Maxis will begin trials in February of WAP services, using the Nokia 7110 media phone and the Nokia Artus Messaging Platform WAP Gateway. Partnering in this trial will be local and global content providers such as Bridge Financial News, Reuters, VS-Com and Orktopas. Services to be trialed include access to stock information and indices, foreign exchange prices, news, email and games.
The purpose of the trial, which will run for three months, is to develop a deeper understanding of technical and market issues, as well as understanding how services can be better tailored and offered to meet the needs of the mobile Internet environment.
"For Maxis, this is the major step for us in the convergence arena, particularly in the WAP-based Mobile Internet field," says Jamaludin Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer, Maxis Communications Berhad. "The maxis WAP services will eventually mean easy access to the Internet at the click of a button on a mobile phone, whilst keeping end-users abreast with the latest information through the selected services offered; such as stock and financial updates and news services - at any time and anywhere."
He added: "Maxis is indeed pleased to be working with Nokia in bringing yet another new dimension of innovative services to its customers. Through this trial, Maxis has effectively become the first company in Malaysia and amongst the earliest in the region to trial WAP services."
By combining the Internet and mobility, we see the emergence of a Mobile Information Society that will change the way we work and communicate today," said Hannu Karavirta, Managing Director, Nokia (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd, "Nokia can offer operators what few others in the industry can; a complete end-to-end WAP solution, including WAP gateways, mobile terminals, browsers, and tools for WAP-based content creation and delivery."
Maxis Communications Berhad implemented communications infrastructure comprising of Maxis Mobile, Malaysia's largest GSM network; Maxis Connections, the company's fixed and wireline network, offering local and international telephony services, cable TV and Internet based solutions for residential customers as well as a host of business telecommunications services including multimedia interactive services.
The shareholding structure of the company comprises the following Malaysian companies: Usaha Tegas Bhd. ("UTSB") and its Malaysian associates; Permoladan Nasional Berhard ("PNB") a Malaysian government Investment fund as well as foreign joint ventures with British Telecommunications plc and MediaOne International of the United States.
Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. Nokia is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks including related services. It also supplies multimedia terminals and computer displays. In 1998, net sales totaled EUR 13.3 billion (USD 15.7 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 53,000 people.