|
Newsletters
|
|
|
|
|
|
WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
SUMMER OF SPORT EXPECTED TO KICK OFF MASS MMS ADOPTION
Global Messaging, Olympia Conference Centre, Stand 69, London, May 11, 2004 - Sicap Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Swisscom Mobile, today announced how its new MMS Bulk product will help mobile operators cope with the mass delivery of Multimedia Messages (MMS) expected to be sent this summer. Sicap's MMS Bulk ensures that time-critical MMS don't lose their value and enables sports fans to receive video clips as soon as the action happens. Timing is critical for subscribers as receiving a delayed MMS alert is like paying for yesterday's news - not something that subscribers want.
2004 is set to be a bumper year for MMS adoption as Euro 2004 and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games both take place this summer. The lure of instantly receiving a video replay of the winning goal or 100m final to view over and over may tempt many sports fans to finally subscribe to Application-to-Person (A2P) MMS services that are increasingly being offered by mobile operators. With a predicted 408 million "entertainment" and 376 million "information" MMS expected to be sent in 2004(1), many operators will be keen to offer A2P multimedia messages to consumers.
Until now, MMS has largely been used for Person-to-Person (P2P) applications as operators' Multimedia Messaging Service Centres (MMSC) were originally designed for this type of traffic. By bypassing the traditional MMSC, Sicap's MMS Bulk prioritises multi-recipient A2P messages, avoids clogging the network and helps operators provide a value-add service to MMS subscribers. MMS Bulk allows mobile operators to instantly deliver MMS alerts to multiple users without any delays.
Mobile operators are hoping that this year's sporting events will provide the boost that MMS uptake needs. A recent study of 3,200 mobile phone users by research firm, Yankee Group, showed that only 24 per cent were interested in video messaging. Having spent EUR31.5bn(2) on next-generation license fees, mobile operators will be hoping that 2004 will see a significant Return on Investment (ROI) and uptake of MMS subscriptions could deliver this.
Analyst group IDC predicted that the 2002 football World Cup would trigger the uptake of MMS in Asia(3) . Since then, South East Asians have not looked back, with local MMS and 3G adoption surpassing the rest of the world.
"3G and video messaging have long been touted as the next big thing but have never taken off in Europe, "said Tom Kienle, product manager at Sicap. "We predict that the high-profile sporting events happening this summer will drive MMS uptake in Europe. MMS Bulk offers operators an efficient way to deliver mass MMS alerts to subscribers instantaneously and will encourage further adoption of A2P multimedia messages as consumers realise the benefits."
MMS Bulk can be tailored to suit operators' MMS requirements and Sicap works closely with them at all stages to deploy it. In addition to sporting video clips, MMS Bulk can also be used to send any video and photo messages that subscription- based services supply, such as weather satellite photos, movie clips, news headlines and direct marketing.
ABOUT SICAP
Sicap is a software company based in Bern, Switzerland that develops and provides mobile products and network products for GSM operators. Sicap's goal is to continuously improve and innovate by adding value through ingenuity. Since 1995 Sicap have focused on cost-effective solutions that minimise infrastructure upgrades, thereby ensuring a quick return on investment for our customers. We provide solutions in the areas of Charging, Messaging and Over-The-Air. For further information on Sicap please visit www.sicap.com
(1) Multimedia Messaging report 2002 www.w2forum.com
(2) http://www.3gnewsroom.com/3g_news/jan_04/news_4080.shtml
(3) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2026742.stm
|
|
|
