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Nokia announces cooperation with technology leaders toward
development of WAP based products and solutionsNokia working with leading software developers, content providers and hardware
manufacturers to develop Internet-based Value Added Services
(June 4, 1999) - SAN FRANCISCO - - Nokia
brought a number of leading content providers, software and hardware developers together
today at Nokia's third annual Wireless Data Conference, to announce cooperative activities
focused on supporting Wireless Applications Protocol (WAP) and the growing demand for
mobility. This reinforces Nokia's commitment to develop the wireless Internet and use of
mobile devices such as smartphones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), as well as to
continue to provide new and innovative solutions to wireless customers.
The Nokia Wireless Data Conference, unique in its kind, brings together
key players in the industry, including wireless network operators, to meet, share ideas
and discuss the opportunities in the market place using Wireless Application Protocol
(WAP).
According to recent studies, the total number of mobile phone users
worldwide is over 300 million, double the number of Internet users. Nokia estimates that
in 2003 there will be about one billion mobile phone subscribers, and that a substantial
portion of the phones sold will have multimedia capabilities.
Haroon Alvi, director of business development, at Nokia Mobile Phones
said Nokia's and
leading technology companies' activities today are further proof of the wireless Internet
coming of age through the adoption of the Wireless Application Protocol.
"Nokia and the companies with which we're cooperating share a
common vision providing new and innovative solutions to our customers," Alvi said.
"By forming long-term relationships with other companies that are experts in their
fields, we are able to develop total solutions that change the way people work and live.
This provides a new customer base not only for Nokia, but for developers, content
providers and network operators."
The announcements of some of the companies cooperating with Nokia today
include:
� Excite@Home -
Excite@Home has been selected as a Web leader to participate in Nokia's Wireless Data
Conference and as a sponsor of the event. "Nokia is clearly a leader in promoting the
wireless delivery of data and this focus is in line with Excite@Home's strategy of 'All
Band, All Device, All the Time'," said Joe Kraus, senior vice-president, content,
Excite@Home. "We recognize that Nokia's commitment to Wireless Applications Protocol
(WAP) is important to the development of wireless use of the Internet. It is strategic for
us to participate in this forum as it supports our goal of extending the Excite membership
to our customers even when they are away from their computers."
� InfoSpace -
InfoSpace.com announced new solutions for WAP Mobile Phone Handsets, including yellow page
directories, white page directories, directions, stock quotes, and Headline News content.
"InfoSpace's private label solutions for content and commerce will
dramatically enhance the utility and value of these new WAP handsets," said Steve
Shivers, director of business development for InfoSpace.com.
� Intelligent Information - Intelligent Information Incorporated
(III) provides mobile, personalized content to wireless users whenever they want it - from
stock quotes, news, weather, traffic, and consumer lifestyle services to e-commerce,
personal email, calendar applications and more. III specializes in the creation of
wireless portals that provide access to content and personal information profile
management. III's wireless portals are accessed through mobile devices featuring WAP
browsers, short message service (SMS), the Internet and interactive voice platforms. A
complete array of branded and private-label content is available for push and pull
delivery based on the capabilities of the user's network and device.
� JP Systems - JP
Systems' One-Touch MailTM software for PalmTM connected organizers is now available to
Nokia's 7110 and future WAP-enabled phone customers. Users can send and receive email
messages, as well as manage and update address book information, via the infrared port on
these phones. "One-Touch Mail satisfies consumer demand for wireless email using Palm
III and other organizers with wireless phones," said Andy Tarzon, director of mobile
products at JP Systems. "We also intend to supplement this offering with Web content
services that utilize the Nokia phone as a wireless modem transport."
� Macromedia -
Macromedia Dreamweaver 2 is the professional solution for Web site design and production
with powerful features for efficient page production, deluxe site management, visual
authoring for dynamic publishing, and Roundtrip XML. Because of its open, extensible
architecture, Dreamweaver works seamlessly with custom and commercial tools for
e-commerce, dynamic publishing and rich media content creation. In addition to supporting
Nokia's WAP products, Dreamweaver 2 works with industry-leading solutions from Apple,
Oracle, BroadVision, Allaire, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Real Networks and more.
� MapQuest -
"According to a January 1999 Jupiter Communications study, the ability to access
driving directions is the number one, most desired application for mobile devices"
commented Mike Mulligan, CEO of MapQuest.com. "MapQuest.com is the solution for maps
and driving directions for wireless devices." MapQuest.com is a leader in advanced
mapping systems. Whether the request originates from the simplest cell phone or the most
sophisticated wireless terminal, MapQuest.com is the destination for maps and driving
direction services. As a recent new member of the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
Forum, MapQuest.com is committed to the development of products for the next generation of
wireless solutions.
