Radiolinja Estonia A/S and Nokia successfully test WAP-over-GPRS using the Nokia mPosition location-based solution

Nokia and Radiolinja Estonia have concluded successful testing of Nokia's mPosition solution and WAP-over-GPRS technology in Radiolinja's GPRS network in Estonia. The tests were carried out from a moving vehicle traveling in urban and suburban environments. The system used for testing included the Nokia GMLC and Nokia SMLC positioning servers, and the Nokia GPRS network solution.

"This is the first demonstration of the potential of combining enhanced positioning technology with WAP-over-GPRS, and it will have a major impact on the whole deployment of new, exiting mobile location services," says Juri Karelsson, Director of Network Operator Business Unit for Radiolinja Estonia. "As an operator, we have to make sure that new services will be accepted by our customers. Location services in combination with the 'always-on' characteristic of GPRS will become a driver of our value-added service offering. Nokia's in-depth understanding of end-to-end solutions is an excellent basis for the successful deployment of location-based service."

"We have demonstrated our capabilities through various commercial deployments and customer trials," says Matti Lankinen, Director Product Business Management, Nokia Networks. "With these tests, showing how well the Nokia mPosition works in a real GPRS environment, we have proven Nokia's industry leading capability in location-based service technology."

Location-relevant services are one of the key elements of the Mobile Internet. With the Nokia mPosition solution, operators can offer their customers personal relevant services such as Location Messaging, Friends Finder and traffic reports. The Nokia mPosition solution will also support emergency services.

Nokia's solution is fully integrated into the GSM/GPRS network architecture, and the deployment of positioning technologies using WAP-over-GPRS can be implemented with a minimum of additional network investment.

In addition to the commonly used cell-identity and timing-advance parameters, the mPosition solution utilizes received signal strength (RX) levels to calculate the position of a mobile phone, which increases the accuracy by up to 40%.

Nokia is a market leader in positioning technologies. The location methods used by Nokia mPosition allow operators early access to specific markets with a cell ID-based solution, and provide an investment-secured evolutionary path to E-OTD (enhanced-observed time difference) and A-GPS (assisted global positioning system) covering GSM/GPRS, 3G (WCDMA/EDGE) and All-IP radio-access networks.

Radiolinja Estonia A/S is a private capital based international company, which belongs to Elisa Communications through the Radiolinja Group. The first GSM-call in Estonia was made in a Radiolinja network. Radiolinja Estonia A/S has 140,500 post-paid subscribers (by 30.09.2001). 98% of the population of Estonia lives in the coverage area of the Radiolinja GSM network. The mission of Radiolinja is to create and develop a wireless lifestyle.

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.

Further information:

Nokia Networks
Communications Department
Tel. + 358 (0) 7180 38195
E-mail nokia.networks@nokia.com

www.nokia.com

Helena Lõhmus
PR Manager
Radiolinja Eesti
Tel. + 372 (0) 6999963
E-mail helena.lohmus@radiolinja.fi