Nokia Joins Deutsche Bank in WAP Pilot

Computergram International, Sept 1, 1999

Nokia Oy has added Deutsche Bank to the growing list of major corporations making an early effort to build applications based around the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). The professional services business of the Helsinki, Finland company's Nokia Ventures arm, will provide Deutsche Bank with WAP 1.0 server software, model 7110 mobile phones and consulting services to assist in a pilot scheme by the Frankfurt, Germany-based bank which is estimated by some measures to be the world's biggest financial services company.

Veli-Matti Pelho, manager of professional services at Nokia Ventures, said the cooperative venture fits his group's strategy of "identifying areas where Nokia can be a world leader, and where we can make a profit." But he did not disclose financial details of the project. So far his, and other Nokia groups have successfully promoted WAP uptake in a number of market sectors, and recently announced a joint development with IBM and the Sabre Group to build a mobile systems for flight bookings. However, Pelho added that "banking is a natural area for mobility."