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STARHUB PARTNERS WITH SIEMENS AND PHONE.COM TO DELIVER WAP MOBILE
PHONE SERVICES
Online Information And Advanced Services To Be Available To
Singaporeans Via WAP Technology
SINGAPORE (March 15, 2000) ¾ An exciting new world of mobile Internet
access and convenient "access-anywhere" services will be available to
StarHub customers through an agreement announced today with Siemens
and Phone.com.
StarHub, Singapore's new info-communications player, has awarded its
WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) tender to Siemens Information and
Communications Networks, a division of the global electrical and
electronics giant, Siemens, for supply and installation of Phone.com's
WAP gateway. The agreement encompasses advanced wireless data
technologies and applications for use on mobile communication devices
such as mobile phones, PDAs and wireless communication terminals.
StarHub will deliver a wide range of online information and services -
such as news, banking and financial services, email access, electronic
commerce and online auctions - to StarHub's customers when they sign
up for WAP services. Come 1 April, StarHub will be Singapore's premier
gateway to the WAP world.
Under the agreement, Siemens is providing StarHub with a complete WAP
solution. The core WAP gateway technology, portal software, and
certain key applications are from Phone.com, a provider of software
and services that enables the delivery of Internet-based information
services to mass-market wireless telephones. The three-way
collaboration will allow StarHub to provide uniquely innovative
wireless Internet services to its mobile customers.
"Consumers are excited about the WAP technology - it is the beginning
of a new era in info-communications, with higher data speeds and
'always on' technology just around the corner. Now with StarHub's WAP
technology system, consumers can look forward to a higher level of
info-communications," said Mr. Peter Kaliaropoulos, Senior
Vice-President (Commercial Operations) at StarHub. "As StarHub gears
up for our official launch on 1 April, we have put all the pieces in
place to provide the best offerings and services to Singaporeans. This
collaboration with Siemens and Phone.Com is another demonstration of
how StarHub is delivering world class technologies and innovation that
empower consumers and improve all our lives."
The Siemens/Phone.com WAP solution and applications were selected by
StarHub for their proven and robust platform providing complete
scalability and carrier-grade reliability, together with a wide
variety of user-friendly applications. StarHub plans to be able to
offer to mobile device users the ability to accommodate new
technologies and changes through Siemens/Phone.com's WAP services.
This flexibility and compelling range of applications provides StarHub
with a differentiating advantage from other competitors.
Voicing his pleasure over this new partnership with StarHub, Mr.
Christian Unterberger, Senior Vice-President of Siemens Information
and Communication Networks, commented, "Currently, the Internet is
being used for information services as well as personal and business
transactions. We see this growing need for immediate personal access
to the Internet as a necessity for corporate executives on the move
with the younger generation as a fast-growing target group. Our
partnership with StarHub for wireless data technology allows Siemens
technology to cater to the needs of these two groups of people, while
assisting StarHub in gaining a market share in this competitive
industry. In this market where state-of-the-art technology and
life-made-easy applications are top priority, the release and use of
these applications will contribute to the development of the
e-citizenship community which the government envisages. The meaning of
"mobility" for both people and data transfer takes on a new meaning
with the release of the Siemens WAP applications."
Tony Miranzadeh, Phone.com's Vice President and General Manager for
Asia Pacific said, "This agreement further demonstrates that Siemens
and Phone.com continue to execute and deliver on their strategy to
provide wireless carriers from around the globe with the fastest time
to market for scalable, reliable, and feature-rich WAP services. We
are delighted to bring the best of the Internet to mobile phones in
Singapore."
StarHub is actively looking into deploying GPRS and 3G in the near
future. It will work with strategic partners, such as British
Telecommunications (BT), Nippon Telegraph & Telephone (NTT) and others
to secure an early implementation of the mobile portal service leading
to 3G services. StarHub's WAP services, which have been tested with
all existing and to-be-launched WAP handphones, will be available to
the public as of 1 April 2000.
About StarHub
StarHub is Singapore's new operator for both fixed and mobile
telecommunications services. In line with its philosophy to be a
total, integrate and seamless info-communications provider, it has
repositioned its Internet business that it acquired in January 1999 by
rebranding CyberWay into StarHub Internet.
