Tata Teleservices will commercially deploy a new location-based service that is the first to use Qualcomm’s Assisted GPS (A-GPS) technology in the Indian market.

The service leverages Qualcomm’s QPoint solution and gpsOne chipset technology, with hosting services from leading wireless communications provider TeleCommunication Systems (TCS). The service is expected to be available on multiple handsets and deployment is expected in late 2008.

A-GPS technology will provide Tata with a differentiated LBS service, as it improves on previously deployed cellular LBS services in India in terms of both performance and reliability. Conventional Cell-ID-based solutions rely solely on base stations for positioning, which can equate to less than optimal functionality in areas where cellular signals are compromised. Tata’s A-GPS service leverages triangulation with cellular base stations and satellite-based GPS for precise position location in both rural and urban environments, including inside buildings and structures.

Tata’s service will leverage Qualcomm’s QPoint and gpsOne solutions, which together deliver a complete, integrated mass-market solution for enriched location-based services. Using these technologies to leverage the capabilities of A-GPS allows developers to easily create precise, reliable and compelling location-based applications. Tata plans on working with the local developer community to create both consumer and enterprise LBS applications. Consumer navigation will include friend finder and social networking applications, while enterprise customers will benefit from asset and fleet tracking applications.

TCS provides proven precise location technology for in-network deployments or via world-class hosting solutions. For Tata, TCS will be hosting its Xypoint Location Platform that includes a Position Determination Entity built upon the aforementioned QPoint technology from Qualcomm.

Tata Teleservices is one of India’s leading private telecom service providers. The company offers integrated telecom solutions to its customers under the Tata Indicom brand, and uses the latest CDMA 3G 1X technology for its wireless network. Tata Teleservices along with Tata Teleservices (Maharastra) Limited, operates in more than 5,000 towns across 19 circles. The company has a customer base of more than 25 million.