Re: SIM for Global Roaming for iDEN mobile phones (Nextel)
GEMPLUS SMART CARDS TO ENABLE INTERNATIONAL ROAMING FOR NEXTEL SUBSCRIBERS
February 29, 2000 - Wireless 2000 - NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)
Gemplus Corporation and Nextel Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:NXTL) today announced a multi-year agreement under which Gemplus will provide smart card-based Subscriber Identity Modules (SIM) that will enable Nextel to offer international roaming service using dual mode GSM900/iDEN mobile phones.
SIM cards are widely used internationally by mobile phone services to secure access to the communications services, store network information in the phone, and manage personalized subscriber data and applications. Nextel will utilize Gemplus SIM cards to provide its customers with a dual-mode phone that can access iDEN(R) (integrated Digital Enhanced Network) 800 MHz in North and South America and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) 900 MHz-based networks that are prevalent in, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Asia.
"International roaming capabilities are a crucial requirement for today's business travelers seeking greater mobility to operate in the global economy. By working with Gemplus to integrate smart card technology, Nextel plans to begin offering its worldwide service during 2000 with one phone, one number, worldwide," said Mark Schweitzer, vice president marketing, Nextel Communications.
Since 1988, Gemplus has provided over 250 wireless operators with SIM cards, services and software. Initially specified as part of the GSM international telecommunications standard, SIM technology today is used to customize mobile phones utilizing various telecommunications standards including PCS, satellite, and others.
"This represents a tremendous commitment by a U.S. mobile network services provider to adopt SIM technology and expand its reach to accommodate the needs of international travelers," said Jean Louis Carrara, director Telecom Marketing for Gemplus Americas. "Smart cards are at the heart of much of the world's mobile telecommunications services, providing not only secure network access and roaming, but also the ability to provide secure value-added services. New applications are being developed rapidly to utilize SIM cards to enable wireless Internet browsing, mobile commerce and banking applications. We are pleased to have been selected by Nextel Communications to help them benefit from this value-adding technology."
Gemplus has a record of innovations in the mobile phone market, including products and technologies such as the development environment GemXplore CASE, the remote SIM management platform, GemXplore Suite and Java Card(TM) SIMs.
About Nextel
Nextel Communications Inc., headquartered in Reston, Va. is a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications and has built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the United States that covers thousands of communities across the United States. Nextel and Nextel Partners Inc. currently serve 94 of the top 100 U.S. markets. The Nextel National Network offers a fully integrated wireless communications tool with digital cellular, text/numeric paging and Nextel Direct Connect(R) -- a digital two-way radio feature. In addition, through Nextel International Inc., Nextel has wireless operations and investments in Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, the Philippines, Peru, Japan and Shanghai, China. Please visit our web page at nextel.com.
About Gemplus
Gemplus S.A. (www.gemplus.com) is the world's leading provider of plastic and smart card-based solutions with 37% market share (by units sold, source: Dataquest 1998). Gemplus sells magnetic stripe cards, memory and microprocessor-based smart cards, smart contactless cards, electronic tags and smart objects. The company designs and markets software, development tools and readers. Gemplus also provides consulting, training and personalization services to deliver the industry's most comprehensive and flexible card-based solutions to its developers, distributors, partners and customers.
With sales of approximately $US800 million in 1999, Gemplus employs more than 5,600 people in 14 manufacturing facilities, 7 R&D centers and more than 40 sales and marketing offices located in more than 30 countries around the world. Founded in 1988, Gemplus has successfully implemented portable and secure smart card-based solutions to simplify applications such as public and wireless communications, financial transactions, loyalty, transportation, education, healthcare, identity, physical access control, pay TV, electronic commerce, Internet security, logical access control and information technology. For more information: www.gemplus.com.
Note to Editors: Gemplus is a registered trademark and GemXplore is a trademark of Gemplus. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. <<<
Note I've posted a series of posts to myself on the general subject of SIM cards so if you trace the links back from this post to # 113 you will find more posts on SIM cards.
- Eric - |
