NEC Sells MIR Solution to Telefonica Moviles Espana
NEC Corporation today announced that it has received an order for its Messaging Intelligent Router MMS (MIR) solution from Telefonica Moviles Espana, S.A., Spain’s largest mobile operator with 18.7 million subscribers. With a population of 41.11 million people and an 83% mobile phone penetration rate, Spain boasts one of the highest levels of mobile phone penetration in Europe. The MIR Solution is a server software system that can easily be added on to existing MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and mail server systems of mobile operators. The MIR solution is an advanced, new method to extract necessary data from MMSs and transfer it to a charging system enabling flexible and attractive charging menus.
NEC has realized the MIR Solution for Telefonica Moviles by integrating MIR and existing systems provided by other vendors demonstrating its system integration capabilities in mobile solutions.
The main function of MIR is to transfer required information contained in MMSs to charging systems to create CDR. In case of different MMS/mail systems are employed, MIR distributes mail traffics from mobile handsets into mail servers according to the load of the traffic. In case of problems with the system or restriction from individual customer, MIR can automatically decide distribution control. Also in case of troubles MIR can create data required for charging.
NEC’s MIR functions enable various charging menus. Depending on the users’ attributes or user-group, a package rate or discount can be offered such as a corporate discount menu. Additional services such as a birthday discount or a special discount by age can also be incorporated with users’ personal information.
In addition, the charging menu can be varied by mail content such as text mail, photo attached mail or video clip mail.
Multimedia content distribution, together with Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) were launched in 2002, and are vital elements in the business strategies of European and Asian mobile operators looking for ways to increase their average revenue per user (ARPU, i.e., per user sales). Multimedia services will, while stimulating new user demand, also trigger new mobile terminal sales.
With the introduction of NEC’s MIR Solution, end-users can enjoy attractive charging services, while mobile operators can provide highly detailed and value added charging menus to increase subscribers and expand their ARPU.
Since June 2003, NEC has, using iMode(R) technology and know-how provided by NTT Do-Co-Mo, supplied Telefonica Moviles Espana with the mobile Internet platform system and iMode(R) terminals required for its MoviStar emocion mobile Internet service. NEC has also supplied mobile Internet service platforms using iMode(R) technology to FE Telecom in Taiwan, Bouygues Telecom in France, WIND in Italy, Cosmote in Greece and Telstra in Australia. Transfer of all these systems has proceeded smoothly. To NEC, the new order from Telefonica Moviles not only adds to a growing record of success overseas; it is also an opportunity to strengthen its business as a supplier of non-iMode-platform technology in the mobile Internet sector. As the telecommunications world transitions from 2.5G to 3G, NEC looks forward to further fleshing out its mobile Internet application line-up and actively developing new mobile Internet platform businesses targeting mobile telecommunications providers aiming to increase profitability and improve customer satisfaction, by offering
attractive mobile Internet services.
About NEC’s mobile application business
NEC is a total mobile solutions provider capable of providing everything from cellular handsets to infrastructure to mobile applications. NEC has been actively expanding its sales in mobile applications, infrastructure and handsets, not only inside Japan, but also on overseas markets. The firm has a track record of delivering platforms for implementing mobile internet services such as i-MODE/WAP2.0, along with location information systems, contents conversion software, mail servers, and the like. NEC’s mobile applications are value-added applications by which, using cell phones, persons anywhere can easily get the information they want and freely participate in their favorite communities and thus live more fulfilling lives.
The fundamental concepts behind the applications are “personalize,” “community” and “security.” In the last couple of years, because of the penetration of camera-equipped cell phones and the introduction of ring tone services for call sender, the keywords “personal” and “community” have assumed greater importance. On the other hand, when introduction of 3G infrastructure and IMS gets going, the changeover to all-IP and broadband multimedia data communications will move into high gear. The predictions are, as a result, that packet-based voice services
— such as VoIP service and PoC (Push to Talk Over Cellular)
— will expand and the integration of voice and data services will accelerate along with the introduction image distribution services of such things as cartoons or movies.
On the foundation of its Mobile Internet Platform, NEC will aggressively expand sales efforts in its primary products of (i) “Ring back melodies,” in which phone call recipients let call senders hear their favorite music or messages, ii) “Location information system,” a platform for providing various services based on participant location and (iii) “3G/2.5G Mobile Visual Solution” to provide such
multimedia data as cartoons, together with its other application software offerings.
About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.l) is one of the world’s leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and global base of customers. Ranked as one of the world’s top patent-producing companies, NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and had net sales of approximately $40 billion in the fiscal year ended March 2003.
Contact:
Akiko@Shikimori,
NEC Corporation
Tel: +81337986511
a-shikimori@ay.jp.nec.com