Anyone heard of this Rainbow initiative?
Regards, Rob
Microcell Unveils Innovative Business Initiative for Developing New-Generation Mobile Data Services
12:22 GMT-04:00 Wednesday, June 13, 2001
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--Microcell Telecommunications Inc., a leading provider of Personal Communications Services (PCS) in Canada, today launched a unique initiative designed to bring together a network of companies to both develop and market commercial mobile data services.
The initiative, named Project Rainbow, will involve a broad group of business partners with a specific interest in developing and delivering mobile services to service providers and, ultimately, to end-users. As the only Canadian operator to deliver a national data network for mobile users based on General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology, Microcell is in a unique position to facilitate this business approach because of the open architecture of its GSM network.
Microcell's goal with Rainbow is to work with other enabling organizations, such as system integrators, network access device and content suppliers, platform and toolkit developers, multimedia technology providers, application developers and domain specialists, to develop commercial mobile applications and deliver them to the market quickly. Together, these companies will be able to offer a broader range of leading-edge wireless Internet products and services to customers faster and cost-effectively.
"Rainbow will be unique in mobilizing and accelerating the creation of new-generation mobile data services," said Mr. AndrA Tremblay, President and Chief Executive Officer of Microcell Telecommunications. "GPRS represents the technology shift that makes the new generation of wireless services available to customers. Microcell's recent launch of GPRS allows us to share the technology's powerful data capabilities and service revenue potential with organizations and innovators that want to create applications for various market segments."
Microcell is committed to accelerating the delivery of new services based on GPRS mobile Internet and short message service (SMS) capabilities. GPRS and data capabilities constitute a new product category in the international wireless industry. According to industry sources, mobile Internet users will reach one billion worldwide by 2005. Canada, one of the most advanced country in the world for Internet usage, is well positioned to be a leader in this emerging market.
"We believe that Rainbow will be the catalyst to accelerate the deployment of value-added mobile solutions. Although Microcell will provide our GSM network for these products and services, the Company's role will be that of an equal participant with the other companies," said Mr. Tremblay.
Microcell is already in discussions with over seventy companies from around the world to form these alliances. Rainbow participants will benefit from access to test beds for accreditation, joint marketing and promotion of these new applications and services. They will also gain the ability to leverage the expertise and resources of other participants and shared R&D costs with Microcell.
Companies interested in finding out about joining Rainbow can write to: project.rainbowmicrocell.ca.
About GPRS
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