Mark,
I'm not a real "techno-wizard" but here goes...
Are they going to change and will it matter if a system is GSM, TDMA, or CDMA?
The next version of PHCM's software, expected to be available later this year, supports the following:
CDMA, TDMA, iDEN (integrated digital enhanced network), PHS (personal handyphone system), GSM, CDPD (cellular digital packet data) and PDC (personal digital cellular).
Is is simply a way of describing the server side of their standard business?
The UP.Link Server Suite connects data-enabled wireless telephones to applications and content hosted by Web servers on the internet or private intranets. It also provides network operators with subscriber provisioning and network management functions on a scalable platform.
The server suite consists of:
1. Gateway which provides the network-layer functions and connects internet & intranet-based services to wireless networks and wireless telephones. Connects the multiple protocols for wireless data communications to the open standards of the internet.
2. Administration provides a control system to keep the network operator's internet-based network components up and running, assess system status and provision new subscribers. PAPI (Provisioning Application Programming Interface) enables integration of the UP.Link with the network operator's existing customer care, help desk and billing systems.
3. Services provide an open application programming framework with interfaces (API's) that standardize the interaction with applications.
Services include:
Push Server
Fax Server
Identity Server [maintains subscriber registry that retains users' settings and allows usage tracking]
Content Translation Framework [forward & backward compatibility of content formats between different generations of browsers and wireless telephones. Translates between international character sets in real-time. Translates standard HTML web pages into WML (Wireless Markup Language) pages for viewing on wireless telephones]
Application Registry provides a structure for the interoperability of different applications. "For example, third-party applications can retrieve and store contact records in the UP.Organizer's address book or pass an email address to UP.Mail." [from the prospectus]
4. Applications which include UP.Mail, UP.Organizer and UP.Web
There is a standard in the works that could give PHCM a very powerful position, assuming they can have a patent or whatever that allows them to control this market.
PHCM, as previously posted, holds two patents. The first relates to two-way communications between browser-enabled wireless devices and wireless networks. Expires 2015. The second relates to the storage of frequently used links to internet-based url's on a remote server. Expires 2017. They had one patent application with allowed claims and have 58 pending U.S. patent applications as well as the foreign counterparts. "In addition, we rely on a combination of copyright and trademark laws, trade secrets, confidentiality provisions and other contractual provisions to protect our proprietary rights..." [from the prospectus]
They license their intellectual property to other WAP members to the extent that the license is required to develop noninfringing products under the WAP Forum specifications. Each member of the WAP Forum has entered into a reciprocal agreement.
Hope this is appropriately helpful. |
