Ericsson Press Releases
Ericsson, IBM, Lotus, Oracle, Palm Computing and Symbian in joint initiative to foster Mobile Internet applications
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Date: Friday, October 15 1999
Ericsson and fellow industry leaders IBM, Lotus, Oracle, Palm Computing and
Symbian are joining forces in the GPRS Applications Alliance (GAA), a cross-
industry initiative designed to serve as a catalyst in the advancement of
applications based on the new mobile packet switching technology, GPRS.
GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) introduces packet data to mobile networks
and is a first, vital step for GSM and TDMA operators in the evolution to 3G
(third generation) mobile networks, enabling a range of new and enhanced
services in a mobile environment.
The GAA was established in June with an open invitation to the industry, and
has already performed valuable evaluations on a number of applications.
Ericsson is today announcing IBM, Lotus, Oracle, Palm Computing and Symbian as
the initial participants in the GAA. This alliance is open to any organization
interested in mobile communications, such as software developers, systems
integrators, network operators and other infrastructure vendors as well as
device manufacturers.
Ericsson is initially establishing two application centers; one in Silicon
Valley, California, US and one in 'Mobile Valley', Kista near Stockholm,
Sweden. The new centers provide a unique environment for end-to-end testing of
GPRS applications.
"The commitment by these major players in the industry will certainly add
value and help the rapid take-off of the Mobile Internet applications
market," said Per Nordl”f, General Manager, Packet Switching Systems at
Ericsson Network Operators. "GAA participants are able to test and verify
end-to-end their Mobile Internet solutions and will be in a strong position to
guide the further development of open standards for applications and services.
Ericsson is involved from the infrastructure side and with its WAP-capable
devices, Symbian's EPOC-based devices and other WAP phones and wireless
information devices."
"IBM and Lotus are committed to extend our applications and services beyond
the PC to a new generation of pervasive devices," said Mark Bregman, General
Manager of IBM's Pervasive Computing Division. "GPRS is an important standard
in the evolution of this process of freeing people from their desktops and
allowing them to access their data anytime, anywhere. By allowing mobile users
to be 'always connected' to the network at speeds they are accustomed to in
the office or at home on a PC, GRPS will make using a wireless device for
traditional data services, like e-mail and e-commerce, a more enjoyable and
productive experience."
"Oracle is leading the way with innovative applications for mobile sales and
field service, and we believe that GPRS will be a key enabler for future
wireless solutions," said Mark Barrenechea, Senior Vice President, Oracle
Customer Relationship Management Products. "Through our collaboration with
Ericsson, Oracle is developing solutions that will enable mobile professionals
to have access to customer information any time and anywhere. Critical data
can be available, at their fingertips, through our applications that run on
hand-held devices such as smart phones. This unlimited access to information
is a key competitive advantage for today's e-businesses."
"Joining the GPRS Applications Alliance increases our global competitive
advantage by ensuring that the Palm Computing@ platform, including licensees
and developers, can leverage a cross-industry wireless standard," said Mark
Bercow, Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Platform Development for
Palm Computing, Inc. "GPRS fits into Palm Computing's focus on simplicity,
connectivity and portability, while incorporating wireless capabilities for
high speed networks."
"The GPRS Applications Alliance demonstrates growing evidence of
consolidation in the wireless computing industry. As the leading wireless
platform provider, Symbian provides licensees with a robust yet flexible
solution allowing customization of user interfaces and applications," said
Juha Christensen, Executive Vice President, Symbian. "Symbian provides,
adopts and initiates standards that will drive the wireless data industry.
This further enables the mobile user with compelling services and information,
designed for the new, wireless network economy."
The GAA provides the Mobile Internet applications industry easy access to a
range of services, including training, product verification, consulting and
other information. All of these services will make operators, consultants and
other relevant parties more competitive in the mobile data environment.
Visitors to the GAA home page, at www.gprsworld.com have access to a content-
rich directory of applications. Interested parties can register to participate
in the GAA through on-line registration.
Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with
communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with
freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140
countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers - network
operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers - the world over.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Johan Wiklund, Ericsson Corporate Communications
Phone: +46 70 560 0134; E-mail: johan.wiklund@lme.ericsson.se
Patrik Svensson, Manager of the GAA at Ericsson
Phone: +46 70 986 0699; E-mail: patrik.svensson@era.ericsson.se
Tara Sexton, Director of Communications
Pervasive Computing, IBM
Phone: +1 914 766 3366; E-mail: taras@us.ibm.com
Karen Kazanjian, PR Manager, Lotus
Phone: +1 617 693 7386; E-mail: karen_kazanjian@lotus.com
Julia Rodriguez, Palm Computing, Corporate Communications
Phone: +1 408 326 9390; E-mail: julia_rodriguez@3Com.com
Karen Houston, Manager, Worldwide Public Relations, Applications
Oracle Worldwide Marketing, Oracle
Phone: +1 650 607 0326; E-mail. khouston@us.oracle.com
Paul Cockerton, Symbian Corporate Communications
Phone: +44 171 208 1826; E-mail: Paul.Cockerton@symbian.com
Company Information
About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of
leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM's Pervasive Computing unit has
responsibility for creating e-business solutions that leverage the new class
of connected client devices such as handheld Internet appliances and
screenphones. A key part of the team's mission is furthering the adoption of
open industry standards for pervasive computing to help customers easily
access and act on information whenever and wherever they may be. IBM Sweden
has 2 500 employees and a turnover 1998 of 7.8 billion SEK. IBM can be found
on the Web at ibm.com
About Lotus
Lotus Development Corporation, founded in 1982, is a subsidiary of IBM
Corporation. Lotus sets the standard for truly innovative software products
and services that reflect the company's unique understanding of the new ways
in which individuals and businesses must work together to achieve success.
Lotus is redefining the concept of conducting business through practical
knowledge management, e-business and other ground-breaking ways of connecting
the world's ideas, thinkers, buyers, sellers and communities via the Internet.
Lotus markets its products in more than 80 countries worldwide through direct
and extensive Business Partner channels. The company also provides numerous
professional consulting, support and education services through the Lotus
Professional Services organization.
About Oracle
Oracle Corporation is the world's leading supplier of software for information
management, and the world's second largest software company. With annual
revenues of more than $9.1 billion, the company offers its database,
application server, tools and application products, along with related
consulting, education, and support services, in more than 145 countries around
the world. For more information about Oracle, please call 650/506-7000.
Oracle's World Wide Web address (URL) oracle.com
About Palm Computing, Inc.
Palm Computing, Inc., a 3Com company, is the leading provider of handheld
information management solutions, including the best-selling Palm III , Palm
V and Palm VII series of connected organizers. The Palm Computing© platform
is the industry standard for information management and is the foundation for
the market-leading connected organizers from Palm Computing as well as
products from Palm Computing's strategic partners such as IBM, QUALCOMM,
Franklin Covey and Symbol Technologies. Palm Computing products let people
carry their most critical personal and business information in their pockets,
and access it at any time, anywhere. For more information, please visit
www.palm.com.
¸1999. Palm Computing is a registered trademark and Palm III, Palm V and Palm
VII are trademarks of 3Com or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
About Symbian
Symbian owns, licenses, develops and supports leading software, user
interfaces, application frameworks and development tools for Wireless
Information Devices such as Communicators and Smartphones. Symbian aims to
promote standards for the interoperability of Wireless Information Devices
with wireless networks, content services, and messaging and enterprise wide
solutions. With headquarters in London, Symbian has offices in Tokyo and
Kanazawa, Japan; Ronneby, Sweden; Cambridge, UK and San Francisco Bay Area,
USA. Symbian is owned by Ericsson, Matsushita, Motorola, Nokia and Psion.
Symbian's website can be found at symbian.com |
