Microsoft and its partners offer robust mobility solution at ITU

A consortium of companies including Microsoft, Idion Solutions, MTN and Artec Computer Services has combined its expertise and latest product offerings to supply the technical architecture and systems functionality at ITU Telecom Africa 2001.

The ITU required a solution that would be stable and robust enough to ensure reliability throughout the event and that would be seamlessly available through traditional static and mobile devices such as PDAs and intelligent GSM devices. A robust network fabric and tight integration between the GSM network and an Internet service provider was required.

Telecom Information Kiosks (TIKs), comprising of 30 clustered PCs, will be distributed throughout the exhibition and forum areas to create an environment that provides secure access to Internet, e-mail, and event information to ITU delegates.

The solution provides delegates with information relevant to their individual profile which they are able to access anywhere, anytime and on any device. Idion`s information portal solution, Symplicator, will be used as the front-end component of the solution. Symplicator offers customised and personalised access to key ITU functionality through an easy to use and secure environment, including access to personal e-mail and calendar facilities, event schedules, exhibitor information and floor plans, Internet, local information services (such as hotels, flight information and weather updates) and CD writing and print services.

The solution is built on proven Microsoft technologies, including Windows 2000, Sharepoint Portal Server, Visual Studio .NET, Exchange 2000, SQL Server 2000, Visio 2002, Office XP, Mobile Information Server, Sharepoint Team Services, Biztalk Server and generic XML.

To accommodate mobile access requirements, Mobile Symplicator will be available for use as a front-end application for mobile access, offering similar functionality options.

According to Tim Pearce, marketing manager at Idion Solutions: "Together with partners, we have created a connected environment that is innovative in its use of Microsoft .NET applications and easy to deploy and manage. As Idion Solutions will be utilising a hosted Application Service Provider (ASP) environment, up-time and support costs are kept to a minimum, while still ensuring a high availability of services."

Support for multiple access devices over a variety of networking bases to a single information source - the content of the TIKS terminals - is made possible by MTN.

"The MTN offering at ITU is a proof-point of our entry into the IT services space and is the first integrated solution of its kind. We have built and acquired networks that are tightly integrated and that can support a myriad of wired and wireless connectivity options that corporates can use to extend the reach of their IT fabric to the customer contact point," says Barry Gonin, Manager: New Business Development at MTN. "On top of this network layer we have implemented Microsoft Mobile Information Server to seamlessly allow access to corporate e-mail using standard GSM handsets. We have made technology simple."

Artec Computer Services is responsible for the complete network infrastructure from design to implementation, in addition to hardware and software support for delegates utilising TIKs technology, thereby ensuring that the TIKs up-time usability for delegates is maintained.

"Artec`s customer-centric approach is founded on the premise that we are first and foremost a service company. Our emphasis on service delivery at ITU will be of the highest standards, with any technical difficulties being addressed immediately onsite," confirms Andrew Tucker, Managing Director at Artec Computer Services. "Ultimately each partner has brought their own expertise to the fore in order to ensure the functionality of the entire solution. Microsoft`s involvement in this solution represents a key thrust forward in our efforts to provide the infrastructure for making mobile data a reality," says Cyril Belikoff, Telecommunications Industry Manager at Microsoft South Africa.

Microsoft has been very successful in delivering solutions for and with many wireline and wireless Telco organisations around the world and continues to develop customer and partner relationships that will help advance development and adoption of technologies in the telecommunications industry.