Cellular network service provider MTN has struck a R10-million deal with JSE-listed Prism Investment Holdings for the implementation of a state-of-the-art Wireless Internet Gateway (WIG) server.
The move catapults MTN to the forefront of secure mobile commerce (m-commerce) in SA.
According to Steven Sidley, executive director: group sales at Prism Investment Holdings, MTN has successfully piloted the system for several months. MTN will now deploy WIG technology for the delivery of its mobile services in the medium term, without having to wait for WAP (wireless application protocol) to mature sufficiently to handle secure m-commerce.
The system, which went live on June 1, complements MTN`s efforts in the WAP arena, and can be seamlessly upgraded to accommodate WAP in the future. WIG was developed by AcrossWireless, a Swedish company acknowledged as the global leader in the development of wireless Internet-based service platforms. AcrossWireless was recently acquired by Sonera SmartTrust, a subsidiary of the giant Finnish Sonera Corporation, for US$850-million.
"AcrossWireless selected Prism Transactive - the full service e-commerce and Internet application development company within the Prism Group - to represent it in SA because of Prism`s strength in both the secure transaction and system integration arenas," Sidley says.
"These skills have proved invaluable in the MTN installation. In addition to the integration and deployment of the WIG system, Prism developed additional security and cryptographic software to enable MTN to offer m-commerce applications which confirm to the stringent security requirements of banks and other financial institutions."
Prism will also assist MTN`s customers to design, develop and deploy secure transactive applications such as online banking and payments over the GSM network.
"MTN`s aggressive strategic view on the future of m-commerce in the African market, and our close, ongoing relationship in the areas of SIM card supply and associated application development, has made this project a perfect fit for Prism. We look forward to assisting MTN in driving the rapid adoption of m-commerce by the SA corporate community," Sidley adds.
According to Conrad Pienaar, Manager, E - Services at MTN, Prism`s credibility in the electronic financial security arena coupled with the global acceptance of the AcrossWireless platform were key to the company`s decision to adopt the WIG platform.
"It will allow us to move rapidly into an area which is clearly emerging as the next wave in the delivery of commercial services over wireless networks," Pienaar concludes.
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WIG
WIG (Wireless Internet Gateway) platform enables the Internet browser to be written onto the cellphone handset`s SIM card, as opposed to WAP where the browser is built into the handset itself. This overcomes WAP`s current security problems, and enables WIG to be used for banking and other security-dependent commercial transactions.
Another advantage of WIG is that it operates on a wide array of cellphone handsets which are currently available.
Sonera Corporation
Sonera Corporation is listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange and is the leading telecommunications company in Finland, the world`s most advanced mobile and media communications market. Sonera holds a 66% market share in mobile communications in Finland, and is also the country`s leading ISP.
Sonera SmartTrust is a global provider of PKI-based secure mobile commerce platforms and services. Sonera SmartTrust develops solutions for secure mobile messaging and transactions. The Sonera SmartTrust product family consists of PKI security products, and transaction products.
Headquartered in Sweden Across Wireless offers a large selection of wireless Internet-based service platforms. Its customer base includes over 50 mobile operators including BT Cellnet, France Telecom, Singapore Telecom, Telenor, Telecom Italia Mobile, and VoiceStream.