LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif., Feb. 28, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Bitfone Corporation (www.bitfone.com), the pioneer and patent holder of firmware over-the-air (FOTA) update technology for mobile phones, today announced that 3, the UK mobile media company, has selected Bitfone to launch their over-the-air firmware update service using Bitfone's MVP(tm) solution.
Bitfone's MVP(tm) will be used by 3 as its Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) standards-based device management solution to deliver OTA firmware updates to its subscribers providing proactive enhancements to its subscribers' mobile phones.
David Cooper, CTO of 3 UK said: "Over-the-air firmware updates are a critical component to deliver superior customer service and to support our entertainment and information services as well as our range of advanced 3G devices. We selected Bitfone based on the value and their comprehensive solution, support, and innovation in the FOTA market."
"We are proud to have been selected by 3 in the UK for this important initiative which further emphasizes the strong worldwide market momentum for our device management and FOTA solutions," said Bernard Desarnauts, Vice President of EMEA Sales for Bitfone.
Bitfone's MVP(tm) v2.0 was announced in July 2005 and empowers mobile operators to deploy software updates and features enhancements, as well as customize devices while in subscribers' hands. MVP addresses the complex operational and commercial requirements required to successfully deploy large scale FOTA updates.
About 3 UK
3 is a mobile media company delivering a convergence of communications, entertainment and information to customers on the move.
The three areas which form the core of its business are:
Communications -- including all forms of personal communications, voice and video calling; text, picture and video messaging; and mobile blogging
Entertainment -- including television, music audio and video, computer games, and media publishing
Information services -- including wireless web, access to the best of the internet and a range of news services
3 services are available from sister companies in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Sweden and soon in Norway. 3 has a sister company with a 3G licence in Indonesia.
For further information, please visit: www.three.co.uk or call the 3 Media Office on 020 7350 5696.
Three facts about 3:
3, a mobile media company, launched the UK's first 3G network
3 has over 3.2 million customers (August 2005 figure) in the UK and over 10 million worldwide
The 3 network offers national coverage for calls and texts, and over 88% population coverage for 3G services.
About Bitfone Corporation
Bitfone Corporation provides innovative, patented software solutions for mobile device management and customer care automation to wireless operators and handset providers. Bitfone pioneered firmware over-the-air (FOTA) upgrade technology for mobile phones, and the mProve solution is used by the largest device and chipset manufacturers in the world, including Motorola, LG Electronics, Sony Ericsson, BIRD, QUALCOMM, and TCL. Bitfone's SmartCare and MVP solutions allow wireless network operators to diagnose, service and enhance mobile devices while in the subscribers' hands, resulting in dramatic cost savings, increased subscriber satisfaction, and broader adoption of advanced wireless services. Bitfone is a private company headquartered in Laguna Niguel, California, with offices in Canada, China, Japan, Korea, and the U.K. For more information, visit www.bitfone.com.