Scandinavian mobile operator Hi3G Access AB, under the brand ‘3’, is the first in the world to replace SMSC (Short Message Service Centre) technology with Telsis Intelligent SMS Routing.

“This is a significant development in the industry,” says Telsis chairman Jeff Wilson. “Up to now, operators who have implemented Intelligent SMS Routing have done so in conjunction with their legacy SMSCs. Now 3 has positioned itself to handle huge volumes of SMS with the highest reliability and quality of service, and to roll out a new generation of advanced SMS-based network services including business text and customer care.”

SMSCs have often been seen to limit throughput during high profile events that rely on text messaging for audience interaction. They also have little ability to support revenue-generating advanced services.

Telsis Intelligent SMS Routing is a new form of messaging architecture that enables high throughput and advanced new services. It features central intelligence for flexibility, with distributed switching for the highest throughput and resilience. Centralised management and control provide operational simplicity and low cost of ownership.

Members of the T-Mobile and Vodafone groups have already deployed Telsis Intelligent SMS Routing to enhance existing SMSC-centric networks. This has given them most of the benefits of next-generation messaging, such as high capacity and new SMS-based services.

3’s deployment of Intelligent SMS Routing is part of an integration and hosting contract with Ericsson. The operator’s existing in-house messaging system has been replaced with a managed infrastructure that supports SMS, MMS, voice mail, unified messaging, e-mail and video.

Telsis Intelligent SMS Routing handles all person-to-person and application-based SMS traffic, routing it for instant delivery according to programmable criteria at a rate of millions of messages an hour. Normal person-to-person messaging and national-scale voting events can take place simultaneously without any reduction in quality of service. Meanwhile, in-built programmable intelligence supports the deployment of innovative text-based services. 

3 is a brand of Hi3G Access AB and offers third generation mobile video services to the Scandinavian market. The company was first to launch commercial 3G services in Sweden in May 2003 and Denmark in October 2003. As of 30 March 2005 the company has 414,000 subscribers in Sweden and Denmark. It also holds a 3G license for Norway. Hi3G Access AB is a joint venture between Hutchison Whampoa Ltd (60%) and Investor AB (40%).

Leading mobile operator brings mobile IM via MSN to millions of its customers

OZ has announced that it has teamed with KPN to offer instant messaging (IM) via Microsoft's MSN service, to KPN's 6.3 millions customers in the Netherlands.

KPN customers can now access their MSN IM service chat by sending and receiving IM's from their i-mode? mobile phones, whether their contacts are logged in on a PC or on a mobile device. KPN customers can simply connect to their MSN Instant Messenger in 3 easy steps:
" Select 'MSN Instant Messenger' from the application folder
" Enter in their existing username and password
" Within seconds they are up and running, able to chat with members of their existing contacts

"Expanding the communications options for our valued customers is important for us at KPN," said Marcel Timmerhuis, Manager for Mobile Consumer Marketing at KPN. "We are delighted to offer this affordable and fun service to our i-mode customers and we are very pleased to be working with OZ in delivering this coveted service to our customers."

The  OZ  Mobile IM Solution meets the dynamic needs of mobile operators and handset  manufacturers  with  a  proven,  standards-based  and customizable client application that is   designed  to  meet  customers'  specific requirements. Working with the leading instant messaging service providers, the OZ  Mobile IM Client enables mobile operators to offer a mobile IM experience  that looks familiar to users' existing desktop IM services, and allows  end-users to easily select which IM service they would like to use. The OZ client does this within a small memory footprint while providing the best user experience possible.

"Being away for your PC doesn't mean that you should not be able to stay in touch with the people that matter most in your life," said Skuli Mogensen, CEO and Founder of OZ. "As Europe's mobile users continue to demand data services that enable them to stay connected while they are on the go, the OZ Mobile IM Solution provides a fantastic, easy and affordable way to deliver this capability to mobile subscribers."

Enhanced personalized content presentation increases usage and improves subscriber satisfaction

Unipier, a specialist in Intelligent Policy Management, has announced the successful implementation of an enhanced content presentation solution at Telefónica Móviles España, which provides subscribers with a personalized, dynamic "Smart Menu" and improved content appearance and interaction.

