NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and Nokia today launched a joint action plan to accelerate the development based on the open mobile architecture initiative. NTT DoCoMo and Nokia have common understanding that common open mobile service middleware is a fundamental enabler to global deployment of mobile services. NTT DoCoMo and Nokia will co-operate specifically in promoting open mobile architecture for WCDMA-based 3G services, in areas such as browsing, messaging and application execution environment. The two companies intend to make the results of their co-operative effort available to the mobile industry as a whole.
"In order to accelerate the introduction of mobile internet access, mobile visual communications and other services for 3G networks, NTT DoCoMo is eager to cooperate with other key players in the mobile communications industry to elaborate specific technical specifications based on a standardized mobile architecture. This collaboration with Nokia is one of those activities to achieve that goal. We sincerely hope that our cooperation with Nokia will eventually gain strong worldwide supports that help us contribute to boost global demands for mobile multimedia," noted Dr. Keiji Tachikawa, CEO, NTT DoCoMo.
"We warmly welcome this cooperation with NTT DoCoMo," said Mr. Jorma Ollila, Chairman and CEO, Nokia. "The ongoing industrywide movement towards open technologies and standards marks an opportunity for maximum growth, and can only motivate and benefit all the players in this industry as well as consumers worldwide. It is our shared intention with NTT DoCoMo not only to stand at forefront when open standards for mobile services are being created, but also to leverage our thorough understanding of the customer requirements in designing future open mobile services. "
The two companies have agreed on the adoption of the XHTML/CSS as the content description language and they will work towards the adoption of Wireless profiled TCP as a wireless transport layer protocol defined in the WAP 2.0 specification by the WAP Forum, which are both consistent with the Internet standards. This combination of technologies will enable content to be shared by both the Internet and mobile communications worlds. Subsequently, the co-operation will also cover the creation of XHTML/CSS profiling.
NTT DoCoMo and Nokia will continue to develop multimedia messaging technologies with the goal of reaching an integrated messaging service. Companies aim at achieving an interoperable messaging standard within the 3GPP, WAP Forum and IETF. The global popularity of Internet email and the success of Short Message Service (SMS) have lead to growing market demand for these technologies to be combined into one open and interoperable mobile solution. Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) will bring consumers a whole new variety of services, in the form of rich person-to-person messaging and multimedia content downloading and distribution.
NTT DoCoMo and Nokia are working with the JCP Standardisation Forum to develop Java(TM) technology. Together, the companies are striving further to provide an execution environment where more user-friendly applications can be created. The companies expect to reach a proposal on further technical specifications during the second half, 2002.
Note:
- 3GPP: 3rd Generation Partnership Project
A project established in December 1998 to standardize the 3rd generation (3G) mobile systems. This forum aims to develop technical specifications for a 3rd Generation Mobile System based on DS-CDMA (W-CDMA) for radio access networks and on evolved-GSM core networks for core network architecture. The regional standardization organizations that constitute 3GPP include T1 (USA), ETSI (Europe), ARIB (Japan), TTC (Japan), TTA (Korea) and CWTS (China).
- WAP Forum: Wireless Application Protocol Forum
The WAP Forum is the industry association that is responsible for developing the WAP Specifications, the open, global de facto standard that allows users of wireless hand-held devices to access and interact with Internet-based content, applications and services. The WAP Forum is comprised of the members representing 99 percent of the handsets sold worldwide and more than 450 million global subscribers. Members include worldwide device manufacturers, carriers, infrastructure providers, software developers and other wireless solution providers.
- IETF: Internet Engineering Task Force
The IETF is a large open international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers concerned with the evolution of the Internet architecture and the smooth operation of the Internet. It is open to any interested individual. The actual technical work of the IETF is done in its working groups, which are organized by topic into several areas. Much of the work is handled via mailing list. The Internet standards-related documents are published as RFC (Request For Comments).
- JCP(provisional name)Java Community Process
An official process to decide and revise new Jave APIs such as CLDC and MIDP to cater to the needs of industries and technologies. Specification development starts with examining the Java Specification Request for a specific API. When it passes the examination, it is allocated a JSR ID to go through the specification development and revision process.
- Java(TM)
Java is an object oriented programming language based on C++ developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Java and Java-related logos are registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.)
About NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo is Japan's largest mobile communications company. In August 2001, the number of PDC cellular phones subscriber exceeded 38 million. It had consolidated sales of 4.6 trillion yen in fiscal 2000 (ended March 31, 2001). NTT DoCoMo was formed in July 1992 to take over the mobile communications operations and sales of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT). NTT DoCoMo provides nationwide services, including cellular and PHS phone, paging, satellite mobile communications, and maritime and in-flight telephone service. The company also has subsidiaries in the United States, Europe, and Brazil. In February 1999, NTT DoCoMo launched its "i-mode" service, which provides continuous connection with the Internet via mobile phones. As of October 2001, the number of i-mode subscribers exceeded 28 million. On May 30, 2001, NTT DoCoMo launched its W-CDMA based third-generation wireless service, "FOMA*" on an introductory basis. Following the termination of the introductory phase, NTT DoCoMo launched its fully commercialized FOMA service on October 1, 2001. NTT DoCoMo is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
*FOMA (Freedom Of Mobile multimedia Access) is the brand name used in Japan for NTT DoCoMo's 3G service.
About Nokia
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 broadband 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. www.nokia.com
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Nokia
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