Nokia First to Market with Corporate WAP Server - Wireless Application Protocol Server to Ship Globally in Commercial Volumes in December - WAP - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Nov 15, 1999

Nokia Wednesday announced December 15th availability of the Nokia WAP Server 1.0, a product which allows business to securely leverage the Internet in mobile environments and empower employees on the move.

Wednesday's announcement follows the conclusion of a successful beta campaign in which thousands of companies and software developers participated.

To meet the ongoing needs of the developer community, Nokia is also offering a complimentary trial version of the Nokia WAP Server 1.0 product and a new version of the Nokia WAP Toolkit on the Internet in December.

The Nokia WAP Server, the world's most widely-used WAP-server software product, allows businesses to fully leverage the power and functionality of the Internet in a mobile environment. It is an open server platform for mobile applications that lets companies maintain control over end-to-end security of access to data and customer traffic between the wireless network and the Internet or their own internal networks. The Nokia WAP Server complies with the WAP 1.1 specification and sets an industry milestone with its security option, the first commercially available implementation of the Wireless Transportation Layer Security (WTLS).

"The response of the developer community has been overwhelming, and with more than 10,000 Nokia servers in use in companies of all sizes across all industries, the Nokia WAP Server is already the world's most widely deployed," said Pertti Lounamaa, vice president, Nokia Wireless Software Solutions. "The corporate world is quickly recognizing the need to empower employees with information when they are on the move", he added. "Nokia and WAP are changing the way the world does business as companies welcome the addition of wireless connectivity to their information systems." There have been more than 1000 U.S-based installations of the Nokia WAP Server.

Nokia's initial distribution network for the Nokia WAP Server includes the following partners; Andersen Consulting, Danet, Getronics, Hewlett Packard, Hughes, IBM, ICL, Lotus, Nocom, Software AG and WM Data. Nokia continues to expand its distribution channel and is actively seeking further partners in different markets.

The Nokia WAP Server is designed specifically with corporate use in mind. Recognizing that security of data communications, especially mobile services, is extremely important to any business, the Nokia WAP Server 1.0 incorporates a high-level end-to-end security solution supporting encrypted communication and certificate-based authentication of the service. The price for corporate use starts from 10 000 US Dollars.

The Nokia WAP Server demonstrates the company's commitment to the Wireless Application Protocol, supporting open applications for the mobile world. Nokia also recently introduced the world's first WAP compliant phone, the Nokia 7110 GSM dual band phone for European and Asian Pacific markets. The Nokia 7100 Series handsets for the U.S. market will be available in the first half of 2000. The Corporate Nokia WAP Server 1.0 brings new business opportunities for corporations by enabling mobile access to new and existing services in a mobile environment.

WAP is an open global standard for communication between a mobile handset and the Internet or other computer application. WAP-based technology enables the design of advanced, interactive and real-time mobile services, such as mobile banking or Internet-based news services, which can be used in digital mobile phones or other mobile devices. The WAP specification allows solutions from multiple suppliers to perform consistently and reliably for the end-user across digital networks. For more WAP information visit: www.wapforum.com.

Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. Nokia is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks including related services. It also supplies multimedia terminals and computer displays. In 1998, net sales totaled EUR 13.3 billion (USD 15.7 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 53,000 people. Visit Nokia on the Web at www.nokia.com.

Nokia Wireless Software Solutions, part of the Nokia Internet Communications unit, focuses on the development of WAP technology and mobile solutions and applications for corporations and service providers, as well as mobile software platforms for software developers and system integrators. Internet: www.nokia.com/corporate/wap. The trial version of the Nokia WAP Server and the new version of the Nokia WAP Toolkit will be available on the Internet in the beginning of December.