Nokia is confident that Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) will be the service to entice and introduce people from all walks of life to entirely new ways of using mobile phones. The decision-makers of some of the world's biggest mobile operators also share Nokia's vision of MMS, as was evident at the Nokia Mobile Internet Conference meeting in Barcelona, Spain, on November 19. Operators see MMS as an opportunity to widen their service portfolio and increase their revenue stream.
Like its operator-customers, Nokia sees Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) as the first real 3G service and the forerunner to more advanced mobile services to come. Judging by the run-away success of 2G's short-message service, MMS will clearly have great appeal to a wide variety of mobile users by extending the ease and convenience of messaging beyond mere text to include digital images, graphics, and sound in the first phase.
"At Vodafone, we regard Multimedia Messaging Service as a real cornerstone for our future," says Thomas Geitner, Chief Executive of Global Products & Services, Vodafone Group Plc. "It's an exciting new service that will capture the imagination of all Vodafone customers. We really believe that services such as MMS are the way to win the hearts and minds of the future 3G customers. It's a natural step to develop from our current voice-based services to the incredible services which 3G will deliver and MMS is the way for Vodafone to capture that market. We see it as a great revenue-generating opportunity."
"It's good that MMS has arrived," says Ron Sommer, CEO of Deutsche Telekom. "Most of our customers, especially the young users have come to love using SMS - it's often their preferred means of communication. Now their experience can be enriched as MMS is a natural extension of texting. As the content becomes richer, the way towards mobile multimedia is made smooth - it's a natural progression."
"You see how people are no longer simply communicating with voice - now I can see what someone else sees and means, at the same time," says Graham Howe, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Orange. "Orange customers can now create, share and understand; communication is therefore becoming complete. This enhanced form of sending messages from mobile to mobile will open up new market segments and deliver true personalisation to the user. The only limit is your imagination - the Orange user finds the service simple to operate, and they will use it often, combining text with pictures, graphics, audio clips and even video. And the beauty of it is...it's happening now."
"The versatility of Multimedia Messaging Service heralds a great future for our mobile society," says Luis Lada Díaz, CEO of Telefónica Móviles. "The fact that users can create their own content and personal news, as well as share their images with friends and colleagues points to increased airtime usage. We will see new revenue streams flowing from the existing SMS customer base. We will develop new services to attract and retain customers. With MMS, the opportunities for new ways of expressing ourselves, person-to-person are very exciting indeed."
About Vodafone Group Plc
Vodafone is the world's leading mobile operator with 28 operators over 5 continents with over 210m venture customers. For further information please visit www.vodafone.com
About Deutsche Telecom
Deutsche Telekom is Europe's largest telecommunications company and one of the worldwide engines of innovation in the industry. Our products and services set standards not only in Germany, but also around the world. We make sure that our customers always have access to state-of-the-art solutions - from high-speed network access services to mobile Internet and beyond - and that they are the first to benefit from the fascinating prospects and possibilities of the communications revolution.
About Orange
Orange, wirefree and any other Orange product or service referred to in this release are trademarks of Orange. Orange is the Europe's number 2 mobile operator by footprint, with operations in 20 countries across Europe and beyond, and aims to have a presence in 50 countries worldwide by 2005. As at the end of September 2001, Orange had over 12.2 million customers in the UK, 16.6 million in France and 37 million controlled customers worldwide. Orange provides a broad range of personal communications services, including Orange GSM1800 services and other digital cellular telephone services. Information about Orange can be found on the Orange website at www.orange.co.uk and media information can be found at www.orange.com
About Telefónica Móviles
Telefónica Móviles is one of the world's leading mobile telephony companies, with 27.8 million customers at the end of September, 2001, operations in 14 countries and a potential market of 434 million inhabitants. The company, which aims to become one of the top five global operators, is already leader in the growing markets of Spain and Latin America and is expanding selectively in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. Telefónica Móviles' shares are traded on the Spanish and New York Stock Exchanges with the ticker TEM.
About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed broadband and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.
For further information:
Vodafone Group Plc
Jon Earl
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310
Deutsche Telecom
Phone: + 49 228 181-4949
Fax: + 49 228 181-94004
Orange
Orange media centre
tel. + 44 207 984 2000 or + 44 7973 201 911
email: media.centre@orange.co.uk
www.orange.com
Telefónica Móviles Press Office
Fax: +34 91 423 40 11
E-mail: prensa_tm@telefonicamoviles.com
www.telefonicamoviles.com
Communications Department, Nokia Networks
Tel. + 358 7180 38195
E-mail nokia.networks@nokia.com
www.nokia.com