A Menu of New Services Allows Operators To Provide A Profitable Personalised
Experience To Internet-Enabled Mobile Consumers
CANNES, France, 3GSM World Congress, Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Motorola today announced that mmO2 will be the first European operator to
trial its new Mobile Services Cafe - a complete mobile entertainment and
business proposition. source O2, the mmO2 unit set up to launch externally
developed applications over its networks, will trial the service, initially
concentrating on the Motorola infotainment platform, a key part of the Mobile
Services Cafe solution that will eventually enable mmO2 to deploy a wide
portfolio of SMS, WAP and J2ME wireless games content, as well as M-Services
downloads to its customers.
Motorola's Mobile Services Cafe comprises of a rich menu of mobile
services, applications and middleware to meet the needs of network operators.
It allows them to offer their mobile consumers a selection of Internet-enabled
customisable content and services that help transform their device into an
"extension" of their personality and preferences. Operators can choose which
applications are appropriate for their business, which in turn can be promoted
under the operator's own brand. The solutions are available on a managed
service basis or as platforms and content deployed within the operator
environment.
"Co-operation with Motorola has been really excellent," said Dave Booth,
Vice President 3G and Strategic Projects at mmO2. "Motorola was an early
infrastructure partner to source O2 and now its Mobile Services Cafe platform
is the first to be trialled at the new source O2 'technical hub'."
The Mobile Services Cafe is undergoing trial at source O2's 'technical
hub' in Marlow, which contains fully resilient replica 2G, 2.5G and (in time)
3G networks, on which developers can integrate, test and launch their
applications. The Mobile Services Cafe will be the first of many Service
Enabling Platforms trialled at the source O2 hub; developers can also gain
access to these platforms.
The games and entertainment applications support existing SMS and WAP
devices, as well as services for 2002 devices, specifically J2ME and
M-Services download content and are delivered in a secure wireless
environment.
"Motorola is delighted to be working with mmO2 in this critical area of
the mobile content market," said Mike Bordelon, Corporate Vice President and
General Manager of Motorola's Internet Software and Content Group. "The
operator community is demanding solutions that make the mobile communications
experience relevant to daily life, easy-to-use and fun. Motorola's Mobile
Services Cafe provides them with the ability to implement the service they
want, strengthen their brand name, take advantage of new revenue streams and
enhance customer loyalty."
"We hope to provide operators with the opportunity to establish a firm
strategic position within the mobile entertainment arena. The wireless games
market is predicted to be worth more than $6 billion (US) by 2004 and the
Mobile Services Cafe is geared to help operators maximise these revenues,"
Bordelon added.
When Mobile Services Cafe is deployed on a Managed Service basis, the
business model is one of a shared risk and reward scheme. Motorola will host
the service with applications from Motorola and also the operators' chosen
content and will share in the success of the venture. This model reduces the
financial risk to the operator while enabling them to concentrate on and add
value to their business.
As an alternative, Motorola will supply, deploy and support the technology
behind the operator's portal. It will derive revenue from the sale of the
Motorola Mobile Services Cafe toolkit of services, bundled with the systems
integration that carriers can use to customise, install and maintain the
solution set they choose.
About Motorola
Motorola, Inc (NYSE: MOT) is a global leader in providing integrated
communications and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2001 were $30
billion. For more information about Motorola, please visit -
http://www.motorola.com
About mmO2
mmO2 has 100% ownership of mobile network operators in four countries: the
UK (BT Cellnet), Germany (Viag Interkom), the Netherlands (Telfort Mobiel),
and Ireland (Digifone). Additionally it has operations on the Isle of Man
(Manx Telecom) and a leading European mobile internet portal business, Genie.
mmO2 was the first company in the world to launch and rollout a commercial
GPRS (or 2.5G) network and has secured third generation mobile telephony
("3G") licences in the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany. mmO2 also expects to
apply for a 3G licence in Ireland, where the licence competition was launched
on 18 December 2001.
mmO2 has approximately 17.25 million customers and over 15,000 employees,
with revenues for the year ended 31 March 2001 of #3.2 billion. Data
represented 12.8% of total service revenues in the quarter ending December 31,
2001.
About source O2
source O2 (formerly known as Expidas) is a mmO2 initiative, which can
provide wireless application developers with the opportunity to launch their
products on mmO2's 2G, 2.5G and (in time) 3G networks, as well as Genie, the
mobile internet portal.
Successful developers will gain access to dedicated facilities at Ealing
Studios in west London, and a technical and commercial team to help get their
product through testing and integration to commercial launch. Ealing is
connected via high-speed link to a 'technical hub' in Marlow housing replica
2G, 2.5G networks and Service Enabling Platforms.
Developers should register their details on the source O2 web site to
start the process. The web site also contains technical data, white papers and
information on training, consultancy and testing connection to GPRS.
http://www.sourceo2.com
MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent &
Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their
respective owners. Java and all other Java-based marks are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other
countries.
SOURCE Motorola
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Related links:
http://www.sourceo2.com
http://www.motorola.com http://www.gsmworldcongress.com
CONTACT:
Patrick Hamilton, Mobile, +44 0 7715 175043,
Email, patrick.hamilton@motorola.com , or David Rudd, Mobile,
+1-847-809-4328, Email, david.rudd@motorola.com , both of
Motorola; or Duncan Burns, +44 20 7973 5946, Email,
dburns@hillandknowlton.com , Mireille Aspin, +44 20 7973 4487,
maspin@hillandknowlton.com , or Molly McMahon, +1-202-944-5171,
or Email, mmcmahon@hillandknowlton.com , all of Hill and
Knowlton; or Jenny Gray of Bite Communications for source O2,
0208 741 1123, Email, jennyg@bitepr.com
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