Europolitan Vodafone and Comverse perform multimedia test in the GPRS network

Europolitan Vodafone and Comverse perform multimedia test in the GPRS network It will soon be possible to use mobile phones for the transfer of both sound and pictures. Europolitan Vodafone and Comverse, a company developing network based multimedia systems, have recently performed tests on the new Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). The purpose of the test is to identify popular MMS services, study user behaviour and evaluate various payment models. The first phase of the test was performed between the end of June and the beginning of August by employees at Europolitan Vodafone, who were equipped with WAP telephones and palm-tops. The idea was to investigate the possibility of sending and receiving multimedia message combining text and pictures. During the second phase of the test, which is due to be performed shortly, a selection of Europolitan Vodafone customers will be given the opportunity of testing the system. The idea here is to allow mainly young adults and young professional users to evaluate the opportunities opened up by multimedia services. Ericsson will also be taking part in this test phase by providing its new telephone, the T68, Ericsson's first MMS phone equipped with colour screen and graphic functions for multimedia. "Comverse was the natural choice of test partner for us. The company is a leading MMS system developer. We believe that multimedia messages will be one of the most popular applications in the GPRS and UMTS networks," says Mikael Kluge, Director of the Mobile Internet business area at Europolitan Vodafone. "We are delighted to be collaborating with Europolitan Vodafone on this pioneering project. MMS will be responsible for much of the content of the next generation of mobile telephony, helping innovative operators such as Europolitan Vodafone to generate significant earnings. MMS is similar to SMS, the difference being that you also have access to sound and pictures," says Zeev Bregman, MD of Comverse. For more information, please contact: Mikael Kluge, Director Mobile Internet, Europolitan Vodafone Tel: +46 708 33 12 05, e-mail: Paul D. Baker, Comverse Tel: +1 516 677 7226 Penny Blaisdell, Comverse Tel: +1 781 224 8612 Europolitan Vodafone is a mobile operator with a license to build 3G mobile telecoms networks. Our strength lies in our focus on developing international services, service and quality. Europolitan Vodafone employs some 1,400 people and is listed on the Attract 40 list of the OM Stockholm Stock Exchange through Europolitan Holdings AB. The company's majority owner is Vodafone of the UK, with 71 per cent of Europolitan Holdings. Private shareholders, investment companies and pension funds own the remaining 29 per cent. The Vodafone Group is represented on 5 continents and has around 92 million customers (proportional number of customers calculated on the basis of ownership). For more information, please visit www.europolitan.se and www.vodafone.com. For more information about Comverse, please visit the web site at www.comverse.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/09/04/20010904BIT00450/bit0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/09/04/20010904BIT00450/bit0002.pdf