The Mobile Wireless Internet Forum Recommends New Layered Functional Architecture

FREMONT, CA (November 20, 2000) - In an effort to help direct the forward movement of the mobile wireless Internet industry, the Mobile Wireless Internet Forum (MWIF) has finalized its recommendation for a new Layered Functional Architecture (LFA). The technical report (MTR-003), which has been approved by the membership and ratified by the Board of Directors, will be used to influence a number of standards organizations including 3GPP, 3GPP2 and the IETF. The Layered Functional Architecture, which will be available to the general public through the MWIF Web site (mwif.org), provides a unified structure that helps Mobile and Internet companies create an approach to a mobile-enabled Internet.

"The LFA establishes a framework for a better integration of the Mobile and Internet communities; previous work by the mobile community has not leveraged the experience of the Internet to the extent possible, " said Dean Sirovica, Vodafone, President and Chair of MWIF. "MWIF is striving for a more balanced Mobile/Internet approach and this architecture provides an excellent first step."

MTR-003 will be closely followed by the Network Reference Architecture (NRA) technical report (MTR-004). The NRA leverages the layered architecture to provide an initial recommendation for the development and eventual deployment of the mobile Internet. It will provide the first roadmap to an integration of the Mobile and Internet industries.

For more information on the Mobile Wireless Internet Forum (MWIF) or any of its activities, contact the company via phone at or fax . Visit the company's Web site at https://mwif.org.

About the Mobile Wireless Internet Forum

The Mobile Wireless Internet Forum is working to drive an open Internet-based architecture that enables seamless integration of mobile telephony and IP-based services for mobile wire networks. The Forum is comprised of a long list of market-leading wireless technology companies. The MWIF is based in Fremont, Calif.
 

About the 3GPP, 3GPP2 and the IETF

The 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) is a partnership of SDO's (Standards Development Organizations) that have agreed to co-operate in the production of globally applicable Technical Specifications and Technical Reports for a Third Generation Mobile System based on evolved GSM core networks and the radio access technologies that they support.

The second Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP2) members have agreed to co-operate in the preparation of globally applicable technical specifications for third Generation Mobile Systems based on the evolving ANSI-41 core networks and the relevant radio access technologies to be transposed by the standardization bodies into appropriate standards.

The IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) is a large open international community of network designers, operators, vendors and researchers concerned with the evolution of the Internet architecture and the smooth operation of the Internet.