AGIS LifeRing(R) Tip of the Arrow PDA Communication System Successfully Passes U.S. Joint Forces Command Limited Operational Assessment

* Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.

Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:11am EDT

AGIS LifeRing(R) Tip of the Arrow PDA Communication System Successfully Passes
U.S. Joint Forces Command Limited Operational Assessment



TEQUESTA, Fla., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Ground Information Systems,
Inc. (AGIS), based in Jupiter, Florida announces the successful completion of
a US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) Limited Operational Assessment (LOA) of
cellular broad band communications using its LifeRing software. 

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091029/FL99280 )
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080114/CLM147LOGO-b )

The assessed tactical cellular prototype, consisting of a 3G network using
LifeRing software operating on the PDA and Netbook devices, "shows promise in
providing military benefit to small unit operations," according to USJFCOM.  A
Special Operations Forces (SOF) cellular system and a vehicle mounted
satellite transmission system--that included AGIS' LifeRing Blue Force
Tracker, Chat and White Boarding software were used to assess the ability to
exchange on the move information between dismounted soldier and small Marine
units. Small cellular enabled PDAs and Netbooks were used as these devices
have the potential to significantly reduce the size, weight and battery
requirements placed on our overburdened infantry.  Testing organizations
included the U.S. military's Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team
(JFIIT) (http://www.jfcom.mil/about/com_jfiit.htm), Joint Systems Integration
Center (JSIC), and JFCOM J84. LifeRing received a good "Ease of Use" rating.

High bandwidth cellular communications along with LifeRing - compared with
slower, bulkier radio communications,  may provide a means to network surface,
airborne, and space, enabling small units at the front to have a comprehensive
Common Operational Picture (COP). 

Cap Beyer, AGIS' CEO, said "We all carry cell phones instead of radios because
they are small, light, have integral color displays, use smaller batteries and
provide vastly superior bandwidth. These same reasons are why cellular can be
used to provide small military units operating at the edge of the Battlespace
with effective Situational Awareness and reach-back to higher level commands.
The completed JFCOM Limited Operational Assessment used relevant tactical
tasks that successfully verified these concepts."

LifeRing's military configuration is a response to a comment by General Peter
Chiarelli: If I had my way, every soldier would have a PDA - a hand-held
computer linked to a network - to receive information in the field. (Defense
News, January 28, 2008 by William Matthews).

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), as well as other Government
customers, use AGIS LifeRing's capability to provide a COP, real time digital
collaboration and Full Motion Video between Agents. The COP, along with
multiple real-time full motion video feeds, can be simultaneously exchanged
and seen by all approved users on a cellular or mesh network. 

"AGIS LifeRing is designed so that it can be configured to meet the differing
demands of the Military, Government Agencies and First Responders. It operates
simultaneously on cellular, mesh networks, satellite, Military and First
Responder radios," Mr. Beyer said.

AGIS, Inc. was founded after the tragic events on 11 September 2001, when many
lives were lost as a result of lack of communications.   AGIS was established
with the goal of creating a breakthrough handheld voice and data
communications system that can help save lives. LifeRing can also interface
with higher level military command and control systems through standard
interfaces. AGIS continues to make its LifeRing software more flexible so that
it can meet the differing needs of the Military, Government Agencies and First
Responders. Please see the company's website at www.agisinc.com.


SOURCE  Advanced Ground Information Systems, Inc. (AGIS)

Malcolm Beyer of AGIS, +1-561-744-3213, beyerm@agisinc.com, or Press Contact:
Peter Sauerbrey, +1-410-378-2934, +1-443-206-4537 cell,
peter.sauerbrey@gmail.com, for AGIS
Comments (0)
This discussion is now closed. We welcome comments on our articles for a limited period after their publication.