StarHub aims to become the region's best world-class
info-communications company, being the preferred provider of
innovative info-communications solutions. It is building a new
generation, integrated broadband info-communications network that is
principally fibre-based. This new network infrastructure in Singapore
will have the capability to provide true fixed and mobile converged
services on an integrated platform offering customers with access to
the latest communications technology applications. Come 1 April 2000,
StarHub's fixed and mobile phone services will be launched
commercially.
More information on StarHub can be found on http://www.starhub.com.sg
About Siemens Information and Communication Networks Group
The Information and Communications business segment is part of
Siemens, a global powerhouse in electrical engineering and electronics
with more than DM$ 75 billion in sales. Information and Communications
consists of the three groups Information and Communication Networks
(59,000 employees, DM$13 billion sales), Information and Communication
Products (33,000 employees, DM$11 billion sales) and Siemens Business
Services (21,000 employees, DM$4 billion sales).
Information and Communication Networks is an integral part of
Information and Communications. As Solution Provider of voice, data,
and mobile radio networks, Information and Communication Networks has
a comprehensive product portfolio - producing and supplying complete
systems, enterprise products, switching and transmission equipment -
and many years of consulting experience in planning, setting up, and
operating networks.
Within its overall strategy of "A Universe of One" the Siemens
Information and Communication Networks Group is pursuing three main
initiatives toward the next generation of communication: innovation in
IP-driven voice and data communications, evolution from GSM to
third-generation mobile voice and data networks and applications, and
customer-oriented end-to-end solutions and service/integration support
for future customer requirements. Siemens provides products and
tailor-made solutions which ensure problem-free Internet traffic and
the integration of different networks into one convergent network,
utilizing legacy network infrastructures.
Further information on this Siemens Group can be found on the Internet
at http://www.siemens.com.sg/ic/networks
About Phone.com, Inc.
Phone.com, Inc. (Nasdaq:PHCM) is a leading provider of software and
services that enable the delivery of Internet-based information
services to mass-market wireless telephones. Using its software,
wireless subscribers have access to Internet- and corporate
intranet-based services, including Email, news, stocks, weather,
travel and sports. In addition, subscribers have access via their
wireless telephones to network operators' intranet-based telephony
services, which may include over-the-air activation, call management,
billing history information, pricing plan subscription and voice
message management. Phone.com is headquartered in Silicon Valley,
California and has regional offices in Belfast, Copenhagen, Hong Kong,
London Seoul and Tokyo. Visit http://www.phone.com for more
information.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters
discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements
involving risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements.
Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to,
Phone.com's limited operating history, potential fluctuations in
Phone.com's operating results, uncertainties related to Phone.com's
long sales cycle and reliance on a small number of customers,
Phone.com's dependence on the acceptance of its products by network
operators and wireless subscribers, Phone.com's ability to adequately
address the rapidly-evolving market for delivery of Internet-based
services through wireless telephones, the need to achieve widespread
integration of Phone.com's browser in wireless telephones, competition
from companies with substantially greater financial, technical,
marketing and distribution resources and the ability of Phone.com to
manage a complex set of engineering, marketing and distribution
relationships. Further information regarding these and other risks are
included in Phone.com's Form 10-Q for quarter ended December 31, 1999,
in its prospectus dated November 16, 1999 and in its other filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
# # #
Phone.com, the Phone.com name and logo, MyPhone and the family of
terms carrying the "UP." prefix are trademarks of Phone.com, Inc. All
Rights Reserved. All other company, brand and product names may be
marks that are the sole property of their respective owners.
For further information:
Contact Phone.com Worldwide Public Relations
StarHub Pte Ltd.
Eric Loh
(65) 880 5171
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
StarHub Pte Ltd.
Shae Hung Yee
(65) 880 5168
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
StarHub Pte Ltd.
Eileen Chua
(65) 880 5167
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Contact Phone.com
Public Relations
HEADQUARTERS
Phone.com, Inc.
800 Chesapeake Drive
Redwood City, CA
94063 USA
+1 650 562 0200 TEL
+1 650 817 1499 FAX
IN EUROPE
Phone.com (Europe) Limited
Maple House, High Street
Potters Bar Hertfordshire
EN6 5BS United Kingdom
+44 (0)1707 828 051 TEL
+44 (0)1707 828 080 FAX
IN JAPAN
Phone.com Japan K.K.
11F Green Tower Building. 6-14-1
Nishi-Shinjuku Shinjuku-Ku
Tokyo 160-0023
JAPAN
+81 3 5325 9211 Tel
+81 3 5325 9021 Fax
