Sun Java Technology Powered Mobile Phones to Arrive in Europe - Product Announcement

Cambridge Telcom Report, Oct 18, 1999

Sun Microsystems Monday announced the growing acceptance of Java technology in GSM mobile phones across Europe with three key industry leaders support.

First, Motorola plans to launch the Motorola Timeport P1088 smart phone, a Java technology powered mobile phone in the first quarter of 2000. Second, Sony will cooperate in demonstrating an end-to-end service delivery model over the GSM network with Credit Suisse. Third, Java technology will be a core component of Symbian's Smartphone offering to be available in the first half of 2000.

Motorola's, Sony's, and Symbian's use of Java technology in mobile phones marks a pivotal turning point in how mobile phones will be used in the near future.

"Java technology has unique security features and dynamic download capabilities that create new business opportunities by broadening the way consumers use their mobile phones. Since over one billion wireless phones are expected by 2005, this is a significant market opportunity," said Mike Clary, vice president and general manager, Consumer and Embedded, Sun Microsystems.

"Shortly, users will be able to do secure on-line banking or trading, play with games, or get personalized news reports. By delivering a wide range of graphically enhanced services, Java technology will make the user's experience richer and more engaging."

Java technology creates new business opportunities by providing a complete end-to-end solution for cellular networks covering device manufacturers, content providers and service providers.

Device manufacturers are able to develop sophisticated products that can handle value-added services. Content providers developing new services such as electronic commerce, entertainment/games, and financial services, can issue those services across a wide number of telephony devices without having to re-write their applications.

Finally, service providers can establish an infrastructure to securely deliver new types of applications and value-added services to a variety of telephony devices increasing customer loyalty.

Who is Using Java Technology and Why

The end-to-end value of Java technology is already well recognized. As demonstrated at the JavaOne developer conference, NTT DoCoMo along with phone suppliers and leading content developers such as Bandai are developing a service delivery platform for late year 2000 across Japan.

"Over 1.7 million NTT DoCoMo i-mode subscribers have signed up over the last eight months and that number will reach 4 million by March 31, 2000. By adding Java technology, i-mode will become even more robust and engaging to consumers.

"From these new capabilities, we expect our subscriber base will grow even faster and will reach 10 million users within a few years," said Kei-ichi Enoki, managing director, Gateway Business Department, NTT DoCoMo.

In Europe, Motorola plans to release the Motorola Timeport P1088 smart phone based on Java technology. The phone leverages the distinct advantages of the Java platform by helping service providers offer their customers distinctive applications.

Through wireless Internet connectivity, it is expected to deliver e-mail, HTML and WAP micro browsers(1), as well as TrueSync synchronization technology, which will synchronize application data with select desktop applications or Internet sites such as Yahoo and Excite(2).

"Providing world-class features based on the Java platform, the Timeport P1088 is an example of Motorola's continued commitment to provide our customers with Internet connectivity," said Julie Shimer, corporate vice president and general manager, Smart and Connected Products for Motorola.

"Customers will be able to preview the Timeport P1088 at Telecom. It will be commercially available in the first quarter of 2000."

Sun plans to launch a project to develop an end-to-end service delivery model based on Java technology. A prototype was developed for Telecom99 and will be demonstrated there. The prototype, built on standard Sony GSM phone model CMD-CD5, receives and runs Credit Suisse on-line banking applications downloaded through existing GSM network.

"Sony is known for creating new markets, and in this tradition, Sony wants to be among the first investigating how Java technology can benefit mass market GSM mobile phones. Since new services and content will create new business opportunities, leveraging the 1.7 million Java technology developers will foster much quicker deployments of innovative services," said Yoshio Kubo, managing director of Sony DTCE.

"To many future consumer products, Java technology will bring a new breed of applications to the user."

At CeBIT earlier this year, Sun announced a strategic alliance with Symbian to incorporate Java technology into Symbian's technology. Symbian is licensing this technology to mobile computing and telecommunications manufacturers such as Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, Matsushita, Philips and Psion; 50 percent of worldwide manufacturers of Wireless Information Devices.

Java technology allows them to produce compelling devices with their robustness, usability and communications provided by Symbian.