Telenor, Ericsson Norway and Birdstep - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[flyfish]

Telenor, Ericsson Norway and Birdstep join forces over speedy mobile
services

(Oslo, March 6, 2001) Telenor Mobil, Ericsson AS and Birdstep are set
to develop technology that will enable extremely rapid downloading of
large volumes of information to mobile terminals. Testing is due in
the course of the year.

"Shopping centres, airports and exhibition halls are among the
targets," says Telenor Mobil`s Director of External Services, Lars
Christian Iuel. "When, in a year, you enter a shopping centre, you
will pass through a zone where your mobile phone will receive an
outline of all the shops and all the bargains on offer in the centre.
The information will be stored in the terminal, allowing you to place
orders and reservations and to purchase goods with the aid of today`s
GSM/GPRS networks."

New technology
For this purpose, the so-called Bluetooth technology will be
utilized, but the solution may also make use of WLAN (Wireless Local
Area Network). Both technologies have a relatively limited radio
range, but on the other hand, they offer a large capacity for the
transmission of data. The plan is to develop base stations and
information systems that are low in cost both when it comes to
installation and operation. The system will be tested in the course
of the year, with the aim to launch the service commercially as soon
as the technology is ripe and the terminals are available on the
market.

Today`s mobile terminals are generally not Bluetooth equipped, but in
the future, mobile devices will draw on a multitude of compatible
access technology methods. The terminals will therefore be able to
utilize the technology which, at any given time, offers the highest
transmission speed and thus also the most advanced services.

The increased use of mobile terminals together with wireless
technology such as Bluetooth and WLAN will pave the way for
completely new services. "Mobile phones with restricted IP-functions
will transform into mobile multimedia terminals," says Haakon Bryhni,
responsible for Birdstep`s wireless technology.

Strategic focus
There is no concern in Telenor Mobil that WLAN and Bluetooth will
outwin GPRS and UMTS. Instead, the two technologies are considered to
be complimentary assets to the 2,5G and 3G systems. However, the fact
that both WLAN and Bluetooth use frequencies which are not restricted
by licensing will prove a challenge for the telephone operators.
"It is still uncertain which technologies will be adopted for what
purpose, and not least who will control the frequencies not bound by
licensing. By focusing on the development of Bluetooth and WLAN now,
we will be able to take the right steps in the future," says Telenor
Mobil`s Managing Director, Ingvild Myhre.

Ericsson likewise expects the new technologies to pose as a
supplement, and not as a replacement for GPRS and UMTS. "We see WLAN
and Bluetooth as technologies which will supplement the normal access
to 3G/UMTS in restricted high traffic zones. The collaboration with
Telenor Mobil and Birdstep should be seen in relation to this, and as
a further strengthening of our activities in the Norwegian market,"
says Mikael Kruhsberg, Vice President Ericsson Norway.

Who does what
Ericsson Norway, Birdstep and Telenor Mobil have entered into an
agreement wherein the parties have committed themselves to take part
in the process until defined milestones are reached. At each of these
milestones the parties may decide to retract their involvement.
Birdstep will supply software while Ericsson will supply Bloothooth
base stations and handsets. Telenor Mobil will contribute with
in-depth knowledge of the market as well as technical skill.


About Birdstep Technology ASA
Birdstep Technology ASA is the developer of Birdstep DataBase Engine,
an award winning, Ultra Small Footprint data manipulation and storage
engine for any kind of data structure. It runs on operating systems
such as Win32, Windows CE, Pocket PC, Linux, VxWorks, Epoc, pSOS, QNX
and Palm/OS. The Birdstep DataBase Engine is targeted at devices such
as mobile phones, PDAs/PWAs and Embedded Systems.
In addition to database technology, the company also develops
wireless technology infrastructure software such as Birdstep IP Zone
Software and Birdstep Mobile IP Software. Birdstep was founded in
August 1996 and has offices in Oslo, Norway and in San José,
California, USA.
Please visit us on the Internet: www.birdstep.com

About Ericsson
Ericsson is the leading communications supplier, combining innovation
in mobility and the Internet, creating a new era of mobile Internet.
Ericsson provides total solutions covering everything from systems
and applications to mobile phones and other communications tools.
With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson
simplifies communications for customers all over the world.