� Ticketmaster
Online-CitySearch (NASDAQ: TMCS) is an award-winning provider of locally-developed
online information and transaction services relevant to people's everyday lives. TMCS'
city guides provide live event ticketing and information about restaurants, movies, local
events, travel and shopping. "Nokia's commitment to develop the wireless Internet and
use of mobile devices combined with our dedication to continually update our city guide
and ticketing sites and integrate content with transactions, will allow consumers to act
on their decisions and get things done from anywhere at any time," said John
Pleasants, President of Ticketing & Transactions for Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch.
"We think these kinds of practical tools for living are the future."
� Visto Corporation
- Visto is creating wireless telephone access to its award-winning suite of Web-based
applications. Phase one
will include access to email, calendar and addresses. Subsequent phases will add features
such as group calendaring, public events, address book synchronization and more. The Visto
service uses the Web as the focal point for all daily personal computing and
communications activities. Working with Nokia, Visto extends its vision to enable users to
access their secure Visto account via wireless phones. Visto combines the freedom of
wireless together with the power of the Internet.
About WAP
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is an open global standard for
total mobile solutions, including communication between a mobile handset and the Internet
or other computer application. WAP-based technology enables the design of advanced,
interactive and real-time mobile services, such as mobile banking or Internet-based news
services, which can be used in digital mobile phones or other mobile devices. The WAP
specification enables solutions from various suppliers to work consistently for end-users
on the digital networks. Nokia is a founding member of the WAP Forum, which standardizes
intelligent messaging for creating Internet services and applications for digital mobile
phones and wireless terminals. For more information about WAP, see www.wapforum.com.
About Nokia
Nokia is the world's leading mobile phone supplier and a leading
supplier of mobile and fixed telecom networks including related customer services. Nokia
also supplies solutions and products for fixed and wireless datacom, as well as multimedia
terminals and computer displays. In 1998, net sales totaled EUR 13.3 billion (USD 15.7
billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki,
Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges, has sales in over 130 countries
and employs more than 47,000 people worldwide.
About Exite
Excite@Home (Nasdaq: ATHM) is a global media company based in Redwood
City, Calif. Through the company's narrowband portal, Excite (www.excite.com), and
broadband services, @Home and @Work, the company uniquely offers consumers content and
interactive services across both narrowband and broadband, and advertisers highly targeted
marketing solutions across all platforms of delivery. Leveraging the high-speed, always-on
attributes of cable, Excite@Home empowers unique multimedia applications that go beyond
current Web experiences. The company will combine the Excite brand - one of the best known
names on the Internet with 70 percent recognition among Web users - with @Home's broad
distribution - a worldwide footprint resulting from its agreements with 21 cable
companies, to deliver on its vision of "All Band, All Device, All the Time."
About InfoSpace
InfoSpace.com is a leading infrastructure provider of private label
solutions for content, community and commerce to Web sites and Internet appliances.
InfoSpace.com's affiliate network consists of more than 1,500 Web sites. The company's
affiliates include AOL, Netscape, Microsoft, Lycos, go2net Inc.'s MetaCrawler, Dow Jones
(The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition), ABC LocalNet and CBS's affiliated TV
stations. In addition, InfoSpace.com has agreements with a number of providers of Internet
access devices including PCs by Acer America and The Pixel Co. (for Packard Bell NEC),
cellular phones by AT&T Wireless and Phone.com, pagers by WolfeTech (for Motorola),
screen phones by InfoGear, Mitel, Mitsui and Lucent, television set-top boxes by American
Interactive Media, @Home, Lucent, On Command, Planetweb and Source Media, online kiosks by
King kiosk platform and Lexitech kiosk platform, and personal digital assistants via
AvantGo.
About Intelligent Information
Intelligent Information Incorporated (III) has developed and deployed
more than 20 private label wireless portals for major North American wireless carriers and
new media organizations. Founded in 1991, III is the leading provider of personalized
information and consumer e-commerce services to the wireless industry. Customizable, text
and voice-based services like news, sports, weather, traffic, and stock quotes help
wireless carriers increase revenue and reduce churn. III's services for web sites extend
the sites' reach beyond the time a user spends online and provide a higher level of
"stickiness." Services are delivered via mobile phones, pagers, palmtops and
PDAs. Intelligent Information Incorporated's headquarters are located in Stamford, CT,
USA.
