Corsair Communications Announces February Release Date for Second-Generation PhonePrint; New version of cellular fraud-fighting system boasts roaming fraud solution, smaller packaging.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 1995--Corsair Communications has announced a February release date for version 2.0 of their PhonePrint cellular fraud control system.

The new version will feature several advanced solutions for roaming fraud, as well as a smaller hardware package for easier installation and maintenance-dubbed the PhonePrint 1000 series system.

"Roaming fraud is a growing problem in the cellular industry, and we're addressing that directly in our new release of PhonePrint software," said Corsair's president and CEO, Mary Ann Byrnes. "Version 2.0 networks together distant cellular markets to protect carriers from fraud committed in other markets. With a connected network of PhonePrint systems, cellular carriers will be able to shut down both major forms of cloning fraud-home and roaming."

PhonePrint release 2.0 takes a two-pronged approach to roaming, offering both networked connection between markets and capabilities for detecting fraudulent roamers in a stand-alone mode. The networking feature connects PhonePrint systems in any number of markets, allowing the serving market and the roamer's home market to share RF information on demand. With networking, the system can extend RF fraud protection to the serving market in near-real time.

To deal with roamers from markets outside the PhonePrint web of protection, the system combines RF techniques with behavior-based profiling to shut down the majority of roamer fraud.

"PhonePrint's new stand-alone roaming capabilities are much more than a second line of defense," said Corsair's vice president of marketing, David Thompson. "They're a very powerful set of tools for protecting a market from roaming fraud right away, even before a substantial network of RF systems is in place."

Corsair has also greatly reduced the size of the cell site hardware package for what is called the PhonePrint 1000 series system. The new unit mounts neatly into a standard 19-inch rack, and takes up less than 11 inches of rack space.

"At most carriers' cell sites, space is at a premium, so size and weight reductions were key for this second-generation system," said Thompson. "Easy and unobtrusive installation is an important advantage for PhonePrint, and we want to continue strengthening that advantage."

PhonePrint is the only RF-based cellular fraud control system installed operationally today. With a tested effectiveness against fraud of over 95 percent and good customer impact of less than one-half percent, PhonePrint is cutting off fraud now in some of the country's most challenging cellular markets. To date, PhonePrint has disconnected over 20 million fraudulent call attempts in Los Angeles and New York.

With core expertise in radio signal analysis and wireless spectrum technology, Corsair Communications develops and provides technology-intensive application solutions to the wireless telecommunications industry.

CONTACT: Corsair Communications

Bill Taliaferro, 415/842-3263