Megisto Systems Launches First Device-Independent Push Capability for Personalized Mobile Data Applications.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

3GSM World Congress 2003

CANNES, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 2003

Simple Dynamic Push Protocol Solution to Demo Live at

3GSM World Congress Using Optimus GPRS Network

Megisto Systems, Inc., a leading developer of carrier-class mobile services core infrastructure, today unveiled the first mobile data push capability that allows operators to personalize and push any application to subscribers without dependence on device type or operating system. Megisto's Mobile Services Delivery System (MSDS) makes presence information available to mobile applications using its new Simple Dynamic Push Protocol (SDPP). Megisto developed SDPP and is making it available at no cost to applications developers through an active partnership development program. By using mobile data applications that adopt SDPP, operators can deliver user-friendly, real-time "push" services, dramatically enhancing the user experience and improving service uptake. Megisto is premiering its push capabilities at this week's 3GSM World Congress exhibition, as deployed live on the Optimus Telecomunicacoes, S.A. GPRS network with the tekForce Sales Edition sales force automation application.

See Megisto demo new Push services for mobile operators for the first time at 3GSM in Suite 01.08, Hall 2.

"The Megisto push capability, as deployed on the Optimus network, allows us to proactively push both longer text and image information directly to subscribers over GPRS, instead of sending abbreviated messages through the SMS infrastructure," said Pedro Sinogas, CEO of Tekever, a leading supplier of mobile enterprise applications in Portugal. "We were able to add this push capability to our compelling tekForce application in a matter of weeks, allowing us to quickly enhance the experience of tekForce customers and deliver unique business-oriented functionalities."

Limitations in terminal size, navigability and network throughput, combined with the "receiver" nature of mobile user behavior patterns, all make push capabilities critical to enhancing the user experience and increasing subscriber satisfaction with mobile data applications. According to industry analyst Strand Consult, as mobile phones get more complicated, simplified use with fewer buttons will become more and more important. Users of these devices do not want to spend time searching for information -- they want it at their fingertips. However, due to technology limitations, most applications available today use limited SMS capabilities.

"Megisto developed SDPP in response to specific customer demand for an enhanced user experience," said Carol Politi, vice president of marketing for Megisto. "This is a case where the opportunity drove a specific solution, one that is easily deployed across many device types and many applications in a very short period of time, leveraging existing mobile operator infrastructure investments."

Megisto's Push Capabilities

Mobile operators today have two primary options for making push services available to their subscribers: SMS push with a GPRS "pull" from the subscriber, or deployment of an end-to-end application (including specific terminals, infrastructure elements, and enterprise customer infrastructure).

In the case of SMS push, in order to retrieve the information from the network, subscribers must connect both to a network and to their application before they can request information -- then they must wait while the data is downloaded. The process can be cumbersome and slow, negatively impacting the user experience. Also, while application specific, end-to-end solutions can be compelling; they are only a first step toward making user-friendly applications broadly available. With such application-specific solutions, the operator is often relegated to acting as a bit pipe, offering a service that is undifferentiated from its competitors. Application-specific solutions often limit customers to a specific device as well.

With SDPP, Megisto's MSDS can, for the first time, enable applications to detect subscriber presence and send information immediately, whenever there is data to send. The capability is especially compelling for enterprise applications that are typically not developed to use WAP Gateway infrastructures and support systems, and that have little knowledge of mobile infrastructure services. Mobile operators can choose to deliver the presence and push service as a premium service or offer the service to all the subscribers to gain competitive differentiation. The MS950 can also keep the context of all premium push customers alive in networks that have limited context resources, in a network-optimized manner that saves bandwidth.

About Partnership Opportunities

Megisto has an active application developer program established, with multiple developers now adding SDPP capabilities to their mobile data applications. Application developers or providers looking to learn more about Megisto's SDPP are welcome to contact Megisto at [e-mail]. There is no cost to application developers for joining the program.

About Megisto Systems

Megisto Systems develops and markets the award-winning Mobile Services Delivery System, an intelligent service core that delivers compelling value-added services including push-capable mobile VPNs, real-time and content-aware charging, and WLAN universal mobility. Megisto's MSDS is the only solution that provides the network intelligence and scale required to deliver profitable and secure personalized services to subscribers roaming between GPRS/UMTS, WLAN, or CDMA access networks. The MSDS is operational in multiple European mobile operator networks.

Megisto Systems was founded in May 2000 by an executive team with extensive experience in both entrepreneurial and established mobile wireless and networking companies, including Ericsson, Alcatel, Motorola, Lucent, Torrent Networking, 3Com, Level 3, Hughes Network Systems, and AT&T Labs. Megisto is headquartered in Germantown, Md., in the heart of Washington, D.C.'s high-tech corridor, and has European headquarters in Windsor, UK.

For more information about Megisto, please visit the corporate Web site at www.megisto.com.