Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia and Unwired Planet establish Wireless Application Protocol Forum Ltd.

Other industry partners and operators can apply for WAP Forum membership and contribute to the specification work

(January 8, 1998) -- A new company, Wireless Application Protocol Forum Ltd. (WAP Forum), has been established by Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia and Unwired Planet. This non-profit company will administer the worldwide WAP specification process and facilitate new companies contributing to WAP specification work.

The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is targeted to bring Internet content and advanced services to digital cellular phones and other wireless terminals. WAP Forum aims to create 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. A common standard offers potential economies of scale, encouraging cellular phone and other device manufacturers to invest in developing compatible products. Cellular and other wireless network carriers and content providers will be able to develop new differentiated service offerings as a way to attract new subscribers. Consumers will benefit through more and varied choices in mobile communications applications, advanced services and Internet access

In addition to the four founding partners, new members are now welcome to join WAP Forum. Members may contribute to the current specification work, participate in driving the continuing evolution of WAP and nominate and elect additional directors to the board of WAP Forum. In order to become members of WAP Forum, interested companies need to apply to join. All the details including the application form can be found on the web at http://www.wapforum.org.

Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia and Unwired Planet introduced the architecture of the Wireless Application Protocol for public review and comments on 15 September 1997. Building on this, the various WAP technical working groups have been working intensively over the last few months and will make the first complete draft of the detailed specifications available for review by new members before the end of January 1998.

Ericsson's 100,000 employees are active in more than 130 countries. Their combined expertise in fixed and mobile networks, mobile phones and infocom systems makes Ericsson a world-leading supplier in telecommunications. Find out about Ericsson on the web: http://www.ericsson.se

Motorola is one of the world's leading providers of wireless communications, semiconductors, and advanced electronic systems, components, and services. Major equipment businesses include cellular telephone, two-way radio, paging and data communications, personal communications, automotive, defence and space electronics and computers. Motorola semiconductors power communication devices, computers and millions of other products. Motorola's 1996 sales were $28 billion. For more information, visit Motorola on the web at http://www.motorola.com.

Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is a leader in digital technologies including mobile phones, cellular and fixed telecommunications networks, wireless data solutions and multimedia terminals. With sales in approximately 130 countries, net sales totaled FIM 39.3 billion ($8.5 billion) in 1996. Nokia employs more than 36,000 people in 45 countries. Nokia's shares are listed in Helsinki, New York, London, Stockholm, Frankfurt and Paris.

Unwired Planet, headquartered in Silicon Valley, USA, with European Headquarters in the UK, is a leading supplier of open standards based servers and microbrowsers to the Wireless industry. Unwired Planet provides secure, vendor-independent solutions which empower wireless handsets and operators with Email, Organizer, as well as Internet information access applications. Unwired Planet’s products support the GSM, TDMA, CDMA, CDPD, PHS and PDC wireless airlink standards. Visit the Unwired Planet Web Site at http://www.uplanet.com ® or http://www.uplanet.co.uk ®