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OPENWAVE FORTIFIES ALLIANCES IN MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT
Cellmania and FunMail Join Mobile Connections
CTIA and REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - March 17, 2003 -- Openwave Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: OPWV),
leading independent provider of open software products and services for the mobile
communications industry, today announced alliances with key wireless data partners Cellmania
and FunMail as part of the Openwave® Mobile Connections Program. Openwave Mobile
Connections was launched in October 2002 as the newest leg to the Openwave Developer
Network, and with this announcement has garnered a total of seven Java™ and multimedia
content partners. The program aggregates and assists in the delivery of leading content and
services, such as Java J2ME™ applications, games, ring tones, images and more, to wireless
operators, allowing them to offer compelling, differentiated services.
"Core to Openwave Mobile Connections is the aim to deliver exciting content to end-users,
creating a win-win situation for the whole mobile ecosystem," said Gina Centoni, vice president
of developer marketing, Openwave. "In order to move the industry forward, carriers need to be
able to cost effectively offer compelling services and content that set them apart and drive
consumer adoption, while content partners need to be able to deliver their offerings to reach
larger subscriber bases through thriving channels."
Openwave Mobile Connections Program was devised to offer a three-pronged approach that
benefits content and service developers as well as its mobile operator customers:
Mobile Infrastructure: Openwave offers a complete technology suite that manages the
purchase and delivery of content, including Openwave Download Manager, an industry
leading Java Vending Machine solution. Content is also delivered over-the-air, while
billing, auditing and reporting tools are built-in.
Aggregated Content: Openwave qualifies leading content that mobile operators can
select as hosted or non-hosted based on subscriber preferences.
Tailored Marketing Programs: Openwave works with its Mobile Connections partners to
develop coordinated go-to-market strategies, global roll-outs and introductions to mobile
operators.
Marketing Council: Openwave organizes quarterly meetings with Mobile Connections
partners regarding industry initiatives to further develop the mobile data ecosystem.
End2End and Openwave Download Manager
As a result of this approach, Openwave recently announced a success with one of its marquis
Mobile Connections partners, End2End, Europe's leading managed service provider for mobile
data solutions. End2End teamed with Openwave to deliver a hosted, turnkey multimedia
messaging (MMS) solution to SONOFON, the second largest operator in Denmark. The
partnership between End2End and Openwave will also enable mobile operators to source the
Openwave Download Manager as a managed service solution from End2End. Openwave
Download Manager allows mobile operators to control the complete supply chain, from digital
content and application suppliers submitting their products, to the quality assurance and
approval process, to allowing subscribers to purchase and receive content - including Java
applications, games, ring tones, images and more - on mobile devices.
Marquis Content & Service Partners
Cellmania and FunMail join marquis content partners established last November including the
UK-based Digital Bridges; End2End, based in Denmark; IN-FUSIO, based in France; as well as
InfoSpace and MForma, both based in Washington State.
Openwave continues to actively search worldwide for additional content partners to include in the
program.
Cellmania
Cellmania is the leading provider of technologies needed to provision, download and bill for
wireless applications. Using Cellmania mFinder™ search and over-the-air download
technology, wireless operators can provide their customers access to more than 40,000 mobile
applications of various types including WAP, J2ME, SMS, MMS, Smartphone 2002 and PocketPC.
Cellmania mBilling™ micro-billing intermediation technology allows mobile operators to bill on
behalf of developers. By using Cellmania mBilling mobile operators can bill on behalf of more
than 20,000 wireless developers that Cellmania has relationships with. Twelve operators
around the world are using Cellmania's solutions including AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless
and Vodafone.
"Cellmania is pleased to be aligning with a leader such as Openwave and our relationship
should help us further align with leading carriers and developers," said Dr. Ronjon Nag,
Cellmania's CEO and Co-founder, "Openwave's download technology and expertise will
complement our applications directory and billing offerings, and provide our wireless developers
access to a larger wireless operator base."
End2End
End2End is Europe's leading managed service provider for mobile data solutions. The company
provides third party-developed software solutions as managed services, as well as technology
hosting and outsourcing services, to operators, portals, handset manufacturers and other
companies. End2End's unique, carrier-grade service delivery infrastructure and support services
enable companies to launch new mobile data services without significant up-front investment in
hardware, software and licenses. End2End's managed service delivery model enables its
customers to achieve reduced time-to-market, improved ROI and lower Total Cost of Ownership
(TCO) for technology solutions. Visit www.end2endmobile.com.
"The ability to deliver any content to any device will be crucial for the success of mobile content
services," said Atte Miettinen, Chief Marketing Officer of End2End. "The Openwave Download
Manager provides a solid platform for operators to start leveraging the mobile content opportunity
and they now have access to the platform as a managed service offering from End2End."
FunMail
FunMail Inc. provides carrier-grade animated and visual peer-to-peer messaging solutions for
wireless carriers and network operators. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Pleasanton,
California, FunMail's unique patent-pending technology analyzes short text messages, and
dynamically generates relevant animations and visuals. Premium content available through the
FunMail service include Snoopy, Dilbert, Garfield and South Park. FunMail messages are
optimized automatically according to the capabilities of the receiving device. FunMail works with
all major SMSc and MMSc models, including CMG, Logica, Ericsson, Nokia and Openwave.
FunMail brings the power of visuals to wireless messaging, and integrates with a wireless
carrier's existing infrastructure, upgrading it to have intelligent visual messaging functionality.
"We are pleased to join Openwave Mobile Connections and are already working to trial our
animated MMS content," said Adam Lavine, CEO, FunMail. "Openwave's technology is very solid
and a great complement to our content so the added benefits of working together more closely is
a boon to our business."
About Openwave
Openwave Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: OPWV) is the leading independent provider of open software
products and services for the mobile communications industry. Openwave is a global company
headquartered in Redwood City, California. For more information, please visit
www.openwave.com.
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