New World Mobility selects Nokia Artuse(TM) USSD Centre – bringing faster interactive messaging to subscribers

New World Mobility has selected the Nokia Artuse(TM) USSD Centre, a platform for faster interactive messaging services within GSM networks, offering subscribers easier access to information available on the mobile Internet.

With this advanced messaging platform, response times for interactive applications are reduced compared to conventional Short Messaging Services (SMS) in GSM networks – the USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Services Data) can operate at up to seven times faster than existing services. This is made possible as the radio connection remains open, removing the need for reserving the channel for each message. In addition, there are no delays for message storing and forwarding.

As part of the complete Nokia GSM system, the Nokia Artuse(TM) USSD Centre will first provide a connection to the Nokia DX200 Home Location Register (HLR). Nokia Artuse(TM) USSD Centre can be supplied with an interface for billing systems as well as the Nokia Networks Management System.

The Nokia Artuse(TM) USSD Centre also provides the GSM network with a fast narrowband bearer for easy-to-use WAP services. The main benefit of WAP over USSD is economy for both the operator and user, as it saves network resources and it has short connection set-up times.

"The Nokia Artuse(TM) USSD Centre is complementary to existing SMS services, allowing operators to provide subscribers with the most suitable bearer technology, depending on the service," said Jonathan Yip, General Manager, Nokia Networks, Nokia (H.K) Limited, "This advanced USSD technology paves the operators' way for the provision of wireless data applications."

New World Mobility is one of the largest and most dynamic mobile operators in Hong Kong since its launch in August 1997. Offering a wide range of quality communication services including voice service, customized value-added services like “Financial Centre”, “World Wide Mobility” WAP Service, and Mobile Fax and Data, NWM plans to introduce a series of advanced mobile multi-media solutions, as well as meet the requirements of 3G mobile communications spectrum. Serving over 600,000 subscribers as of December 2000, NWM leads the PCS market by over one-third of the total market.

New World Mobility’s quality mobile services are provided by New World PCS Ltd., which is supported by the financial strength and depth of resources of its parent company New World Development.

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.

Further information:
Communications Department, Nokia Networks
Tel. + 358 (0) 7180 38195
Email nokia.networks@nokia.com

www.nokia.com

Notes to Editors
Nokia launched the latest release of the Nokia Artuse™ USSD Center at the Nokia Mobile Internet Conference in Prague in November 2000. One of the main new features of the latest release is the USSD Redirector, which makes the operator's existing SMS based services benefit from USSD technology in a completely new way. With the USSD Redirector the need to memorize dozens of SMS keywords has been eliminated. USSD redirector works by bundling services created by a platform like Nokia Artuse™ Messaging Platform under a single interactive menu-based access point. In short, USSD redirector creates a front end to the operator's SMS service pool and is ideally used for services such as ring tone and logo requests as well as for all information retrieval.

For operators USSD offers an excellent way to differentiate from the competition and gain valuable market share. Ideal services with USSD include, for instance, mobile chat, information retrieval and call back service.