 Gemplus, Swapcom and Abaxia set the menu for mobile operators
Lyon and Luxemburg – 14 February 2006 - Three well-known names in mobile service
enabling, Gemplus, Swapcom and Abaxia have put together their skills to provide a mobile
portal secure screen update tool for mobile operators.
The announcement supports recent trends that have seen mobile phone displays –
also known as 'homescreens', 'idle screens' or 'phone desktops' – become a powerful
tool for mobile operators looking to build brand loyalty amongst their customers.
A demonstration of the new Mobile Portal secure update will be made during the 3GSM
Congress in Barcelona, at each of the three partner stands. Interest has already been
shown by a major telecom group that is interested in using the service to update mobile
phone icons or wallpaper remotely, and to create shortcuts to WAP links or corporate
applications.
"We understand the mobile operators' need to combine a highly interactive menu and
easy-to-follow layout with some unique content and options, so we have worked with our
partners to develop this exciting new solution," says Cedric Mangaud, President,
Abaxia.. "As a means of post-sale customisation, the service will be the perfect way to
provide customers with a familiar, user-friendly interface that also truly reflects – and
is unique to – the mobile operator's brand."
The secure Mobile Portal update files that are sent via the Swapcom Device Management
Center are compatible with all mobile devices currently on the market. Once a device has
been identified as requiring an update, and the security mechanisms of the Gemplus SIM cards
have checked that the correct download is matched with the intended customer device, an
encrypted file is transmitted.
The application client embedded in the customer device, marketed by Abaxia, then receives
the deciphered command from the SIM, and proceeds in executing the update features for the
mobile phone's homescreen.
“This brand new capability opens the door to creative uses of the idle screen,
creating an important link between the mobile operator and its end-users while improving
customer segmentation. Branding is likewise reinforced with pre-loaded content on the SIM
and direct Over-The-Air (OTA) updates that allow for efficient upgrading and customization
of the homescreen. Updates are tailored to fit the profile of subscribers or specific groups
such as youth, corporate users, or family", explains Philippe Vallée, Chief Technology
Officer, Gemplus. "The operator manages the entire OTA solution, thus ensuring a secure
and efficient process."
"Skill-sharing between partners that have each successfully implemented carrier-grade
installations for device management is the way ahead in designing end-to-end solutions,"
says Swapcom co-CEO Jean Marc Truong. "The screen update solution combines Swapcom’s
device knowledge and formatting capabilities with the security and applications
capabilities of our two associates, all for the benefit of mobile operators."
About Abaxia
Abaxia is a software publisher specializing in mobile embedded software solutions.
Our primary mission is to provide Mobile Services carriers, Terminals manufacturers and
Internet Service Providers mobile embedded solutions for increasing their ARPU by easing
out the usage of mobile services. Abaxia designs very powerful user-friendly solutions to
turn Smartphones into true wireless links at the centre of everyday use, giving the best
user experience. To date, Abaxia plays major role in six major constructors’ ROM build and
referenced among the leading mobile industry companies as Orange, Nokia, and Bouygues
Telecom. The management team has extensive experience in mobile computing, with a mixed
background in telecommunications, information systems and internet technologies.
More information is available at www.abaxia.com
About Gemplus
Gemplus International S.A. (Euronext: LU0121706294 - GEM and NASDAQ: GEMP)
is the world's leading player in the smart card industry in both revenue and total
shipments (source: Gartner-Dataquest 2005, Frost & Sullivan, Datamonitor). It has sold
over 5.5 billion smart cards.
Gemplus delivers a wide range of portable, personalized solutions in areas including
Identity, Mobile Telecommunications, Public Telephony, Banking, Retail, Transport,
Healthcare, WLAN, Pay-TV, e-government, and access control. Gemplus' revenue in 2005 was
939 million Euros. For more information please visit
www.gemplus.com
About Swapcom
Specialized in server-side mobile architecture, Swapcom consistently delivers software
solutions in line with emerging technology issues.The Swapcom approach involves remote
management of devices and carrier-grade hub services as part of a user-shaped mobile
multimedia solutions portfolio.
www.swapcom.net
Press Contact (Abaxia):
Andrew Ball / Chaz Brooks
Chazbrooks Communications
Tel: +44 (0)1483 537 890
Email: andrewb@chazb.com
Company Contact (Abaxia):
Béatrice Dussaucy
Tel +33 (0) 141 10 22 33
Email: bdussaucy@abaxia.com
Press Contact: (Swapcom)
Phone : +33 (0)825 826 747
Email: press@swapcom.fr
Web: www.swapcom.net
Gemplus
Jane Strachey,
Phone: +33 (0)442364661
Email: jane.strachey@gemplus.com
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