Contacts:
Tim Yankey
McKie|Headstrom PR
, ext. 3
Michelle Olesiejuk
MWIF
Michael Walker
Operators Harmonization Group
For Immediate Release
Mobile Wireless Internet Forum (MWIF) And The Operator Harmonization Group (OHG) Support Mobile Internet Core Network Harmonization
Cannes, France, February 19, 2002 Committed to driving acceptance and adoption of a single, IP-based, open, mobile wireless Internet architecture that is independent of the access technology, the Mobile Wireless Internet Forum (MWIF) and the Operator Harmonization Group today announced that they are co-hosting a workshop for 3GPP and 3GPP2 members to discuss potential areas of harmonization between the WCDMA and CDMA2000 core network architectures. The workshop will be held in Toronto, Canada on April 3 and 4, 2002.
"The business realities of providing profitable third-generation mobile Internet services requires interoperability in key areas of the WCDMA and CDMA2000 proposed mobile Internet architectures," said Dean Prochaska, Director of Wireless Industry Standards at Sprint PCS, Vice President of MWIF and Vice Chair of the OHG. "This workshop is a great opportunity for the members of 3GPP and 3GPP2 to jointly address issues and develop solutions that support mobile operator requirements."
In addition to co-hosting the event, MWIF and the OHG will be contributing work to the technical meetings. This includes an analysis of mobile operator business requirements and the results of a recent comparison study on mobile Internet architectures.
"This is a key step towards completing the core network harmonization objectives of both MWIF and the OHG," said Vino Vinodrai, Director, Industry Relations & Research at Bell Mobility, and Group Secretary of the OHG. "Both organizations believe that mobile operators and consumers will benefit by merging the core network architectures of WCDMA and CDMA2000 into one single common core network architecture. The benefits include: transparent customer roaming, a broader range of services, a wider variety of customer equipment, and lower infrastructure costs through economies of scale in R&D and manufacturing."
"The evolution of technology standards needs to stay in sync with the realities of our business," said Dean Sirovica, Managing Director of Strategic Technologies at Vodafone R&D and President of MWIF. "MWIF and the OHG are working as catalysts in the globalization of the mobile Internet industry and in the fusion of mobile and Internet worlds."
MWIF and the OHG believe that facilitating and supporting core network harmonization discussions is essential to the rapid development and commercialization of worldwide mobile Internet services.
About The Operator Harmonization Group
Founded in 1999, the OHG is an informal steering group of wireless operator companies dedicated to promoting 3G harmonization. The OHG provides operator advice in harmonization areas to the appropriate standardization bodies and other industry organizations. The work of the OHG improves the ability of wireless companies to continue to evolve existing wireless services and networks to meet the needs of the industry and consumers in a more efficient manner while delivering enhanced capabilities at lower costs.
About Mobile Wireless Internet Forum
Founded in January 2000, the Mobile Wireless Internet Forum (MWIF) is a nonprofit, international industry consortium whose mission is to drive acceptance and adoption of a single, open, mobile wireless Internet architecture that is independent of the access technology. MWIF and its members publish studies, discoveries and conclusions in technical reports that are made available to the industry. Membership is open to any organization with an interest in promoting the vision of influencing global wireless industry standards that improves interoperability of mobile technologies. Membership information can be found at mwif.org.
Mobile Wireless Internet Forum