More expansion into wireless.
--
COMPAQ: Compaq breaks new
ground with mobile commerce
solution for wireless transactions;
Compaq first to deliver end-to-end
solution for wireless mobile
commerce
M2 Communications - Thursday, March 02, 2000
MAR 2, 2000, M2 Communications - Extending its NonStop eBusiness solutions
expertise into the burgeoning wireless Internet market, Compaq today
announced the industry's first end-to-end, business-grade wireless solution for
service providers. It enables mobile customers using handheld devices to
receive Internet-based data and to actually complete commercial transactions
reliably and securely.
The Compaq Mobile Internet Platform is a next-generation mobile commerce
solution that incorporates advanced middleware, including Wireless Application
Protocol (WAP) technology, which enables wirefree users to trade stocks, make
point-of-sale purchases, exchange e-mail, and complete business-to-business
transactions.
The solution announced today is part of Compaq's broader wireless Internet
strategy to give mobile business users and consumers 'everywhere, everyway'
wirefree access to Internet-based data and voice services. As part of the
end-to-end solution, Compaq will provide systems and business application
integration, support, and portal/content relationships.
To complete its fully packaged, end-to-end solution, Compaq is delivering
powerful handheld devices that customers use to access the new wireless
services. In a related announcement today, Compaq announced its
WAP-enabled Wireless Connectivity Suite, a handset that enables end users to
browse the Internet, exchange e-mails via short messaging service (SMS)
technology, and send documents to a fax machine. The suite includes an
award-winning Aero 1500 or 2100 palm-size PC, a connecting cable, a WAP
browser, Web browser, and fax software.
The Compaq Mobile Internet Platform is aimed at service providers worldwide,
including major telecommunications carriers, wireless applications service
providers (WASPs), Internet service providers (ISPs), and others who are focused
on attracting and keeping new customers with innovative, revenue-producing
wireless services.
Wireless Internet transactions are complex and require the very highest levels of
mission-critical availability, scalability, data integrity and security. The Compaq
Mobile Internet Platform leverages the company's traditional strengths in these
areas, as well as its convergent experience in both telecommunications
infrastructure and financial services.
Neil Dagger, Snr Product Manager, Displays & Peripherals Division, Compaq,
said: "As convergence accelerates, we're seeing a dramatic transformation in the
way people use the Internet. Analysts foresee that in five years, almost 830
million wireless devices will be accessing the Internet, making them the access
devices of choice.
"Increasingly, those mobile users will want to make purchases and complete
commercial transactions. That means money changing hands in real time,
securely and without fail. This has always been Compaq's core strength, and
today's announcement extends this heritage into the wireless Internet market."
Compaq Solution to Incorporate TANTAU's WAP-Enabled Platform
At the heart of Compaq's Mobile Internet Platform is robust, wireless Internet
software provided by TANTAU, which makes Internet applications available to
wireless devices such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants and
pagers. TANTAU's comprehensive solution is the first to allow enterprises to take
full advantage of the mobile commerce revolution without sacrificing security,
scalability or a direct link to the customer. TANTAU's wireless Internet platform
features multiple protocol support (WAP 1.1, SMS, HTTP), gateways for
integration with back-end applications and data sources, and the ability to create
personalised applications based on user preference.
Under a recent strategic agreement with TANTAU, Compaq will develop, market
and support applications built on the TANTAU wireless Internet platform.
Compaq Solution Delivers Flexibility and Performance Needed by Service
Providers
Beyond WAP, Compaq's Mobile Internet Platform will support emerging
standards, such as Global Packet Radio Switching (GPRS), Bluetooth and
Unified Mobile Telephony Services (UMTS), as they come to market.
Service providers will also have the flexibility to build this solution on any of
Compaq's proven communications hardware platforms, depending on their
individual needs. The Compaq Mobile Internet Platform is available immediately
on Compaq NonStop Himalaya systems and later in April on its AlphaServer
systems running Tru64 UNIX.
Compaq's Mobile Internet Platform is optimized for what service providers need to
profitably deliver wireless Internet services to their subscribers: 1) continuous
availability even with extremely high transaction volume; 2) seamless scalability
to grow from tens of thousands of subscribers to tens of millions; 3) transaction
security; and 4) tight linkage with back-end business applications, databases,
and content portals.
Notes to editors:
Compaq is a founding member of the Mobile Wireless Internet Forum (MWIF).
Compaq will demonstrate this solution as well as advanced capabilities of its
Aero-based Wireless Connectivity Suite at its booth (#8247, Hall J) at CTIA
Wireless 2000 in New Orleans, USA.
For additional information, please visit
compaq.com
Company Background
Compaq is the second-largest computer company in the world and a leading
provider of hardware, software, solutions and services to provide customers with
competitive business advantage in today's Non-Stop eBusiness world.
Compaq was established in the UK in 1984 and is headquartered in Richmond,
Surrey. Its products and services are sold and supported through a network of
marketing partners across the UK.
Customer advice, reseller locations and information about Compaq and its
products can be found at compaq.co.uk or by calling the Compaq Call
Centre on 0845 270 4000. This is the Compaq UK telephone number for
publication (all clients are charged at local rates).
Compaq, Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names
mentioned herein may be trademarks and / or registered trademarks of their
respective companies. This release contains forward-looking statements based
on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The
potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially include the failure of systems associated with order fulfillment; the
failure to close certain contemplated sales; changes in product mix; inventory
risks due to shifts in market demand; continued competitive factors and pricing
pressures; and market responses to pricing actions and promotional programs.
Further information on the factors that could affect Compaq's financial results are
included in its SEC filings, including the annual report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1998, and the latest quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
About TANTAU Software Inc.
TANTAU Software, Inc. is the first provider of software and services that enable
enterprises to conduct high-volume secure mobile e-commerce transactions
while maintaining direct access to their customer. Founded in February 1999 by
a core team of developers from the Tandem Division of Compaq Computer
Corporation, TANTAU's technology and experience is applied to solving mobile
e-commerce requirements, including scalability, security, availability and
transaction integrity. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, TANTAU is a global
company with development and sales offices around the world, including
Australia, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United
States. For more information, visit TANTAU at tantau.com. |