About Telenor Mobil
Telenor Mobil is a company within Telenor Mobile Communications (TMC)
and is Norway`s largest mobile operator. TMC has a customer base of
2,3 million (31.12.2000), and a turnover of NOK 9,1 billion in
Norway. Telenor Mobil has 1300 employees stationed in 20 different
locations around the country. The company`s aim is to be in the
forefront when it comes to the development of new mobile
communication services while remaining dedicated to the advancement
of the mobile Internet through its portal, djuice.no.


For more information, please contact:
Telenor Mobil AS: Head of Information Jo Heldaas, tel. [phone]
00 / [phone]
Ericsson AS: Vice President Mikael Kruhsberg, tel. [phone] /
[phone]
Birdstep Technology: President Henning Klemp, tel.+ 47 24 13 47 10 /
[phone]




This press release was brought to you by Telenor.

[flyfish]

Telenor and the Norwegian Postal Service launch a joint company for
electronic ID and digital signature

Telenor and the Norwegian Postal Service are set to form a fusion
between the two companies Telenor ZebSign AS and ErgoSign AS. The new
company, ZebSign, will offer secure electronic ID and digital
signatures.

The two companies will pose as equal partners dedicated to developing
an inclusive and secure infrastructure to support e-commerce and
messaging.

Both Telenor and the Postal Service have developed separate solutions
for secure e-commerce activity by using both the electronic ID method
and electronic signatures. Telenor`s ZebSign is an entity within
Telenor Mobil. ZebSign issues the customer with a digital identity
that spans all the telecommunication networks and terminals. The
Postal Service has, through ErgoGroup, launched ErgoSign that has
developed an electronic ID in browsers as well as a qualified digital
signature linked to a smart card.

The new company, ZebSign, will supply products and services to the
general public, official institutions, banks and various e-commerce
players. ZebSign will utilize the in-depth skill inherent in the two
companies. The Postal Service with its national network of outlets
will offer safe registering procedures and the handing out of
electronic IDs and digital signatures, as well as creating a
logistics- and distribution apparatus for physical goods. The Postal
Service is committed to offering electronic services such as ePost.
Telenor can contribute the access channels, skill and technology
which allows for an electronic ID to span access channels and
applications. In collaboration with other partners, ZebSign will
supply the customer with an inclusive and secure infrastructure for
electronic commerce and cooperation both in Norway and on an
international level.

"The development of e-commerce in Norway has proved that the
customers increasingly require a secure digital signature linked to
various services on the net. Through ZebSign`s solutions, the
individual user will possess a personal digital identity encoded in a
SIM card in his/her mobile phone, PC, TV and smart card. This means
that 2-3 million subscribers will shortly be able to make use of
secure payment procedures over the net," says Managing Director,
Ingvild Myhre, in Telenor Mobil.

"By launching ZebSign, the Postal Service and Telenor will offer
solutions which we believe will improve the foundation for safer
commerce and messaging over the Internet. This will simplify
e-commerce by tidying up the increasing multitude of passwords and
user IDs that the user today has to wade through. This is also in
line with the Government`s aim to establish a 24 hour public
administration service which is dependent on secure electronic
messaging," says Managing Director, Per Andersen, in Ergo Group.

[TigerWutz I]

Ericsson gliedert Geschäftsfeld Direktverkauf und Firmenkundenservice aus

STOCKHOLM (dpa-AFX) - Ericsson AB gliedert sein Geschäftsfeld Direktverkauf und Firmenkunden-Service für 480 Mio. USD aus. Wie der schwedische Mobilfunkgerätehersteller am Donnerstag mitteilte, wolle man jedoch mit 20% an dem aus dem Verkauf neu entstehenden Unternehmen "Enterprise Solutions" beteiligt bleiben.

Dieses Gemeinschaftsunternehmen für Direktvertrieb sei fortan der wichtigste Vertriebskanal für Ericsson. Ziel dieser Partnerschaft sei die Weltmarktführerschaft im Bereich der Integration von Sprach-, Daten-, und mobiler Telekommunikation, hieß es.

Neben Ericsson sind weitere Hersteller wie Rockwell und Extrem Networks an dem Gemeinschaftsunternehmen beteiligt. Enterprise Solutions wolle in Zukunft ausserdem nach neuen Kooperationen mit externen Lieferanten Ausschau halten. Das neu entstehende Unternehmen habe 18 Vertretungen in Europa, Australien und Südamerika.

Der Verkauf geschehe vorbehaltlich der Genehmigung der zuständigen Kartellbe hörde und wird voraussichtlich im April 2001 abgeschlossen sein./fh/mh/af
Quelle Finanztreff.de
T.