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1^st December 2000

First facility for Bluetooth^® test and qualification services in USA

BABT PRODUCT SERVICE, INC. AND 7 LAYERS AG, PARTNER TO PROVIDE FIRST NORTH AMERICAN TEST AND QUALIFICATION SERVICE FOR BLUETOOTH^®-ENABLED DEVICES.

Santa Clara, CA
BABT Product Service, Inc., (BABT PS) providers of world-wide testing, certification and approvals management services, and 7 layers AG, a global provider of development, testing and qualification services for the wireless communications industry, announced today the completion of the first North American facility built exclusively for final test and qualification of Bluetooth^® wireless technology products. By virtue of 7 layers' proven Bluetooth^® experience and proprietary testing methodology, BABT PS will begin product testing in December, 2000.

The new BABT PS Bluetooth^® laboratory features a suite of highly specialized Rhode & Schwarz test and measurement equipment. The laboratory has been built in response to the explosive demand for new products featuring Bluetooth^® technology and is now part of BABT Product Service's comprehensive telecoms, EMC, radio, and product safety test facilities.
7 layers currently operates a Bluetooth^® test facility in Germany and manages several client owned test facilities in Europe and Asia. Successful testing at the Santa Clara facility enables manufacturers to attain formal qualification and have their products bear the Bluetooth^® trademark.

"To further strengthen our position as a global certification leader, our customers can now take advantage of Bluetooth^® testing as part of a 'single-source' test and qualification solution" states John C. Vecchi, Manager, U.S. Sales & Marketing for BABT Product Service. "The anticipated net effect for our Bluetooth^® customers is a significantly accelerated approvals process, reduced qualification costs and faster time-to-market in the US and in other global markets" Vecchi continues.

BABT Product Service's Bluetooth^® facility is slated to be one of the first North American labs recognized as a formal Bluetooth^® Qualified Test Facility (BQTF). "In a proactive move to anticipate and support market requirements, we will provide our North American customers with a world-class service", states John Alves, CEO of BABT Product Service. "Our status as a Bluetooth^® test and qualification facility will serve as a valuable adjunct to our existing analog, digital, wireless and RF product certification offerings", explains Alves.

This co-operative effort combines decades of experience in the telecommunications and wireless technology industries. "In an effort to make the Bluetooth^® wireless technology successful, it is necessary to guarantee the conformity of each individual product. This will ensure smooth communication between products of various manufactures" states Dr. Hans-Juergen Meckelburg, member of the board of 7 layers. 7 layers will set-up and support the BABT PS Bluetooth^® test facility with the same degree of innovation, automation and responsiveness to new technology as their German-based lab.

"7 layers operates a GSM test facility in Irvine, CA that will compliment the BABT PS Bluetooth^® test facility, thus providing a more complete range of test services for wireless communications products" explains Mr. James Cunningham, technical manager and Bluetooth^® Qualification Body (BQB) at 7 layers, Inc. in Irvine.

BABT PS will be hosting tours of the new Santa Clara test facility on December 7th, 2000, during the Bluetooth^® Developers Conference in San Jose, CA. "We believe our diversified global experience delivers an integrated product qualification solution for companies wishing to compete in the growing Bluetooth^® arena, as well as in DSL, GSM and other complimentary markets", states John C. Vecchi.

About BABT Product Service
B A B T Product Service is a T Ü V Sueddeutschland - B A B T C o m p a n y.
The company is a leading supplier of test & certification solutions enabling manufacturers of telecommunications, radio and IT equipment to gain access to world markets. They also provide ISO 9000 & T L 9000 quality system registration, global approvals management, as well as billing systems services to network operators. The company maintains offices in the U.S., Germany, the U.K., and the Pacific Rim. North American headquarters are at 4855 Patrick Henry Drive, Building 6, Santa Clara, CA 95054 and the East Coast office is located at 7 Sterling Road, N. Billerica, MA 01862.
BABT Product Service may be reached by phone at +1 800 609 1287, by Email at america@babtps.com , or on the Internet at www.babtps.com

About 7 layers
7 layers supports developers and manufacturers of new communications technologies from technology development right through to qualification of chipsets, software, modules or end-user products. 7 layers has three authorized Bluetooth^® Qualification Bodies (BQB) located in the USA and in Germany. The company is an active contributor to the Bluetooth^® Special Interest Group (SIG) and has played an important role in the development of the Bluetooth^® test & qualification program. The company maintains offices in the U.S. and Germany. U.S. headquarters are at 8 Pasteur, Suite 110, Irvine, CA 92618-3807. Phone at 949 789 7543.