Cannes, February 18, 2003 -- IBM and Nokia today demonstrated an array of end-to-end enterprise wireless solutions designed to help customers extend their e-business infrastructure to realize a greater return on their IT investments. Utilizing IBM's Wireless Enterprise Delivery Environment - an open standards-based wireless e-business reference framework, WebSphere infrastructure software and the range of Nokia business terminal platforms, the solutions being demonstrated at the 3GSM World Congress are designed to provide enterprises with an effective way to mobilize their business processes and enable a wide array of reliable, scalable and secure wireless enterprise solutions. The solutions demonstrated by the two companies include the ability to access email, synchronize calendar and address book information and access back-end Sales Force Automation applications through a browser on a Nokia terminal.
The companies announced that they intend to develop and implement joint solutions across a range of Nokia business terminals, including the Nokia 6800, as well as Symbian-based devices like the Nokia 9210i Communicator, and the Nokia 7650. IBM also announced that it intends to develop and deploy its WebSphere Everyplace Access client for the Symbian operating system, which is becoming an increasingly significant enterprise class platform.
The intent of the two companies is to extend the enterprise wireless solutions to additional front office and back office applications exploiting the unique features of Nokia's business terminals and IBM's Wireless Enterprise Delivery Environment and to provide both backward and forward compatibility with legacy systems, a crucial element in helping enterprises secure their current IT investments.
"These demonstrations show that customers can look forward to maximizing the return on their IT investments by extending their e-infrastructure to this security rich wireless solution running IBM software on Nokia business terminal platforms," said Adel Al-Saleh, general manager, IBM global wireless e-business solutions. "Enterprises seeking to mobilize their workforce can benefit from IBM WebSphere Everyplace Access, which is based on open standard technologies flexible enough to extend business applications out to virtually any device."
"Together with IBM, we are showing that the solutions being demonstrated can provide enterprises with a security rich end-to-end solution for enabling enterprise mobility. Drawing on our combined experience in enterprise IT and mobility, we can deliver a true choice to enterprises that want to mobilize their workforces while maximizing their existing IT investments. The Nokia range of optimized business terminals means that enterprises have the right terminal to match their wide range of mobile business needs," said Erik Anderson, Senior Vice President, Business Applications, Nokia Mobile Phones.
IBM and Nokia announced that they intend to jointly develop and market wireless solutions to enterprise customers around the world. Sales activities have already started with major enterprise customers, taking advantage of the industry leading systems integration expertise of IBM Global Services. The two companies intend to take the lead in robust and secure wireless enterprise solutions based on open industry standards.
About IBM
IBM is the world's leading e-business company offering a wide range of services, solutions, software and technologies that allow businesses to take full advantage of the exploding wireless opportunity. IBM's pervasive computing and wireless solutions extend new and existing e-business applications to the emerging class of connected devices and appliances. IBM has pioneered mobile e-business across many industries, geographic locations, and the three key business segments: business-to-employee; business-to-business; and business-to-consumer. Together with our business partners, we have developed mobile solutions in the health care, financial services, retail, travel, utilities, government, and public and telecommunications industries. More information about IBM can be found on the web at www.ibm.com.
About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and reliable solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed broadband and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.
For more information:
John E. Charlson
Media Relations
IBM Software Group
Tel. +1 914 766 3055
Email. charlson@us.ibm.com
Nokia Mobile Phones
Communications
Tel. +358 7180 08000
Email. Nokia.Mobile.Phones@nokia.com