OPENWAVE ANNOUNCES ALLIANCES WITH KEY WIRELESS DATA PARTNERS
Digital Bridges, End2End, InfoSpace, IN-FUSIO, and MForma are Marquee Partners Providing Downloadable Content and Services to Openwave Mobile Data Infrastructure Platform
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - October 17, 2002-- Openwave Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: OPWV), the worldwide leader of open IP-based communication infrastructure software and applications, today announced alliances with key wireless data partners Digital Bridges, End2End, InfoSpace, IN-FUSIO, and MForma as part of the Openwave® Mobile Connect Program, also announced today. Openwave Mobile Connect, the newest leg of the Openwave Developer Network, gathers and feeds a variety of Java and multimedia content and services to the Openwave Mobile Data Infrastructure Platform, providing an end-to-end mobile solution including Java™ J2ME™ applications, games, ring tones, images and more—on mobile devices.
“By providing a wide variety of easy to access quality downloadable content - - everybody wins,” said Gina Centoni, vice president of developer marketing, Openwave. “The bottom line is increased subscriber satisfaction and usage which in turn means increased revenue for mobile operators as well as content and service providers.”
Openwave Mobile Connect offers a three-pronged approach for building successful and comprehensive offerings for mobile operators:
Mobile Infrastructure: Including Openwave Download Manager, a complete Java Vending Machine solution that manages the purchase and delivery of content. Content is also qualified, certified and delivered over the air. Billing, auditing and reporting tools are built-in.
Aggregated Content: mobile operators can select hosted or non-hosted content based on subscriber preferences.
Tailored Marketing Programs: includes coordinated go-to-market strategies, global roll-outs and introductions to mobile operators.
Openwave is actively searching worldwide for additional content partners to include in the program.
Subscribers benefit by having access to a wider variety of quality content and applications in a secure manner, enabling them to turn their mobile phones into personal appliances. Content and service partners and developers gain by being able to offer content to users through a new avenue. Mobile operators benefit by having an out of the box solution to provide varied, up to the minute content without having to seek out and qualify the content themselves.
Marquee Content & Service Partners
The first four content and service providers to join this global program are UK-based Digital Bridges; End2End, based in Denmark; IN-FUSIO, based in France; as well as InfoSpace and MForma, both based in Washington State.
Digital Bridges
Digital Bridges brings the mobile entertainment to more than 45 operators, portals and other mobile content distributors worldwide representing over 278 million subscribers. The company possesses a unique combination of mobile technology, development and publishing expertise, and works with many of the world’s leading media and entertainment brands including Star Trek, Big Brother, Scooby-Doo, Thunderbirds, Cartoon Network, Men in Black, The Weakest Link, Space Invaders, EA Sports FIFA 2003 and EA SPORTS Tiger Woods.
"The Openwave Download Manager streamlines content delivery to mobile phones in a new way," said Brian Greasley, Chief Executive Officer of Digital Bridges. "Everyone benefits – content publishers like us, mobile operators and most of all, consumers."
End2End
End2End is a Mobile Application Infrastructure Provider (MAIP) operating a carrier-grade network of data centers from which it delivers managed data services, technology hosting and outsourcing services to operators, portals and other companies. End2End’s outsourced mobile application infrastructure enables operators to reduce time to market without sacrificing the reliability of a carrier-grade platform.
"Openwave Download Manager is an excellent way for a wide variety of content to be delivered to mobile phones," said Atte Miettinen, Chief Marketing Officer of End2End. “Openwave Download Manager extends our managed service offering to the mobile operator community which can now source a turnkey download solution as a service from us.”
InfoSpace
InfoSpace Wireless develops, delivers and supports managed wireless data solutions that make it possible for carriers to deploy compelling, revenue-generating mobile service offerings to their subscribers. InfoSpace’s robust tools and reporting capabilities help carriers to monitor usage patterns and tailor services to optimize the end-user experience. InfoSpace mobile applications and services can be provisioned and deployed across a wide range of current and next generation network and device standards, including WAP, SMS, WAP-push, SS7 signaling, voice (VXML), BREW and J2ME.
“This agreement reflects InfoSpace’s ongoing efforts to extend our success providing proven mobile applications and services based on push-messaging standards, such as SMS, to other operating environments including Java and BREW,” said InfoSpace Executive Vice President, Wireless, Jan Claesson. “By bundling our Java applications into leading download environments such as Openwave’s and offering increased integration and management capabilities with our push messaging solutions, we are helping to take mobile data applications to the next level of usability for our partners and their customers.”
