New Motorola Platform Redefines Information Access; Mobile Internet Exchange Integrates Voice, Data Services - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Oct 11, 1999

Motorola, Inc. Tuesday unveiled its Mobile Internet Exchange (MIX) communications platform, the first platform integrating both voice and data services. Motorola's strategic focus is on bringing the benefits of the Internet revolution to everyone, regardless of location or access device. Currently, a user's ability to get information - both personal and from the Internet - is limited. With the MIX communications platform, mobile consumers can obtain necessary information anywhere via the Internet.

Motorola's MIX communications platform, a feature server of Motorola's Aspira architecture, delivers necessary information to a consumer's choice of device even when consumers travel away from their home city. For example, MIX enables a consumer to enter information, such as a telephone number, in a personal digital assistant (PDA), synchronize its content using TrueSync and then access that number from any personal device. This includes access by simply stating an instruction such as "Call Jim" from any telephone. Finally, a consumer can view the telephone number or Internet content on the display of any compatible mobile phone. Thus, you can access a content source from different devices and receive information in formats to suit your changing needs.

"Motorola expects that by 2005, one billion people will be using the Internet and accessing it from wireless connections," said Maria Martinez, general manager and vice president, Motorola Internet and Connectivity Solutions Division (ICSD). "The MIX communications platform breaks down the barriers of the Internet by providing an easy way for consumers to access and use important information while they are mobile."

With the MIX communications platform, carriers can use the Internet as the medium to expand their wireless and Internet services. Motorola's MIX communications platform provides them with a wireless Internet-based end-to-end solution comprised of servers, gateways, software applications, content, and a new Mobile Applications Development Kit (Mobile ADK).

"Motorola is enabling carriers around the world to participate in the Internet arena, thus expanding their subscriber base and creating service differentiation," said Mike Maloney, general manager, Americas Solutions.

A carrier can purchase and integrate the MIX communications platform into any existing infrastructure or use Motorola as a service bureau. The carriers then can easily offer leading-edge, integrated voice and data services customized for consumers, small businesses and corporate enterprises. The MIX communications platform is available now.

"We believe that Motorola is on the right track with the introduction of the MIX communications platform. We look forward to working with Motorola on a market trial of voice and integrated Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)-based data services on our GSM PCS system using the MIX communications platform," said Carlton Hill, director of product development, BellSouth Cellular Corporation. "By trialing Motorola's MIX communications platform, BellSouth is developing innovative new services for our valued customers."

"The ability to access important information on demand by leveraging the capabilities of the Internet is a powerful new communications tool that will dramatically enhance our customers' communications capabilities," said Ted Hoffman, vice president, technical development, Bell Atlantic Mobile. "Motorola's MIX communications platform validates Bell Atlantic Mobile's vision of the potential power that the convergence of wireless and the Internet will bring to our industry, much like the capability our AirBridge wireless Internet and email customers already enjoy."

"We look forward to offering new integrated voice and data solutions to both our business and consumer clients," said Robert Blumenthal, vice president, product development, with Clearnet Communications Inc., a leading Canadian wireless communications provider of both iDEN and digital PCS services. "The introduction of mobile email and personal information management services (PIM) can provide a significant productivity tool. We are eager to work with Motorola in technology trials to assess how the suite of Myosphere applications running on the MIX communications platform can best serve our clients."

"BT is committed to providing new and innovative communications services to our customers. As such, we are excited about trialing voice and data services hosted on Motorola's MIX communications platform," said Philip Marnick, Head of Mobile Multimedia for British Telecom.

The hardware's architecture, which supports Myosphere Data Services, Myosphere Voice Activated Services and VoxML Hosting Services, is open and scalable. The software applications integrate voice and data capabilities and support HTML, WML and VoxML markup languages. Software features include: Automatic Speech Recognition based on Nuance Communications' natural language voice interface software technology, voice dialing, TrueSync, personal information manager (PIM), and access to carrier-hosted or corporate email. The MIX communications platform offers pre-set Internet content categories, which include weather and flight information. It also enables consumers to bookmark their favorite Internet sites. Additional software applications can easily be developed through Motorola's Mobile ADK.