Unipier has developed a consistent intuitive interface for mobile data services that combines with navigation tools to reduce the number of keystrokes needed to access preferred sites. The subscriber friendly solution boosts usage and enables Telefonica to benefit more from mobile data content and services. It also provides users with new personalization options, such as favorite sites and background "Skins," displaying favorite celebrities and personal photos.

"Mobile data usage is an increasingly popular and central service element for us," said Luis Ezcurra, Market Development and Marketing General Manager at Telefónica Móviles España. "The data presentation solution is invaluable because it streamlines and personalizes our successful e-mocion Web experience in ways that make services easier and more fun to use. This is a powerful market differentiator that is likely to attract new customers and help retain existing ones. "

"We are proud to be a part of Telefonica's continued success in the mobile data services arena," said Gabby Levy, CEO of Unipier. "Telefonica has a history of providing innovative market leading services to their growing subscriber base. We are excited to provide them with added value that helps to increase their competitive edge in this growing market."

Unipier Presentation Manager provides subscribers with an enhanced, context-sensitive user experience by transforming existing portals into personalized and dynamic service environments. Maintaining a consistent and branded browsing experience, Unipier Presentation Manager transparently controls the presentation of both internal and external content over multiple devices.

MaxBill extends its market reach with the combined strengths of its convergent platform and Atos Origin's integration expertise

MaxBill, a market leader in providing comprehensive financial, customer care and billing solutions, and Atos Origin, a leading international IT services company, have announced the formation of an alliance in the Benelux region that has already resulted in a joint win at a major  telecommunications provider. The combination of MaxBill's Universal Consolidated Platform (UCP) and field-proven system functionality, with Atos Origin's expertise in providing professional IT, implementation and integration services for CRM, Product Catalog, and Customer Care & Billing solutions, ensures reduced operational costs, increased revenues and quick ROI.

"We are extremely pleased to partner with Atos Origin, a prime Information Technology services company," said Hadar Himmelman, MaxBill's CSO. "This alliance will allow MaxBill to further optimize its sales and delivery efforts, while benefiting from Atos Origin's in-depth business knowledge, and strong market presence. Given Atos Origin's proven track record and extensive experience in the customer care and billing industry, we feel confident that this partnership will prove to be highly productive."

"We had thorough reasons for choosing MaxBill as one of our customer care and billing solution providers," explained Richard Thoben, Director of Telecom, Utility & Media solutions, at Atos Origin Netherlands. "Empowered by MaxBill's proven ability to consolidate all critical customer management aspects on an integrated platform, along with its extensive legacy replacement methodology and experience, Atos Origin offers
existing and new customers a winning value proposition. MaxBill's versatile platform capabilities, supporting multiple vertical markets, reinforce our plans to grow and deepen our market presence."

IPWireless partners with leading mobile operator to provide seamless E1-type speed WiFi backhaul to trains

IPWireless has announced UMTS RailLink, a new network solution that allows operators to offer high-speed broadband connectivity and WiFi access even in the world’s fastest trains.  Passengers will be able to use their WiFi-enabled laptops or other devices to enjoy a broadband experience while they travel that’s as fast and easy to use as a regular hotspot. UMTS RailLink, which is based on IPWireless’s commercial UMTS TD-CDMA mobile broadband technology, was successfully proven to reach speeds up to 220 kilometers per hours in a series of recent road and rail demonstrations with a leading European GSM operator.     

UMTS RailLink allows mobile operators to work with rail operators to provide passengers with uninterrupted WiFi hotspot access with similar or better performance than fixed hotspot services.  The solution supports very low network latencies, which is critical for delivering real time applications, and handover, so the connection is never lost, even at high speeds.  During the demonstration in Europe, uninterrupted megabit-plus access was provided to a train across multiple cell sites over 39 kilometers of track, including a bridge span.

The UMTS RailLink solution can be deployed over the existing unpaired IMT-2000 1900MHz spectrum owned by GSM operators, as well as any of the other commercially available TD-CDMA spectrum bands.  Because UMTS RailLink is based on UMTS TD-CDMA, the 3G high-speed data technology designed for mobile operators, the solution integrates seamlessly with a GSM operator’s existing network, leveraging existing infrastructure to provide wide area seamless coverage for rail lines.

