Simpler WAP usage through SMS based configuration

First Hop Ltd introduces Escio WAP Tuner for easy handling of WAP phone settings Simpler WAP usage through SMS based configuration Helsinki, Finland - June 28, 2000 - First Hop's newly developed Escio WAP Tuner enables wireless service providers to send WAP configurations to end users by SMS. The new solution makes the configuration of WAP phones faster and simpler compared to manual configuration. The settings required for using WAP services can now be received via SMS messages and simply saved to the phone's SIM card. Wider acceptance and usage of WAP phones and services are hindered by the complexity of settings needed. With Escio WAP Tuner, wireless service providers can improve their service level by offering potential customers a ready-made path to follow. WAP phone users can request configurations directly from the service provider's configuration library by sending a SMS message or email, or visiting the service provider's web site. In addition to improvements in usability, Escio WAP Tuner enables service providers to reduce the complexity of WAP configurations and to safeguard their correctness in a secure way. Configurations are sent to WAP Tuner in XML format. As WAP services evolve and expand, WAP Tuner enables dynamic modification of the settings. "The configurations needed to use WAP services are currently extremely complex and difficult for individual users to set correctly", says Teemu Ikonen, Senior R&D Engineer of First Hop. "The wide variety of phone models available today and in the future, all of which require different configurations, make this even more challenging. Escio WAP Tuner software is designed to be integrated to existing systems, and its structure allows support for new phone models to be added easily." Escio WAP Tuner is part of First Hop's Escio product line. Escio Portal is a multichannel publishing system. Escio Services include diverse value- added systems such as Escio Chat, Escio Calendar and Escio Mail, which can be connected to a publishing system. Escio Tokens is an m-commerce solution that facilitates mobile authorisation and access control to existing services. Additionally, Escio Tokens introduces completely new ways to utilise mobile devices in real-life situations. About First Hop First Hop Ltd specialises in developing mobile and Internet services products for mobile operators and content providers. The company's key fields of expertise include combining Internet and wireless services, dynamic and secure service architectures, and XML-based services. First Hop does intensive research and development in these areas. Founded in 1997, the company is privately held and based in Espoo, Finland. For more information, please visit www.firsthop.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/06/28/20000628BIT00880/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/06/28/20000628BIT00880/bit0002.pdf