Wireless Village Initiative Demonstrates World's First interoperable Mobile Instant Messaging and Presence Services.

Business and High Tech Editors

HELSINKI, Finland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 19, 2001

Wireless industry leaders Ericsson, Motorola and Nokia, the founders of the Wireless Village initiative, announced today they have successfully demonstrated the world's first interoperable mobile instant messaging and presence services.

The demonstration is an important milestone in developing the Wireless Village specification.

Carried out in Kista, Sweden, the demonstration showed how three different mobile phones were able to connect with two different mobile instant messaging and presence servers; one located in Sweden and the other in the US. The mobile terminals successfully completed some of the basic features of the Wireless Village client-server protocol. In particular, these features allowed different mobile phones to authenticate to a remote mobile IMPS server, exchange presence information (e.g., availability and location characteristics); as well as send and receive instant messages.

The internal demonstration is the result of an iterative process used by the Wireless Village initiative's technical team in defining their specifications. That process is an iteration of steps involving specification, prototype coding and demonstration. This process permits more rapid confirmation of the technical direction. Additional internal demonstrations are planned throughout the year, leading up to the publication of the specifications. Participation in these internal demonstrations are intended to be an additional benefit of being a Supporter of the initiative.

"The demonstration clearly confirms the technical direction of the Wireless Village specifications and that the scheduled work is on the right track", says Frank Dawson, Nokia representative and chairman of the Wireless Village initiative. "This successful demonstration shows the benefit of defining interoperable specifications. Operators can anticipate availability of different mobile devices that work with a choice of software servers, thus making the mobile Internet a more seamless experience for consumers."

"Interoperability is a challenge in today's telecommunications world, therefore this first interoperability demo is a major step for Wireless Village, and ensures interoperability in the future", says Jan Svensson, Vice President Ericsson Mobile Phones. "It is impressive that Wireless Village in such a short time has drafted both initial specifications and prototyped implementations, this looks very promising."

The Wireless Village initiative intends to deliver an architectural specification, protocol specifications, as well as test specifications and tools for mobile IMPS. The initiative will also define procedures and tools for testing conformance and interoperability of mobile instant messaging and presence services.

According to Bob Molnar, corporate Vice President at Motorola, "The success of this important demonstration moves the industry even closer to an interoperable instant messaging service that operators and their customers should find irresistible. Wireless Village continues to take positive steps towards providing an easy-to-use, experience that end-users will truly value."

Wireless Village intends to sponsor interoperability demonstrations of mobile devices and wireless services that support the Wireless Village specifications. Other industry leaders can join as Supporters of the Wireless Village initiative. As a Supporter, companies will be able to attend Supporter events (the first scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2001). They will also have early access to the specifications. Information on how to become a Wireless Village Supporter is available at the website www.wireless-village.org.

About the Founders

Ericsson is the leading communications supplier, combining innovation in mobility and Internet in creating the new era of mobile Internet. Ericsson provides total solutions covering everything from systems and applications to mobile phones and other communications tools. With presence in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for customers all over the world. Read more at http://www.ericsson.com/press

Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) is a global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2000 were $37.6 billion. Read more at www.motorola.com

Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.

About the Wireless Village initiative

Founded by Ericsson, Motorola, and Nokia, Wireless Village, the Mobile Instant Messaging and Presence Services (IMPS) Initiative, was formed in April 2001 to define and promote a set of universal specifications for mobile instant messaging and presence services. The specifications will be used for exchanging messages and presence information between mobile devices, mobile services and Internet-based instant messaging services, all fully interoperable and leveraging existing web technologies. Through its supporters, the Wireless Village initiative aims to build a vibrant community of end users and global business partners where Internet and wireless domains converge. The IEEE Industry Standards and Technology Organization (IEEE-ISTO) provides day-to-day administrative support to the Wireless Village initiative.

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