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Technology Stocks : Phone.com [PHCM] -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Mark Oliver who wrote (140)7/19/1999 9:39:00 PM
From: pat mudge  Respond to of 1080
 
Mark --

I can't answer your questions as I'm really not qualified on the GSM, TDMA, CDMA issues for mobile devices.

I'm sure there are others who'll jump in and share what they know.

I agree it's good to have BEL and MOT supporting PHCM.

Pat



To: Mark Oliver who wrote (140)7/19/1999 9:48:00 PM
From: Eric L  Respond to of 1080
 
Mark,

< Are over-the-air provisioning capabilities a standard product from PHCM >

I don't think so. I think this is simply (powerfully) an application developed on standard product.

< will it matter if a system is GSM, TDMA, or CDMA? >

Apparently not since WAP works across all 3 technologies.

< This story seems to link the ability for Bell South to do this as a collaboration with Motorola and their handsets as well as PHCM. >

BellSouth Mobility DCS has used OTA provisioning since they commercially launched their US GSM network in July of 1996. They are actually provisioning the SIM (the removable smart card component of the handset) rather than the handset itself.

< Why should this be handset dependent? Is it because MOT uses the PHCN micro browser? >

It is not handset dependent in GSM but it is in CDMA and TDMA. the UP microbrowser may not be the only way to skin this cat but it certainly is a good one.

I would be interested if anyone can tell me if OTA Provisioning of the handset has been done commercially in CDMA prior to this?

And your right "I should think we'll see many more good days with this investment." .... well for me, (I have not yet invested), be sure I am thinking about it.

- Eric -



To: Mark Oliver who wrote (140)7/20/1999 1:14:00 AM
From: Ellen  Read Replies (4) | Respond to of 1080
 
Mark,

I'm not a real "techno-wizard" but here goes...

Are they going to change and will it matter if a system is GSM, TDMA, or CDMA?

The next version of PHCM's software, expected to be available later this year, supports the following:

CDMA, TDMA, iDEN (integrated digital enhanced network), PHS (personal handyphone system), GSM, CDPD (cellular digital packet data) and PDC (personal digital cellular).

Is is simply a way of describing the server side of their standard business?

The UP.Link Server Suite connects data-enabled wireless telephones to applications and content hosted by Web servers on the internet or private intranets. It also provides network operators with subscriber provisioning and network management functions on a scalable platform.

The server suite consists of:

1. Gateway which provides the network-layer functions and connects internet & intranet-based services to wireless networks and wireless telephones. Connects the multiple protocols for wireless data communications to the open standards of the internet.

2. Administration provides a control system to keep the network operator's internet-based network components up and running, assess system status and provision new subscribers. PAPI (Provisioning Application Programming Interface) enables integration of the UP.Link with the network operator's existing customer care, help desk and billing systems.

3. Services provide an open application programming framework with interfaces (API's) that standardize the interaction with applications.

Services include:

Push Server

Fax Server

Identity Server [maintains subscriber registry that retains users' settings and allows usage tracking]

Content Translation Framework [forward & backward compatibility of content formats between different generations of browsers and wireless telephones. Translates between international character sets in real-time. Translates standard HTML web pages into WML (Wireless Markup Language) pages for viewing on wireless telephones]

Application Registry provides a structure for the interoperability of different applications. "For example, third-party applications can retrieve and store contact records in the UP.Organizer's address book or pass an email address to UP.Mail." [from the prospectus]

4. Applications which include UP.Mail, UP.Organizer and UP.Web

There is a standard in the works that could give PHCM a very powerful position, assuming they can have a patent or whatever that allows them to control this market.

PHCM, as previously posted, holds two patents. The first relates to two-way communications between browser-enabled wireless devices and wireless networks. Expires 2015. The second relates to the storage of frequently used links to internet-based url's on a remote server. Expires 2017. They had one patent application with allowed claims and have 58 pending U.S. patent applications as well as the foreign counterparts. "In addition, we rely on a combination of copyright and trademark laws, trade secrets, confidentiality provisions and other contractual provisions to protect our proprietary rights..." [from the prospectus]

They license their intellectual property to other WAP members to the extent that the license is required to develop noninfringing products under the WAP Forum specifications. Each member of the WAP Forum has entered into a reciprocal agreement.

Hope this is appropriately helpful.