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Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JC Jaros who wrote (47396)	6/30/2000 11:14:18 PM
From: Dan Spillane	Respond to of 74651

You still need smart card chips in each card to interface with Java or the Microsoft software. The investment in Microsoft or Atmel seem like great ones. Atmel chips also work with Java Card, so it seems like a safes bet. Other details in my previous message: Message 13980629 "Microsoft mentioned banks and credit card vendors as possible clients for its Windows for Smart Card product, to be launched in January. Mobile phones will be equipped with an extra slot for a credit card which would be used for payment over the phone." Headline: INTERVIEW-Microsoft sees $1 bln mobile market revenue ================================================================ By Nina Malmsten STOCKHOLM, June 19 (Reuters) - U.S. software firm Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) reckons its alliances with mobile phone manufacturers and telecoms companies should produce revenues of a billion dollars in a few years. "I hope this will generate $1 billion in 3-4 years' time," Richard Lindh, senior director of marketing at Microsoft, told Reuters. Lindh said the first products from its venture with telecoms equipment maker Ericsson (SWED:LME.B) would emerge before the end of the year. The companies are also ironing out the details of a joint venture in which Ericsson is to be majority owner. Ericsson's mobile phones will run Microsoft's Mobile Explorer program, an Internet browser and program that can be used also with other companies' operating systems. "We don't only exchange knowledge on Mobile Explorer but also work to integrate the infrastructure, Windows 2000," Lindh said. The Mobile Explorer, whose browser and e-mail programs are easily integrated with Microsoft's server software, is a key part of Microsoft's wireless strategy. Because it runs in other manufacturers' operating systems, it is unlikely to get Microsoft in trouble with regulators. Hence it could be possible for Ericsson for example to have the Microsoft Explorer on top of Symbian's EPOC operating system, Lindh said. Microsoft and Ericsson are also rolling out a version of Microsoft's Exchange product adopted for mobile carriers. ICSA VERSION 3.5 TO COME OUT JUNE 30 Micrsoft said earlier on Monday that it would launch version 3.5 of its Internet cellular smart access (ICSA), the company's platform for delivering mobile Internet services, on June 30. "The platform will enable operators to retain and increase their mobile subscriber base by offering tailored, easy to use, value added mobile Internet services, with wireless application protocol (WAP) micro-browser access to e-mail, allowing their subscribers to stay connected any time, any place on any device," it said in a statement. Microsoft said this version would enable net operators to target new mass user segments, increase systems usage through consolidation of multiple accounts and reduce the cost of operations. Microsoft, trying to catch up to rival Palm Inc. (NASDAQ:PALM) in the market for handheld computers, last week rolled out a new version of its operating system for mobile computers. The Windows CE 3.0, the third incarnation of the platform, already empowers Microsoft's handheld Pocket PCs. NEW PRODUCTS IN PIPELINE IN 12-MONTHS Lindh said "no money" would be made on mobile operating systems. The emphasis would be on developing applications and instrastructure in cooperation with mobile operators for mail and Internet services. Lindh estimated that Microsoft at the moment handled about 90 million e-mail accounts worldwide. Microsoft mentioned banks and credit card vendors as possible clients for its Windows for Smart Card product, to be launched in January. Mobile phones will be equipped with an extra slot for a credit card which would be used for payment over the phone. Electronic group Sagem (SBF:SAGM) of France developed the technology and its is available on all Microsoft platforms. Microsoft will also launch in the next 12 months a voice mail portal and products to integrate users' e-mail accounts. U.S., JAPAN MOBILE SERVICES TO LAG BEHIND EUROPE Lindh said new mobile products would be more sophisticated in Europe than in Japan or the United States because the European market was technically much more advanced and was driving innovation in the sector. To offer a mobile service in the United States meant launching it in three different standards. In Japan, the I-mode standard again was not advanced enough for sophisticated services like bundling e-mail accounts. "But I do not say the U.S. will be behind for ever," he added. Microsoft opened on Monday in Sweden its first mobility solutions centre which it said will allow it to work together with its partners in Europe, Middle East and Africa to deliver applications and services for customers. A similar centre will be opened in North and Latin America in a couple of months' time. Japan would also gets its own centre and a fourth one would be set up to serve the rest of Asia. stockholm.newsroom@reuters.com)) Copyright 2000, Reuters News Service