IN-FUSIO
IN-FUSIO is a mobile games service provider that offers a global gaming solution to wireless operators such as Vodafone, Orange, Telefonica and China Mobile. IN-FUSIO offers platform services, a downloadable games catalogue and game center management (contests, prizes, etc.) IN-FUSIO works with major licensors such as Vivendi Universal Games International, Viacom and Studio Canal to bring games such as Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Terminator, and Charmed to wireless phones. IN-FUSIO now has more than one million game sessions played and paid for every month and increases operators’ ARPU up to eight percent.
"IN-FUSIO is pleased to reinforce its alliance with Openwave through the involvement with Openwave Download Manager,” said Giles Corbett, Managing Director of IN-FUSIO. For IN-FUSIO, it means simplified access to the Java games market. As IN-FUSIO is a games service provider with high expertise in Java download platform management, Openwave's program appears to us as an additional and great opportunity to diversify our revenues and our access to an enlarged end-user base.”
Mforma Group
Mforma Group provides content, technology and wireless data management services to the world’s leading carriers reaching over 300 million subscribers. Mforma’s customers include Cingular Wireless, AT&T Wireless, Verizon, Telefonica, Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile, Sprint PCS, Nextel, Alltel, Telstra, Telus, Bell Mobility, Airtel Movil, Radiolinja, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom and T-Motion – and collectively serve 90 percent of wireless subscribers in the U.S. and 70 percent of wireless subscribers in Europe. Mforma’s content catalog presents over 250 of the most compelling SMS, MMS, WAP and Java games and entertainment applications, selected from over 300 leading content developers in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Mforma Group offers Java and MMS Quick Start programs that include best-of-breed titles, a proven platform, total content management services, companion Web sites and branded content such as Spiderman®, Rat Race®, Top Gun® and Britney Spears Crossroads™ titles.
“Clearly the emergence of Java and MMS as new revenue opportunities is upon us,” stated David Bluhm, EVP Corporate Development at Mforma. “The combination of Mforma’s Java and MMS Quick Start programs and Openwave’s strength in both MMS and Java infrastructure gives a carrier great confidence and instant market access through a single partner relationship. Through this alliance, Mforma can be even more responsive to carriers looking to immediately build successful J2ME and MMS revenues.”
About Openwave Download Manager
The release of Openwave Download Manager (ODM) combines Openwave’s experience with pioneering technology acquired from Ellipsus Systems, the developer of the original reference implementation of the Java™ Vending Machine (JSR-124). Openwave Download Manager provides a broad range of powerful and unique features that manage the delivery of Java applications and popular multimedia content from any developer around the world. In conjunction with the use of Openwave’s industry leading mobile handset browser v6.1, millions of wireless subscribers can now personalize their mobile phones and simplify the experience of accessing and downloading existing and new applications including ring tones, snapshots, wallpapers and screen savers.
About Openwave
Openwave Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: OPWV) is the worldwide leader of open IP-based communication infrastructure software and applications. Openwave is a global company headquartered in Redwood City, California. For more information, please visit www.openwave.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements relating to expectations, plans or prospects for Openwave Systems Inc. that are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of Openwave's management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. In particular, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: (a) the ability to realize our strategic objectives by taking advantage of market opportunities in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; (b) the ability to make changes in business strategy, development plans and product offerings to respond to the needs of our current, new and potential customers, suppliers and strategic partners; (c) risks associated with the development and licensing of software generally, including potential delays in software development and technical difficulties that may be encountered in the development or use of our software; (d) the effects of our restructurings and the ability to successfully support our operations; (e) the potential negative reaction by our customers to our reduced size and market capitalization; (f) the ability to recruit and retain qualified, experienced employees; (g) the willingness of communication service providers to invest and improve their data networks; (h) the ability to successfully partner with other companies; (i) the ability to acquire additional companies and technologies and integrate such acquisitions; (j) increased global competition; (k) technological changes and developments; (l) general risks of the Internet and wireless and wireline telecommunications sectors; and (m) the uncertain economic and political climate in the United States and throughout the rest of the world and the potential that such climate may deteriorate further.
For a detailed discussion of these and other cautionary statements, please refer to the risk factors discussed in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including but not limited to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002. All documents also are available through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov or from Openwave's Web site at www.openwave.com. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements included in this document. |
