LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif., April 5, 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 UTStarcom, a global leader in IP-based, end-to-end networking solutions and support, has selected Bitfone's award-winning and patent-protected mProve technology to update the firmware and file systems of their mobile phones over the air. UTStarcom is the 17th device manufacturer to select Bitfone's award-winning mProve solution. In addition, UTStarcom plans to implement Bitfone's Mobile Variance Agent (MVA) 2.0. MVA is a comprehensive OMA DM standards-based device management client.
"We selected Bitfone because of our confidence in their market-leading technology, comprehensive market presence, and superior level of support," stated Philip Christopher, President, UTStarcom Personal Communications.
"UTStarcom embraces technology innovation as a strategic advantage, and Bitfone is honored to be selected as its device management partner," said Gene Wang, chairman and CEO of Bitfone.
Bitfone pioneered FOTA technology in 2000 and is the leading provider worldwide. Bitfone has also recently been granted two additional patents covering its FOTA and device management products. Patent number 6,978,453 describes extensions to SyncML DM environment to support firmware updates and patent number 6,996,818 describes an update system for facilitating software update and data conversion in an electronic device. Bitfone now has been granted six patents with more than 125 patents pending in the FOTA market and related device management areas.
About UTStarcom, Inc.
UTStarcom is a global leader in IP-based, end-to-end networking solutions and international service and support. The company sells its wireline, wireless, optical and switching solutions to operators in both fast growth and established telecommunications markets around the world. UTStarcom enables its customers to rapidly deploy revenue-generating access services using their existing infrastructure, while providing a migration path to cost-efficient end-to-end IP networks. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Alameda, California, the company has research and design operations in New Jersey, China, and India. UTStarcom is a FORTUNE 1000 company. For more information about UTStarcom, visit the company's Web site at www.utstar.com.
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's MVP, SmartCare, mProve, and MVA solutions provide the ability 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's solutions are used by leading companies worldwide such as Motorola, LG Electronics, QUALCOMM, Freescale Semiconductors, T-Mobile, 3, Swisscom Mobile, and others. 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.
Forward-Looking Statements about UTStarcom
This release includes forward-looking statements about UTStarcom, including the foregoing statements regarding the expected manner of use of mProve technology by UTStarcom, anticipated implementation of Bitfone's Mobile Variance Agent (MVA) 2.0 by UTStarcom, and UTStarcom's expectations regarding Bitfone's technology, market presence and level of support. These risk factors include rapidly changing technology, the changing nature of global telecommunications markets, the termination of significant contracts, the direction and results of future research and development efforts, evolving product and applications standards, reduction or delays in system deployments, changes in demand for and acceptance of UTStarcom's products, general adverse economic conditions, and trends and uncertainties such as changes in government regulation and licensing requirements. Readers may also refer to the risk factors identified UTStarcom's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.