Ericsson and Facebook create Innovation Lab for Internet.org

• Goal is to expand the reach of the Internet to emerging markets and create better mobile experiences
• Optimizing applications, networks, devices and services for next five billion Internet users
• Key to Internet.org goal of making Internet access available to all and supporting the vision for the Networked Society

Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) and Facebook today announced the creation of a joint innovation lab supporting the Internet.org initiative. The Internet.org Innovation Lab, an Ericsson-Facebook collaboration, will provide an environment and expertise for optimizing applications, networks, devices and services for the next five billion Internet users.

Expected to open in the second half of 2014 on Facebook's campus in Menlo Park, California, the new lab will tackle the most critical aspects of the Internet.org goal to make Internet access available to all.  

Based on Ericsson Device and Application Verification service capabilities and the company's technology leadership in mobile networks, Ericsson will provide Facebook and application developers the ability to simulate different network environments from around the world. This will allow them to develop and test mobile applications and services.

"With this lab, developers will be able to simulate network conditions typically found in new markets, giving them an environment to test and optimize their applications under a number of different scenarios," said Jay Parikh, Vice President of Infrastructure Engineering at Facebook. "This is a unique capability that Ericsson brings to the table and we are happy they have taken a leadership position with us in this initiative."

The lab will help remove one of the key physical barriers that exist for bringing the Internet to everyone. Developers today typically only have access to the network environment of their physical location.  With consumers today operating in different network environments (2G, 3G, 4G, WiFi) on multiple mobile operating systems and a wide range of devices, the complexity involved for developers can be overwhelming. The joint innovation lab will facilitate multiple network environments for testing and optimization, all in one location.

Announced in August 2013, Internet.org was formed with the goal to make Internet access available to the two-thirds of the world who are not yet connected, and to bring the same opportunities to everyone that the connected third of the world has today. Ericsson also has a more than 100 year history of working with bridging the digital divide and Technology for Good in Africa, and this experience will greatly contribute to the goals of Internet.org. This includes making Internet access affordable, using data more efficiently and helping businesses drive access.

"The goals of internet.org are very much aligned with our long-standing ideal that communications is a basic human need," said Johan Wibergh, Executive Vice President and Ericsson's Head of Business Unit Networks. "The creation of the lab will provide a unique environment for testing and ultimately optimizing applications regardless of network, device or operating system. The collaboration with app developers will provide Ericsson with invaluable understanding of their requirements on our networks, which we can apply to ensure the continued development of the best performing networks globally."

Ericsson Device and Application Verification services is an integral part of Ericsson's vision for the Networked Society in which the number of connected devices will increase, providing new services for people in all walks of life. It will become increasingly important for application developers, vendors and operators to stay competitive and deliver high-quality services and a positive network experience.

The service, announced at Mobile World Congress 2013, enables application developers, device and chipset vendors, as well as other players in the ecosystem of mobile and fixed telecom services, the ability to test and verify the devices and applications in wireline, mobile 2G, 3G and LTE networks.

During Mobile World Congress 2014 in Barcelona, Spain, Ericsson is showing world-leading technology and service capabilities and innovations. We believe that anything that benefits from a connection will be connected, and we lead the way with solutions that drive the development in mobility, broadband and the cloud, creating the foundation for eco-systems and transformation across industries. We are your guide in the Networked Society.

Welcome to our media and analyst briefing, Monday, February 24, 08:30am CET. You can find us at MWC in Hall 2, Stand 2S60. RSVP to media.relations@ericsson.com

Follow us during the event using @Ericsson and @Networked_Soc and join the discussion using #MWC14.

Insights from our experts and Networked Society evangelists are also published on our blog during the event.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Ericsson Mobile World Congress Media Kit

Device and Application Verification

Download high-resolution photos and broadcast-quality video at www.ericsson.com/press

Ericsson is a world-leading provider of communications technology and services. We are enabling the Networked Society with efficient real-time solutions that allow us all to study, work and live our lives more freely, in sustainable societies around the world.

Our offering comprises services, software and infrastructure within Information and Communications Technology for telecom operators and other industries. Today 40 percent of the world's mobile traffic goes through Ericsson networks and we support customers' networks servicing more than 2.5 billion subscribers. 

We are more than 110,000 people working with customers in more than 180 countries. Founded in 1876, Ericsson is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2013 the company's net sales were SEK 227.4 billion (USD 34.9 billion). Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ, New York stock exchanges.

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