Newsletter Archive 6

Newsletter 6 - 2001

A. Newsletter English

1. Mobile Entertainment - WAP and SMS Games
2. UMTS-Start in Germany
3. Deutsche Telekom and British Telecom cooperate for UMTS
4. L-Mode arrives
5. The introduction of MMS
6. Orange launches GPRS this fa
7. Wireless data mining
8. Oracle plans big steps in the wireless world
9. McDonalds test wireless payment solution
10. Get ready for EMS

1. Mobile Entertainment - Wireless Web- and SMS-Games

Are mobile internet games the killer applications for mobile phones? No matter what the answer, the number of wireless web games and SMS games is growing with enormous speed. In the beginning it was only big internet portals, which offered such games, now many other companies are getting the idea that such games are a great way to bind the consumer. CheckCom offers the Mobile Entertainment Server which is a complete entertainment platform, which can immediately be used by companies and internet portals. Altogether there are over 32 wireless web games and SMS games (card games, adventure games, strategy games etc. ) A game programming application, which lets you program your own games, is available on request. With this application you can re-develop and modify games for your needs without programming knowledge.

In addition to all the wireless web and SMS games the Mobile Entertainment Server also includes quiz- and voting-modules. Companies can develop their own quiz-systems and manage it. You can also create your own voting applications with the voting-module and even manage and publish all the results. All games, quizzes and voting-systems are already in use and are available right away. For special needs, CheckCom can create customized games or quizzes for you (i-mode, wap, j2me etc). All wireless web games can be run from the WAP Gateway, which means that companies and private persons can run their games and quizzes over their own WAP Gateway. User, which access games can save a lot of money, because they will only pay local phone costs and the gaming is also a lot quicker.

A small number of demo wireless web games and of the quiz- and voting-systems is available here:
Wireless games http://wapserver.roka.net:8002/browser?dev=4&url=http://www.ccwap.com/wapgames (german)
Quiz systems http://wapserver.roka.net:8002/browser?dev=4&url=http://www.mobilesoftware.de/rtlwap/servlet/quiz (german)
Voting systems http://wapserver.roka.net:8002/browser?dev=4&url=http://www.mobilesoftware.de/rtlwap/servlet/voting (german)

2. UMTS-Start in Germany

Group 3G, a Spanish-Finnish congolomerate is setting the start date for German UMTS to the last quarter of 2002. Group 3G has formed a powerful partnership with E-Plus and will already offer mobile services in the beginning of 2002. The UMTS network is planned to start in late 2002 and is very likely to be the first one in Germany, if not Europe. Group 3G's goal is it to write profits by late 2007.

3. Deutsche Telekom and British Telecom cooperate for UMTS

The German company Deutsche Telekom and Great Britains British Telecom have agreed to cooperate for the co-building of their UMTS networks. The cooperation includes building and funding complete UMTS networks in England, as well as Germany. The 2 companies have not yet released deadlines for the beginning of the cooperation.

4. L-Mode arrives

NTT DoCoMo is just days before the release of "L-Mode" which is closely related to I-Mode. L-Mode is sure to become as success, as millions of Japanese customers are already surfing the wireless web with I-mode. The technology of L-Mode is a more sophisticated version of I-Mode and NTT DoCoMo has already prepared - or helped other companies to prepare- hundreds of websites which can already be accessed with the brandnew L-Mode phones. (www.nttdocomo.com )

5. The introduction of MMS

Many different messaging systems have been evaluated to follow the enormously popular Short Message Service (SMS). In Europe, millions of users are daily sending messages per SMS. Now, some of the worlds biggest companiesin the telecommunication field, such as Ericsson, Siemens and Nokia, have formed an alliance to push MMS (Multimedia Messaging Services), which could become the next hit on mobile phones all over the world. MMS makes it possible for users to send pictures, audio files and even video
files over the wireless web.

6. Orange launches GPRS this fall

Many companies, such as E-Plus in Germany, have started their GPRS services in the spring or early summer of this year. Orange, a UK-based company with customers all over Europe has now released a statement which ensures customers the start of a GPRS network this fall. Because of their late start, Orange promise to offer extremely low prices for the use of their service. An exact starting date for Orange's GPRS network is still not set yet. (www.orange.co.uk)

7. Wireless data mining

Many data mining companies are starting to check out the wireless web. With the help of data mining companies find out more about the "online behaviors" of their customers. This helps companies to provide their with personalized content, e-mails, services and products and increase the interaction as a whole. This year, some data mining companies have already completed some of the first sophisticated research for wireless web customers. Data mining will certainly play a big role in the wireless world as soon as enough
customers are actually interacting, buying and communicating over the wireless web.

8. Oracle plans big steps in the wireless world

Oracle has announced that they are planning to enter the wireless web market with a wide array of products, such as WAP hosting. In a cooperation with Navlink, Drutt Networks and AT&T Oracle wants to become one of the biggest names in the European market and provide companies with B2B and B2C solutions for the wireless web. Experts are saying, that Oracle�s move might just be a little late, because many companies in this field have already laid down their claims. (www.oracle.com )

9. McDonalds test wireless payment solution

The biggest name in the fast food business, McDonalds, is testing a wireless payment solution with its customers. The tests are run in the greater Chicago area and have been very successful so far. Customers can charge up a certain amount to an account on a mobile phone or on the regular internet. Once that amount is on their account, they can shop at McDonalds with simply waving the so-called SpeedPass, at the register. This transponder is automatically communicating with another one at the restaurant. Afterwards,
the amount will be deducted from the account. (www.mcdonalds.com )

10. Get ready for EMS

While MMS is still somewhat far away, the next step after SMS is EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service). This service makes it possible for users to send ringing tones, pictures and -of course- text from mobile to mobile. Nokia is already offering such a service to their customers, but mobile phone owners of other brands cannot access or read such messages. EMS will set a standard for all mobile phone brands, just like SMS did, which will enable all mobile users to receive and send such enhanced messages. An EMS can be several times as big as an SMS and also include some interactive features.

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