Fixed Mobile Convergence

AirTouch Communications, Inc has registered a demand for its patent-pending SmartLinX group of home/office convergence communications devices, and has accordingly ramped up the manufacturing process. Telmex (News - Alert), a landline operator in Latin America, and other U.S. landline operators will be among the first customers to receive these units, which will be dispatched during the first six months of 2012.

In a release, Hide Kanakubo, CEO of AirTouch, said, "Our SmartLinX family of products offer a unique value by solving problems smartphone users face every day in a highly convenient, economical package which is easily upgradable. In addition to the interest we have received from major telecommunications carriers such as Telmex, we are also in discussions with China Unicom and China Telecom (News - Alert), who have a combined 300 million landline customers. U.S. landline carriers have also been showing a great amount of interest in our products. Interestingly, these major telecom operators are engaging in deep discussions with us on a sales and marketing strategy. We look forward to working collaboratively with each operator and bringing to market this unique device."

Customers are offered a combination of the landline’s clarity and smartphone features with the SmartLinX family of devices, which links a smartphone to a landline. One SmartLinX device can be used by the customers to receive landline and mobile calls, thereby utilizing fewer cellular minutes at home or in the office. All key smartphone devices can work with this product, which eliminates the need for an internet connection. Several patents from AirTouch, including the AirTouch SmartLinX series are currently waiting for the approval from U.S. Patent Office.

Tom Quan, Executive Vice President for Sales and Marketing at AirTouch, said, "With this new SmartLinX device, AirTouch offers a cutting-edge product that improves voice quality in the home or office and offers the convenience of a feature-rich smart phone interface for calls and access to your address book. With SmartLinX users will no longer need to switch from smartphone to landline handsets at home, all the while saving on their mobile minutes."