number Association (NENA) i3 standard.
• TCS leads the nation on ESInet deployments and is the premier provider of NG9-1-1 software and end-to-end solutions. Offerings include NENA i3 standards-compliant call-routing and call-handling systems. In 2006, TCS became the first company to deliver NG9-1-1 calls, and the company has since delivered more NENA i3 9-1-1 traffic than all other manufacturers combined.
• TCS completed the nation's first successful cellular 9-1-1 call more than a decade ago and now deploys cellular and Voice over IP (VoIP) 9-1-1 service to operators nationwide, supporting more than half of all wireless and VoIP Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) calls.
• For more vendor or customer information on TCS' EMedia solution, visit:   http://www.telecomsys.com/products/public-safety/emedia.aspx

Supporting Quote:

TCS Safety & Security Group Vice President Thomas Ginter said: "Current public safety systems are a complicated maze of carriers, vendors, and PSAPs in various stages of transition to NG9-1-1. TCS' EMedia solution simplifies text management and delivery, resulting in reliable, single-source capability that is scalable to deliver text in legacy PSAP environments and assist in the evolution to NG9-1-1.  EMedia will smoothly transition the current legacy network into a robust and standards-compliant next generation ESInet that can support voice, text, and multimedia communication."

About TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS) is a world leader in highly reliable and secure mobile communication technology. TCS infrastructure forms the foundation for market-leading solutions in E9-1-1, text messaging, commercial location and deployable wireless communications. TCS is at the forefront of new mobile cloud computing services, providing wireless applications for navigation, hyper-local search, asset tracking, social applications and telematics. Millions of consumers around the world use TCS wireless apps as a fundamental part of their daily lives. Government agencies utilize TCS' cybersecurity expertise, professional services and highly secure deployable satellite solutions for mission-critical communications. Headquartered in Annapolis, MD, TCS maintains technical, service and sales offices around the world. To learn more about emerging and innovative wireless technologies, visit www.telecomsys.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and are based upon TCS' current expectations and assumptions that if incorrect would cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Risks include those detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013.

Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances, or otherwise.

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SOURCE TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.