Precisa has announced the Secufone, a mobile phone with a personal alarm and service button. The Secufone is aimed at a cross-section of the community including care associations, nursing homes, the elderly and other users who need location information, including security firms.

With its GPS/GSM functionality and personal alarm system, the Secufone is an easy-to-use tri-band mobile phone. By pressing the red alarm button, users of the Secufone are connected to an associated call-centre. A hands-free speech connection is then available so the user can explain their situation; the call-centre can take the appropriate action to arrange assistance. The Sarantel antenna enables the call centre to pinpoint the user to within 5 metres of their location.

The Secufone has an interactive full colour screen, and it only uses four large buttons. Produced in Switzerland, the Secufone will be available for sale in Europe and the US from August 2004.

Precisa selected Sarantel to supply its global positioning system (GPS) antenna. Precisa's CEO Rudolf Huber said: "The GPS functionality of the Secufone, is a key feature of the mobile phone. "

GSM Triband (900/1800/1900 mHz.)

Handsfree

GPRS

GPS functionality

Large transflective full colour touch screen

Alarm button

Ring tones,

Vibrator and light signal

Standby time (active GPS, fix every 5 seconds) nominal 24 hours

Talk time 300 minutes

Battery charge time 3 hours

USB connection (1.1)