Ericsson and GMCC launch largest pre-commercial GPRS network in China

Ericsson and GMCC launch largest pre-commercial GPRS network in China Ericsson and Guangdong Mobile Communication Co. Ltd. (GMCC) have launched China's largest GPRS pre-commercial network. GMCC will begin offering high-speed wireless data communications services to customers in the cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The launch of the pre-commercial GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) network in the two cities once again evidences Ericsson's technology and market leadership in GPRS worldwide, and strengthens the position of GMCC as a leading mobile services operator in China. GMCC launched the service with a live demonstration held during a recent ceremony in Guangzhou, at which GMCC also announced that their total subscriber number had reached the 10 million mark. Li Gang, General Manager of GMCC, said at the ceremony, "The GPRS pre- commercial network from Ericsson will enable GMCC to have the network capacity to provide high-speed data communications services to our customers. This will help them to smoothly enter the age of the Mobile Internet, while enjoying the conveniences and services brought by high- speed mobile data communications." "We are delighted to co-operate with GMCC with our cutting-edge GPRS solutions," said Stephen Yeung, Executive Vice President of Ericsson (China) Co. Ltd.. "GPRS is a major step on the path to 3G, and Ericsson has every confidence and every ability to provide GMCC with the industry- leading solutions needed to enable them to offer high-speed wireless data communications services to their customers." Guangzhou and Shenzhen were selected by GMCC as the initial two cities in which to deploy GPRS because of the huge number of subscribers there and the resulting complexity of the GSM networks. This means that the experiences and expertise gained from the GPRS deployment in those cities will serve as an especially valuable reference in future deployments and expansion of GPRS networks in the country. More about GPRS: http://www.ericsson.com/pressroom/20000915-0022.html More about GMCC and Ericsson's recent frame agreements: http://www.ericsson.com/pressroom/20000906-0063.html Ericsson is the leading communications supplier, combining innovation in mobility and Internet in creating the new era of mobile Internet. Ericsson provides total solutions covering everything from systems and applications to mobile phones and other communications tools. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for customers all over the world. Read more at http://www.ericsson.com/pressroom FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Press Office, Division Mobile Systems Ericsson Corporate Communications Phone: +46 70 699 9412; E-mail: press.mobilesystems@lme.ericsson.se Stephen Yeung, Executive Vice President, Ericsson (China) Co. Ltd. Phone: +86 20 833 28988; E-mail: stephen.yeung@ehk.ericsson.se Fiona Poon, Communications Officer Ericsson (China) Co. Ltd., Guangzhou Branch Phone: +86 20 833 28988; E-mail: fiona.poon@etc.ericsson.se About Ericsson China Today, Ericsson has 24 offices, 10 joint ventures and nearly 4,000 employees in China, providing total solutions for Chinese customers. About GPRS from Ericsson Ericsson supports early introduction of commercial GPRS services by operators with its end to end GPRS solution including GPRS infrastructure supporting SMG 31 level of standardization (ETSI), ready-to-go mobile Internet applications as well as GPRS phones. Ericsson has a unique supplier position being first with both GPRS infrastructure and commercial GPRS phones and applications through its GPRS partner programs (MAI, Mobile Application Initiative) which now has more than 800 members. (http://www.mobileapplicationsinitiative.com) To support the early introduction of commercial GPRS services, Ericsson is ramping up the shipment of the first GPRS phone, the R520 to larger volumes supporting operators who already have implemented Ericsson's GPRS solutions. The R520 phone supports GSM 900/1800/1900 frequencies, allowing communication on one phone throughout 120 countries on five continents. The R520 is the first GPRS phone with Bluetooth and the first phone in the world (together with T36) supporting WAP 1.2.1. It also supports Chinese characters. Ericsson is the clear GPRS market leader, with 52 commercial agreements and has already delivered over 50 standard compatible GPRS solutions to leading operators in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. The Ericsson GPRS solution is future-proofed for third generation (3G) systems and is fully compatible with the GPRS specifications approved at SMG 31(Special Mobile Group within ETSI standardization organization).