IPWireless is also working with operators in other European countries that are interested in providing the services enabled by UMTS RailLink.  The UMTS RailLink solution is particularly attractive because unpaired IMT-2000 1900MHz spectrum is available across Europe, which would enable mobile operators to seamlessly support the many cross-border rail routes across the continent.

The UMTS RailLink solution is optimized to overcome Doppler shift and can currently support speeds of up to 220 kilometers per hour, including handover between cell sites at that speed, without losing the connection. In the future, IPWireless expects that the solution will support speeds of more than 400 kilometers per hour.

“We are very pleased with the feedback that we have received from operators on our UMTS RailLink solution for providing carrier grade connectivity to train passengers,” said Dr. Bill Jones, chief operating officer, IPWireless. “We believe that UMTS RailLink is the optimal solution that will allow mobile operators to serve the many rail systems that want to provide mobile broadband services right now.”

Ericsson and Avea signed contracts to expand GSM radio and core networks. The network expansion increases Avea's coverage and traffic capacity, allowing Turkey’s youngest operator to fulfil the needs of its increasing number of subscribers.

Tayfun Çataltepe, Avea Network Vice President, says: "Avea is continuing network investments paralel to its growth in the market thanks to Ericsson as a successful partner and sole supplier."

Jan Kemvall, General Manager of Ericsson Turkey, says: "This contract strengthens our position as end-to-end leader in the Turkish telecommunications market and confirms Ericsson as the preferred partner and primary supplier for radio-core networks and Service layer solutions to Avea in Turkey.

"We see a great potential in the Turkish mobile market, where mobile penetration rate is about 50% and operators are focusing more and more on data services," he added.

Ericsson's partnership with Avea started in 2002 when Ericsson signed an expansion agreement for the operator's GSM network in seven major Turkish cities.

Colibria AS, a leading international developer of mobile Instant Messaging and Presence Service (IMPS) technology platforms, has announced the completion of an €8.5 million investment funding round.  Demonstrating the strong market confidence in Colibria's position in the telecommunications sector, the investment package includes substantial further investments from existing investors - Northzone Ventures and Four Seasons Venture - together with a major component from a new investor, Norwegian venture capital specialist Ferd Venture.

Torleif Ahlsand, Chairman of Colibria, and a partner of Northzone Ventures, commented: “This announcement represents an important turning point for the company. It underlines the confidence being shown in Colibria's technology by network operators and handset manufacturers worldwide, while emphasising its position as the supplier of choice for instant messaging and presence-based solutions.  The level of new investment will enable Colibria to accelerate a number of development programmes and grow its market share substantially.”

Bjørn Erik Reinseth, Investment Manager at Ferd Venture, also commented: “Our decision to invest €3.8 million in Colibria reflects the degree of market acceptance being shown in its technology, and in its IM and presence solutions.  Colibria is well positioned with a strong potential and is ideally placed to capitalise on the broadest market opportunities available.”

Colibria's IMPS technology is deployed by mobile network operators and MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) worldwide, to deliver advanced revenue-generating instant messaging and presence services.

As part of the global cooperation between Siemens and France Telecom (FT), a contract has been signed in Poland between Siemens and Polska Telefonia Komórkowa Centertel (Centertel Polish Cellular Telephony) or PTK Centertel, a subsidiary of Telekomunikacja Polska and France Telecom. The contract entails the construction of a signaling network based on the Surpass hiS 700 platform, together with the implementation of the NetManager system.

The implemented solution will help the carrier improve its signaling traffic management. It will also provide an important element for the company’s GSM and 3G networks, now under construction, making them both more secure. The Surpass hiS platform from Siemens will allow PTK Centertel to provide the number portability service required by Poland’s new telecommunications law (subscribers will be able to retain their previous numbers even if they change networks). The Siemens NetManager system will enable the Polish operator to supervise and control the network as well as efficiently manage the signaling network and mobile number portability service.

The decision in the Top Sourcing process of the FT Group to opt for the Surpass technology was due to its high technical quality and the economic value of the solution provided. “We are delighted about our new cooperation with PTK Centertel, aimed at building out and upgrading the company's telecom infrastructure. We are confident that this relationship will result in innovative services for the customers of the Idea network,” said Christian Unterberger, President of Fixed Networks at Siemens Communications.