Qualcomm and American Medical Alert have announced a joint venture to deliver mobile health services through Lifecomm LLC. The entity, formed with cash and in-kind contributions by the parties, will operate as a majority-owned subsidiary of HTI and plans to launch a mobile Personal Emergency Response Service (PERS) focused on seniors and their caregivers in the United States in 2011.

The introduction of a state-of-the-art mobile PERS solution, designed to extend affordable and potentially lifesaving emergency assistance to its users, is expected to be a major advancement in providing connected location-based services. The mobile PERS solution will consist of a wearable lightweight device with one-touch access to an emergency assistance call center. Inside the device, a cellular modem will enable wireless voice and data communications, and an embedded GPS combined with other sensors will enable location-based tracking and monitoring of the person wearing the device. A personalized web portal for the user and/or caregiver will provide access to information about user activity and location.

"Our venture with Qualcomm and AMAC will enable Lifecomm to deliver a compelling mobile personal emergency response service to seniors and their caregivers," said Jeff Leddy, chief executive officer, HTI. “Using HTI’s back office architecture and call center network as the backbone of the Lifecomm service will allow for a seamless integration with a new growth market. We are excited about extending our business to deliver high value location-based services to the individual.”

HTI currently is the exclusive provider of connected safety, convenience and location-based services to Mercedes-Benz mbrace™ customers. HTI’s highly reliable infrastructure, call center expertise and flexible technology platform will be leveraged to support Lifecomm. HTI will provide engineering, information technology and product development services for the subsidiary.

Qualcomm, a leader in wireless technology development, is contributing expertise to the effort that was developed under its internal “Lifecomm” initiative and will provide further engineering services, technical resources and capital for the development of the mobile PERS solution. The mobile PERS device will utilize Qualcomm’s Wearable Mobile Device module and wireless chipset technology.

“Wireless health services offer substantial benefits to the medical and patient communities,” said Steve Altman, president of Qualcomm. “The mobile PERS solution will allow seniors to maintain their independence by providing them immediate, push-button access to emergency services. Mobile PERS is a compelling offering that Lifecomm is well positioned to provide and we’re pleased to help enable.”

AMAC, with nearly 30 years experience delivering personal emergency response solutions, will be the anchor Value Added Reseller of the Lifecomm mobile PERS offering. With a robust call center infrastructure, highly trained personnel, marketing expertise and existing relationships with hundreds of healthcare entities as well as national direct to consumer outlets, AMAC will be a primary contributor to the initial distribution of the Lifecomm solution and immediately open up channel opportunities for mobile PERS.

“We believe the triumvirate behind the formation of the Lifecomm venture is the beginning of a highly productive, long term relationship that will transform the PERS industry,” said Jack Rhian, president and chief executive officer of AMAC. “We are extremely pleased to work with HTI and Qualcomm to deliver this next generation PERS solution to the marketplace and expect these solutions, once commercialized, will have an immediate impact on the breadth and depth of services AMAC provides under its remote patient monitoring portfolio.”