Andrew Wireless announced a hybrid location-finding feature for 3G networks which the company says will improve accuracy and coverage in E911 services.

The company’s Mobile Location Center products already use hybrid methods for 2G networks, but until now only offered individual methods for 3G.  Hybrid methods are especially useful for situations where geography and other adverse conditions hinder responders’ technological access.

Methods now included in the hybrid version include Control Plane (CoPL) and Secure User Plane (SUPL), A-GPS, cell identity (CID), enhanced cell identity (E-CID), uplink time difference of arrival (U-TDOA) and RF pattern discrimination.

Andrew Wireless, of Westchester, Ill., is a subsidiary of CommScope.  Its target customers are major North American carriers, competing against Berwyn, Penn.-based TruePosition and others.