Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Nokia Corp. (NOK) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Eric L who wrote (1979)	2/4/2002 9:20:10 AM
From: elmatador	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 9255

Battle for wireless (3G) dominance, is delaying 3G and, most possible will kill it in the bud! Nokia 'imposing its standard on industry' By Richard Waters in New York and Nick George in Stockholm Published: February 3 2002 21:46 \| Last Updated: February 3 2002 22:13 The main competitor to Nokia in creating software for mobile data networks has accused the Finnish company of shutting it out of efforts to develop a common standard for the wireless industry. The move proves Nokia is "trying to impose its own standard as the industry standard", said Don Listwin, chief executive of Openwave. Niklas Savander, vice-president Nokia Mobile Software, countered that Openwave had "not been the model child of openness" itself in the past. However, he added that the US company was likely to be "among the first new members" once Nokia is ready to admit outsiders. The skirmishes over software standards reflects Nokia's efforts to stop Microsoft from dominating the young mobile data world as it has in the personal computer business. If Microsoft or another company succeeds in controlling the operating system behind mobile data networks, the highly profitable Nokia could face the fate of low-margin PC makers. However, that has raised questions about Nokia's use of its own commanding market position in the mobile industry to dominate the search for a common standard. The company said last November that it would start offering its own software to handset makers when it invited companies to join an initiative to create a common standard. Mr Listwin said that he had asked Jorma Ollila, Nokia chairman, if Openwave could join the group, but had been rebuffed. Nokia is acting "the way Apple would have if it had had a 40 per cent share", Mr Listwin added - a reference to Nokia's control of both hardware and operating system software. Mobile communications companies would end up facing higher costs if the Finnish company succeeded in imposing its own approach, he said. Openwave developed the WAP technology that lay behind the first attempts to provide mobile data service. It claims its software is in use on roughly two-thirds of the computer servers that run mobile data networks around the world, as well as half of all mobile handsets. Mr Savander said that the first part of Nokia's push for standardisation had been focused mainly on telecoms operators and handset vendors, rather than other technology companies. However, the first members of the initiative are now finalising the terms and conditions that will allow more members to join, which should open the way for groups such as Openwave. While questioning Openwave's record in open software standards, Mr Savander said the US company appeared to have changed its stance. Mr Listwin had shown readiness to use open systems at his previous post as a leading executive at Cisco Systems, the dominant maker of data-networking equipment for wireline networks, he added.