Ericsson wants to reach Generation Y on the Internet

Ericsson wants to reach Generation Y on the Internet Beginning of October, Ericsson has two Internet sites up and running, both with the clear objective to reach Generation Y consumers. One is part of the recently announced Chatboard accessory, the other is to support Ericsson's involvement with the MTV Europe Music Awards. Visitors to the sites can join chats, enter competitions, create music, as well as making themselves heard on what is in or out. At a recent launch event in Hong Kong, Ericsson, together with MTV VJ Sonia Couling, unveiled the Chatboard@, a completely new communications tool. The Chatboard@ is a snap-on keyboard, which together with a mobile phone makes rapid messaging over SMS and e-mail possible, as well as editing a personal site on the Internet. When purchasing the Chatboard@, access to the Chatboard@ website and a personal e-mail address is included. Chatboard@ owners are also given their own private web page attached to the community site, which is theirs to personalize. By disclosing a password to friends, they can share information posted on their site such as photos, messages etc. Friends can even join in on their very own private hosted chatroom. The Chatboard@ Website is located at http://www.ericsson.com/chatboard Ericsson's MTV website, located at http://www.ericsson.com/mtv offers visitors the opportunity to win a trip to Ireland for the MTV Europe Music Awards, which will take place on November 11. The site will monitor 24 hours a day what is in or out, as told by the visitors on the "Dig or Dis" section. Also on the site is the "Rock-o-phone", which lets users create their own dance, hiphop or rock songs by combining the preset drum patterns, basslines, guitar riffs, turntable scratches and other sound effects. It will also be possible to send a message from the site with the help of specially designed flyers. The Chatboard@ Website was developed in cooperation with Aspiro, AU Systems, Framtidsfabriken, and Svep Design Center. Aspiro is a telecommunication company, providing end-to-end wireless services and solutions based on SMS and WAP for carriers and content providers. With established connections to GSM-carriers around the world, Aspiro handles the SMS traffic between Ericsson's Chatboard and site. AU-System has been the project leader for the project and also developing the SMS functionality. The company has created Wireless Internet solutions for operators and professional content providers for many years. The Chatboard website shows that the technology is ready for consumer applications. For Framtidsfabriken the project has amounted to a patent application together with Ericsson for the website's technical solutions, which allows for a unique kind of user-friendly customization. Framtidsfabriken creates new business for the network economy through strategic consulting and digital services. Svep Design Center in Lund, Sweden, has developed the SMS module with the capacity to handle one million messages every 24 hours. The module is essential for the traffic between the users and the website. Svep is known for rapid development of advanced communications products. The MTV site was created in cooperation with Melody Interactive. The company provides web and WAP solutions for middle sized and large companies, and is currently developing a WAP application portfolio called MyWap . More information about the company is available at http://www.melody.se Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers - network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers - the world over. Please visit Ericsson's Press Room at: http://www.ericsson.se/pressroom FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Jan Ahrenbring, Vice President Marketing and Communications Ericsson Mobile Communications AB Phone: +46 70 590 9900 Bo Albertson, PR & Information Manager Ericsson Mobile Communications AB Phone: +46 8 764 1388, +46 70 510 0992 ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/10/26/19991026BIT00100/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/10/26/19991026BIT00100/bit0002.pdf