In a deal which catapults JSE-listed Prism Holdings` in-house developed technology into the global spotlight, a leading provider of comprehensive security and service management solutions for mobile e-services, Sonera SmartTrust Ltd., has announced it is to incorporate Prism technology into its offerings for wireless network operators.
Sonera SmartTrust Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonera Corporation, an international forerunner in mobile communications and mobile-based services and solutions. Its unique solutions for the delivery of mobile e-services are already being used by over 65 mobile operators across the world.
According to Steven Sidley, executive director: group sales at JSE-listed Prism Holdings, SmartTrust`s WIG (wireless internet gateway) technology makes use of the SMS (short message service) channel to deliver information and services over a GSM network quickly and cost-effectively. SMS is well suited for transaction-based services and can operate in parallel with the voice/data channel, giving the user access to voice services whilst accessing WIG applications.
Now, leveraging Prism`s in-house developed SMS-C (Short Message Service Centre) switching platform, SmartTrust will incorporate a version of Prism`s Airtrax SMS-C message switching solution into a future version of SmartTrust DP5, to be released during autumn 2001.
All GSM network operators use SMS-Cs to store and convey text messages of up to 160 characters at a time. These SMS messages, according to a recent report published by the GSM Association, are rapidly increasing in popularity as a communications medium.
The Association says over 15-billion messages were sent over GSM networks globally during December 2000, and this is expected to rise to over 25-billion a month by end-2001.
Prism`s Airtrax SMS-C has been built with throughput in mind, using binary peer to peer protocol. Most SMS-Cs today can handle about 10 to 15 messages per second - resulting in peak period SMS-C snarl-ups which can delay message delivery by minutes, or even hours. Airtrax can deliver 3 000 messages per second or more.
"The combination of WIG with Airtrax positions WIG as an intelligent node within the GSM platform and removes WIG`s dependence on slower, third-party SMS-Cs. The result will be more reliable and faster data throughput to WIG servers for the delivery of mobile commerce applications and content to cellular handsets.
"It also provides the platform for WIG to accommodate the symmetric and PKI security requirements which will enable the widespread deployment of secure mobile commerce solutions," Sidley adds.
Karl Bergkvist Product Marketing Manager, DP5 at Sonera SmartTrust says the SmartTrust DP5 solution remains one of his company`s core products.
"It has quickly become an essential tool in the delivery of mobile e-services for operators. The added functionality delivered by Prism`s Airtrax will further enhance DP5`s capacity for both WIG and SDM (short data message) traffic, which are both expected to increase heavily.
"This has been a key focus for SmartTrust and we are glad to be able to deliver a solution that can offer operators the scalability required to support mass-market e-services," Bergkvist adds.
SmartTrust`s DP5 solution also complements WAP (wireless application protocol) sessions with enhanced security schemes whilst enabling the use of a highly personalised and user friendly service menu, which can be added to any modern GSM handset and delivers e-services over the SMS channel.
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