Nokia reaffirms full support for open standards in latest wireless technology industry innovations

Singapore (June 4, 1998) - Nokia, the recognised global pioneer in wireless data, today reaffirmed its commitment to delivering wireless communication innovations that will bring an increasingly diverse range of products and enable effortless communications to consumers worldwide.

Nokia has observed that consumers in Asia are increasingly mobile and expect complete freedom of mobility with continuous access to business-critical information regardless of location. These trends point to significant growth for wireless data in the region. In response to this need, Nokia has committed itself to the active development of open technology platforms with industry partners to deliver products that provide consumers with greater mobility and flexibility.

Two such platforms that Nokia has co-developed include Bluetooth and the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). Bluetooth is a recently announced technology specification for low-cost, short range radio links between mobile PCs, mobile phones and other portable devices, while WAP promises to bring Internet content and advanced value-added services to digital mobile phones and other wireless terminals.

Bluetooth will enable users to connect a wide range of computing and telecommunications devices easily and simply, without the need to buy, carry, or connect cables. It delivers opportunities for rapid ad hoc connections, and the possibility of automatic, unconscious, connections between devices.

The potential for applications is almost limitless. Some examples include the ability to respond to an incoming e-mail via a mobile phone, even when the mobile PC remains in its carrying case, and the ability to access the Internet via a completely wireless connection routed through a mobile phone or a wired connection.

Bluetooth will virtually eliminate the need to purchase additional or proprietary cabling to connect individual devices and will also potentially replace multiple cable connections via a single radio link.

Nokia sees Bluetooth technology as an important milestone in the development of wireless data services, uniting the computer and telecommunications industries to support a common solution. Nokia aims to be among the first companies to introduce Bluetooth technology in our products and to develop new innovative applications based on this exciting technology.

Nokia is a pioneer in short-range wireless technology and was the first company to introduce infra-red capabilities in mobile phones. Recently launched mobile phones such as the Nokia 8810 and Nokia 9110 Communicator enable users to send and receive messages and exchange business cards via built-in infra-red ports.

Two key benefits of Bluetooth technology are increased ease of use and greater possibilities for innovative product design - concepts that are central to Nokia's philosophy of designing products around people and their individual needs.

Nokia is the recognised leader in wireless data with several industry firsts in both hardware and software products for mobile users. Nokia launched the world's first integrated communications device, the Nokia 9000 Communicator, an all-in-one communications tool that allows users to send and receive faxes and e-mails while on the move. Nokia also announced the world's first Cellular Data Card in 1994 and Cellular Card Phone in 1997.

The WAP Forum, of which Nokia is a co-founding member, has recently released version 1.0 of a global wireless protocol specification that works across differing wireless network technology types, for adoption by appropriate industry standards bodies. Applications using WAP will be scaleable across a variety of transport options and device types.

Consumers will benefit through more and varied choices in mobile communications applications, advanced services such as mobile banking, and the ability to access the Internet through a variety of devices including mobile phones.

By implementing WAP on their networks, operators will be able to offer their customers immediate access to value-added content that resides anywhere on the Internet. Through wireless corporate Intranets, for example, corporations can offer secure wireless access for their field sales, field service, distribution, and other mobile staff.

WAP is designed so developers can write one single application that will work across networks with widely different data speeds and latencies. The protocol is applicable to devices as small and light as a standard cellular phone and it can also work on larger PDA class devices or even on wirelessly enabled laptops.

Nokia's proactive involvement in bringing both Bluetooth and WAP specifications to market also demonstrates the company's commitment to open standards. Nokia believes that common standards offer potential economies of scale and make technology and value-added services more accessible and affordable to consumers.

Through its continued involvement in further developing both Bluetooth and WAP and delivering products based on these specification, Nokia aims to further its leadership position in wireless data, while delivering increasingly personalised and easy-to-use solutions to consumers for many years to come.

Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is a broad-scope telecommunications company supplying mobile phones, mobile and fixed telecommunications networks, data communications solutions, multimedia terminals and computer monitors. With sales in 130 countries, net sales totalled FIM 52.6 billion ($9.8 billion) in 1997. Nokia employs more than 38,000 people worldwide.