Sun Microsystems, the creator and leading advocate of Java technology, has announced that it will be supporting T-Mobile International's next-generation service delivery portal. Sun is providing T-Mobile with software and hardware including: the Solaris Operating System (OS), Sun Java System Identity Manager, Sun Java System Directory Server Enterprise Edition, Sun StorEdge storage systems and Sun Fire servers. The portal will improve the provisioning feeds used to store customer records and service definitions, and process purchases via the T-Mobile customer portal across Europe.
t-zones, the customer portal, provides subscribers with access to downloads of games, music, news and sports coverage from third party content providers, as well as ring-tones and wallpapers exclusive to T-Mobile. Sun will provide a number of business applications to support the new portal, which will be hosted by LogicaCMG.
"Since 2001 T-Mobile has developed and operated a single portal for the majority of its European operating companies; some while ago, we recognised the need to substantively reduce the ongoing costs of both the development and operation of this service. This deal allows us to migrate to a truly commoditised portal solution, underpinned by innovative hardware, software and hosting services and produce a truly high availability, best-of-class third-generation portal at substantively reduced cost," said Kevin Cunnington, T-Mobile's executive vice president for Portals and Portal Infrastructure.
The Sun applications, which include the Java System Identity Manager, will enable the feeds from T-Mobile to its subscribers, estimated to be up to 20 million. In addition the portal will use the Java System Directory Server Enterprise Edition to store up to 10 million customer records, and purchases in excess of 1,000 supplier service definitions. The directory server will also be used to control the appearance of the portal to customers and process purchases of games, music and news via the portal.
"We have worked closely with LogicaCMG and T-Mobile over the past year to develop a solution which could meet all of the requirements for the t-zones customer portal. The new system will help T-Mobile to achieve true customer satisfaction, with increased customer loyalty and tailored products and services," said Darrell Jordan-Smith, Vice President of Global Telecommunications, Sun Microsystems. "In addition to improving the customer service, the portal will provide T-Mobile with additional revenue generating opportunities and help to drive down administrative costs."
Allen Mulford, managing director, UK telecoms, LogicaCMG said, "Next-generation portals are fundamental to delivering 3G mobile data services. The agreement places us at the heart of T-Mobile's content-rich services for users."
In addition to the identity management products, Sun will also be providing a range of systems powered by the Solaris OS including 43 Sun Fire V20z servers and four Sun Fire V240 servers, two Sun Fire E2900 servers and two Sun StorEdge 3510 FC Arrays.
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T-Mobile
T-Mobile International is one of the world's leading companies in mobile communications. By Q3 of 2004, more than 109 million people were using the mobile communications services provided by companies in which T-Mobile or Deutsche Telekom have a majority or minority stake. And all that over a common technology platform based on GSM, the world's most successful digital wireless standard. This also makes T-Mobile the only mobile communications provider with a seamless transatlantic service.
T-Mobile UK, the fastest growing UK network, currently has 15.2 million customers. Its UK network covers over 99% of the UK population and currently offers roaming on 370 networks in 163 countries, including theUSA. T-Mobile UK has 1,900 Wi-Fi locations, giving customers the largest UK Wi-Fi network as well as the largest network in Europe and the USA.
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