Nokia to Deliver Multimedia Messaging Solution to Ukrainian Mobile Communications; Deal Marked by Ukraine's First Multimedia Messaging Call in Kiev

Business Wire, Nov 1, 2002

Business Editors

HELSINKI, Finland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 2002

Nokia and Ukrainian Mobile Communications (UMC) have introduced the complete Nokia Multimedia Messaging Solution (MMS) to the Ukrainian market - the first of its kind in the country.

The service is initially available for UMC target customers now and for the wider audience in early 2003. UMC today conducted the first public MMS call in Ukraine.

With the Nokia solution, UMC's 1.5 million customers will be able to compose their own multimedia message, comprising a mix of personal photographs, pictures, sound recordings as well as text and send it to another mobile or email address. A range of multimedia text alerts covering sport, entertainment, gossip, news, travel and weather will also be offered.

Nokia has among the wireless industry's most extensive track record in MMS with around 40 customers to date and an ever-growing number of launched systems, making multimedia messaging a reality for today's mobile consumers.

"Nokia is a frontrunner in new technologies and already has a proven track record in delivering MMS solutions, hence it was a natural choice for us," explains Eric Franke, CEO, UMC.

"We are delighted to demonstrate this next generation service with the first MMS call in the Ukraine in Kiev which shows our customers the exciting and innovative new services they will soon be able to enjoy," he adds.

"This agreement marks a new level in our excellent cooperation with UMC. It also further underlines the fact that Nokia is a leader in MMS and next generation technologies as more and more operators choose the Nokia MMS solution for their multimedia messaging services," says Alexander Timoshenko, Account Manager, Nokia Networks.

Nokia MMS deliveries to UMC include the Nokia Multimedia Messaging Center (MMSC) and the Nokia Multimedia Terminal Gateway. In addition Nokia provides system implementation, integration and care services to maintain the competitiveness of the MMS solution.

UMC is Ukraine's leading mobile communications operator, one of the most successful companies in Ukraine and the number one service brand in the country. UMC operates the widest coverage network in Ukraine, offering subscribers superior quality in terms of coverage, capacity and call success rate. UMC currently has 1,535,000 subscribers and offers the widest array of innovative value added services.

Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed broadband and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.