About JP Systems
Founded in 1995, Dallas-based JP Systems, Inc. is a leading global
software developer for the business and personal wireless-messaging industry. JP's
software significantly expands the capabilities of the most widely-used Personal Digital
Assistants, such as the Palm Computing connected organizers and Windows CE Handheld and
Palm-size PCs, through the introduction of advanced E-mail and wireless messaging
features. These patented products also have earned industry distinctions, such as the
coveted 3Com Platinum Certification. JP's Mobile Products Division develops
and markets both client and server software that enhances existing messaging technologies
for the paging and Personal Digital Assistant markets. JP's Enterprise Solutions
Division develops, installs and supports customized corporate messaging systems,
including the JPS-1000 in-house paging system used by the New York Stock Exchange. Fortune
500 companies utilize the IT Professional Services Division as an extensive
consulting resource for its specialty projects, such as call processing and Enterprise
Resource Planning. For more information, visit JP's Web site: www.jpsystems.com.
About Macromedia
Macromedia's mission is to add life to the Web. By providing its
award-winning Web Publishing, Web Entertainment, and Web Learning solutions to Web
designers, consumers, and the enterprise, Macromedia is delivering a completely new
generation of Internet tools and technologies designed to transform the Web experience.
Headquartered in San Francisco, Macromedia (NASDAQ: MACR) has more than 500 employees
worldwide and is available on the Internet at http://www.macromedia.com.
About MapQuest
MapQuest.com, Inc. is a leader in advanced mapping systems. The Company
launched its popular web site (www.mapquest.com) on February 5, 1996. Today, MapQuest.com
is receiving more than 3.1 million unique visitors monthly1 to its consumer web site. As
part of their business-to-business services, MapQuest.com helps businesses integrate maps
and driving directions into their Internet, intranet and call center applications for
improved marketing and customer service functions. MapQuest.com has developed a diverse
network of more than 500 business partners, including: Yahoo (Nasdaq:YHOO), Lycos (Nasdaq:
LCOS), Infoseek (Nasdaq: SEEK),
Excite (Nasdaq: XCIT), AOL Digital City (NYSE: AOL), CitySearch
(Nasdaq: TMCS), Travelocity (NYSE: TSG), Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), MasterCard, Kinko's,
Blockbuster, and Dayton Hudson (NYSE: DH).
In addition to web-enabled mapping services, MapQuest.com also provides
high-quality print maps to leading brands of reference books, travel guides and textbooks.
It also provides the underlying mapping and driving direction technology and components to
a variety of vertical industries, such as corporate travel, hotels, real estate and
retailers.
MapQuest.com is listed on the Nasdaq; the ticker symbol is MQST. The
Company has been in operation since 1967.
1Media Metrix, March 1999
About Ticketmaster Online-Citysearch
The CitySearch city guides (www.citysearch.com) provide in-depth, locally-produced information on where to go and what
to do in major U.S. and foreign cities, including arts and entertainment, recreation,
shopping and community. The city guides help people get things done by integrating
the ability to perform online local transactions, including ticketing, reservations,
classifieds, auctions, merchandise and even matchmaking. Ticketmaster Online (www.ticketmaster.com), the
world's leading online ticketing company, is the exclusive provider of tickets online for
clients of Ticketmaster Corporation, the leading provider and distributor of event
tickets, selling on an annual basis approximately 75 million tickets representing gross
receipts in excess of 2.5 billion dollars, for more than 250,000 events and 3,750 clients.
The CitySearch network also includes www.CityAuction.com, www.Livedaily.com and the recently acquired www.Match.com.
About Visto Corporation
Visto is the pioneer in Web-based personal and group applications,
which enable users to organize their own information, interact in groups and plan events
all through one integrated service. The free Visto service is available at www.visto.com.
The company has partnerships with Compaq Computers, theglobe.com; mcafee.com, recently
launched by Network Associates, Inc.; Student Advantage, in providing the AT&T Virtual
Backpack; Hewlett-Packard; sixdgrees; Microsoft Outlook; and Puma Technology. Based in
Mountain View, CA, Visto Corporation was founded in 1996, and is funded by Bessemer
Venture Partners, the founding investor, NEA, Trinity Ventures, Vector Capital, CMG
@Ventures and Labrador Ventures.
Contact information:
Megan Matthews
Nokia
(972) 894-4267
[email protected]
Melissa Walia
Excite
(650) 569-2213
[email protected]
Joni Hanson
InfoSpace
(425) 602-0552
[email protected]
Michael Forbes
Intelligent Information
(203) 969-0020
[email protected]
Kirsten Armstrong
Macromedia
(415) 252-4088
[email protected]
Robin Palmer
MapQuest
(717) 285-8559
[email protected]
Cathryn Binz
Springbok Technologies, Inc. for JP Systems
(972) 480-9458
[email protected]
Mike Brogan/Abigail Johnson
Roeder-Johnson Corporation for Visto Corporation
(650) 802-1850
[email protected] / [email protected]
Nancy Scott Lyon
Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch
(626) 660-2530
[email protected]
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