Device Arena

Ericsson today announced a new hosting agreement to provide real-time charging services for AT&T’s popular GoPhone wireless pre-paid service in the US and Puerto Rico.

GoPhone has been hosted on Ericsson’s convergent real-time charging system for the past several years and this new contract adds a further three-and-a-half years. As the leading alternative payment service in the US, GoPhone continues to grow in popularity among AT&T’s wireless subscriber base.

Judy Cavalieri, Vice President, Marketing, for AT&T Mobility, says: “The rapid growth of our GoPhone service offering over the past four years has exceeded our expectations. Our new, multi-year contract with Ericsson provides AT&T with a hosted pre-paid solution that ensures that we have a scalable, proven, feature-rich charging platform that meets the needs of our end users.”

Under the contract, Ericsson will be responsible for hosting, systems integration and management of the day-to-day operations of the pre-paid service for AT&T.

Angel Ruiz, President of Ericsson in North America, says: “We are delighted to continue working with AT&T to meet the growing need for pre-paid services. Ericsson has had a long, successful relationship with AT&T, and it is immensely satisfying to know that we have helped them grow this line of business and that they are pleased with our hosted pre-paid solution.”

This contract highlights the industry trend towards bringing multimedia services to consumers as quickly and cost-effectively as possible, through a close partnership between vendors and service.

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Qualcomm Incorporated introduced Gobi™ global mobile Internet, an embedded solution for notebook computers. Notebooks featuring the multi-mode Gobi solution can take advantage of the high-speed mobile Internet services offered by leading network operators in virtually all parts of the world, as well as GPS. The Gobi solution is meeting the demand from leading notebook manufacturers for worldwide connectivity capabilities beyond Wi-Fi and is being certified to operate on CDMA2000® EV-DO and UMTS HSPA networks worldwide. The Gobi solution is available today, and enterprise and consumer notebooks powered by Gobi are expected to be commercially available in the second quarter of 2008.

“Gobi-enabled notebook computers with global mobile Internet unify the most important wireless carrier network technologies deployed around the world, providing comprehensive support for all 3GPP and 3GPP2 technologies,” said Dr. Sanjay K. Jha, chief operating officer of Qualcomm and president of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “We are leveraging Qualcomm’s expertise in multi-mode wireless chipsets to bring unparalleled connectivity to notebook users, who can now be confident they can instantly access the Internet without searching for a hotspot — today.”

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Qualcomm Incorporated, a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies and data solutions, today announced an important milestone with the worldwide availability of multiple Windows Mobile smartphones based on the company’s collaboration with Microsoft. The devices offer advanced functionality in thin and sleek form factors by leveraging the two companies’ work to integrate support for Windows Mobile into Qualcomm’s chipsets, eliminating the need for a separate applications processor. Leading device manufacturers, including HTC Corp., LG Electronics Inc. and Samsung, have devices on the market or in design based on Qualcomm chipsets with integrated support for Windows Mobile.

“Qualcomm and Microsoft have streamlined the process of bringing a Windows Mobile smartphone to market,” said Paul Bae, vice president of the product planning team, mobile communications company, LG Electronics. “Many of the compelling features of our KS20 consumer-focused Windows Mobile handset are made possible in part by the greater integration offered by the Qualcomm chipsets supporting Windows Mobile.”

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Brightpoint, Inc. and HTC Corporation, the leading provider of Windows Mobile-based smart devices today announced that they have entered into a global master distribution agreement.

Under the terms of the agreement Brightpoint will provide distribution and customized logistic services to HTC on a global basis. Pursuant to the agreement, Brightpoint will support the entire range of HTC branded devices and help in the global expansion and penetration of HTC products and services.

“Brightpoint, together with our Dangaard businesses, is the worldwide leader in providing distribution and customized logistic services for HTC’s broad portfolio of devices and we were pioneers in developing sales channels and marketing for HTC,” said stated Robert J. Laikin, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Brightpoint. “I believe that this new expanded relationship is a testament to Brightpoint’s ability to provide strategic value to HTC’s growing product base.”

“The global expansion of our partnership with Brightpoint enables us to bring best in class market execution efficiency including logistical, channel and retail support to our growing global business and will enable us to achieve even greater success across our entire range of HTC branded devices,” said Peter Chou, chief executive officer, HTC Corp. “Brightpoint has consistently demonstrated seamless and efficient distribution of HTC devices in the countries they have previously distributed for us and we are excited to expand and improve our global footprint and capabilities through this partnership.”