LOWELL, Mass., August 6, 2007 - Tyco Electronics announced today that its M/A-COM business, a worldwide leader of critical radio communications systems, has introduced the VIDA Transcoder, a device that converts and integrates voice communications across the multiple air interface technologies. Supported by the M/A-COM VIDA (Voice Interoperability Data Access) network, the VIDA Transcoder uses parametric conversion to directly convert among digital voice communication formats. This enables quicker, more direct communications between users of different interface technologies while preserving voice quality. The VIDA Transcoder provides critical capability to large-scale systems such as New York's Statewide Wireless Network (SWN).

"With the increase in the number of large-scale public safety communications systems across the nation, it is imperative that different communication interfaces easily and quickly integrate with each other, especially in emergency situations," said Dennis Maddox, manager, Systems, Switching and Management Products, Tyco Electronics. "The VIDA Transcoder converts voice communications from one digital format to another without first converting to an analog signal, thus preserving voice quality and improving network response time. This is a crucial technical offering that will effectively facilitate mission-critical communications in any large-scale network that uses multiple voice interfaces."

Based on the M/A-COM VIDA network platform, the VIDA Transcoder supports multiple voice communications formats, including IMBE (P25 IP, EDACS), AMBE+ (OpenSky), AMBE+2 (Phase 2 P25 IP, OpenSky) and ADPCM (EDACS, NetworkFirst). Using parametric conversion the VIDA Transcoder converts voice communication within the "xMBE" families without having to convert voice to analog. The VIDA Transcoder also features built-in redundancy and supports encrypted voice and sharing by multiple agencies or agency-dedicated servers

The M/A-COM VIDA network platform is a cost-effective, IP-based interoperable radio communications technology. It provides a full IP management platform including interoperability without intervention of console operators, IP consoles, networking technology for both the P25 phase I and P25 phase II standards, plus many other benefits inherent in open IP architecture systems.

Tyco Electronics' M/A-COM business is a leading supplier of critical communications systems and equipment for public safety, utility, federal and select commercial markets. M/A-COM products range from some of the most advanced IP-based voice and data networks, to traditional wireless systems that offer customers the highest levels of reliability, interoperability, scalability and security. Tyco Electronics is also a recognized leader in the design and manufacture of M/A-COM radio frequency (RF), microwave and millimeter wave solutions for the commercial wireless telecommunications, aerospace and defense industries. More information about M/A-COM solutions can be found on the Web at www.macom.com or www.macom-wireless.com.