Siemens, Openwave Power MMS

MUNICH -- The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group and Openwave Systems Inc., today announced that they have been selected by Vodacom, the pan-African cellular communications company, to install Openwave's Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) and integrate with the operator's GSM and GPRS mobile network. Through Siemens, Vodacom has licensed Openwave's full range MMS solution components, including the MMSC (Multimedia Messaging Service Centre) relay, message storage, directory, and gateway. Siemens as the main contractor is responsible for the overall project management as well as the seamless integration of the MMS Solution into Vodacom's network. Vodacom CEO, Alan Knott Craig, said, "In the third quarter we plan to launch cellular phones equipped with digital cameras that will enable photos to be sent from phone to phone. This application has already taken off in Japan, where it is referred to as Sha-mail, which translates to photomail in English." He said Vodacom plans to introduce photomail in time for the festive season at an equivalent cost to that of sending an SMS. "We expect millions of photomails to be sent over the Christmas period," he stated. Openwave Systems Inc. Siemens Information and Communications Networks Inc. Vodacom Pty. Ltd.