Nokia defines new wireless service category with development of Smart Messaging

Business Wire, April 24, 1997

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 1997--

Direct access from GSM phone to Internet services

Nokia today announced Smart Messaging, a new direct Internet access service technology specially designed for mobile phone users.

Smart Messaging, which Nokia developed, is available as an open specification providing direct access to the Internet from standard GSM cellular phones. In addition, as the first manufacturer, Nokia is able to provide the complete Smart Messaging solution to network operators and service providers. Nokia initially presented the concept last month at CeBIT '97 in Hannover, Germany, and will preview the concept at the Handheld Systems Conference in San Francisco tomorrow.

"The main idea behind Smart Messaging is to combine Internet access with wireless telephony in a seamless manner," said Mikko Terho, vice president, Wireless Data, Nokia Mobile Phones. "The Nokia-developed Smart Messaging specification does not require any additional software in a terminal. Any GSM phone with the SMS (Short Message Service) capability, such as the Nokia 2190, can access the services. The specification is designed to be scaleable and it supports not only standard GSM phones, but takes full advantage of enhanced communications devices such as the Nokia 9000 Communicator."

Nokia's Smart Messaging enables GSM subscribers access to a wide range of new applications, such as information and "infotainment" services and the Internet. Services could include flight schedules, weather reports, stock news, currency rates and tele-banking information. To access the services, the subscriber simply enters a key word and sends it as a short message to the network server. The information is then formulated into a short message and sent back to the subscriber.

Communication between the phone and World Wide Web pages is conducted via an intelligent network server. Based on the specifications, Nokia has also developed the Nokia TTML (Tagged Text Mark-up Language) Gateway that enables network operators and third-party providers to offer information from the Internet to subscribers. The communication between the phone and the server is based on open TTML technology that is optimized for narrowband connections, such as Short Messaging.

The Nokia TTML Gateway filters out extra information from Web pages, such as logos and graphics, leaving only the information necessary to the subscriber. Because TTML does not use any special characters or binary data, the same services can be accessed from standard wireless phones and phones with more enhanced browsers, such as the Nokia 9000 Communicator, without any modifications to the service definitions on the server.

Finland-based Nokia is a global telecommunications company with 1996 net sales of $8.5 billion. Nokia is Europe's largest manufacturer of mobile telephones, the market leader in digital phones, a pioneer in digital switching and wireless communications, and a significant supplier of advanced access systems, including home terminals. Nokia shares are traded in the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NOKA. The shares are also traded in Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Paris and Frankfurt.

Nokia is the title sponsor of the Nokia Sugar Bowl college football classic held annually in New Orleans. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Additional information:

GSM - Global System for Mobile Communications

SMS - Short Message Service

TTML - Tagged Text Mark-Up Language, is part of a narrowband-sockets

agreement reached between Intel and Nokia to allow SMS messages to be

brought into Windows.

CONTACT: Nokia

Megan Matthews, 972/257-9267

or

Crescent Communications

Bill Maguire, 770/698-8650, ext. 119