Vodacom Orders MMS Solution

Siemens and Openwave Systems have said that they have been selected by the South Africa based Vodacom to install Openwave's MMS and integrate with the operator's GSM and GPRS mobile network. Through Siemens, Vodacom has licensed Openwave's full range MMS solution components, including the MMSC (Multimedia Messaging Service Center) relay, message storage, directory, and gateway. Siemens as main contractor is responsible for the overall project management as well as the integration of the MMS Solution into Vodacom's network.

Vodacom CEO, Alan Knott Craig, said: "In the third quarter we plan to launch cellular phones equipped with digital cameras that will enable photos to be sent from phone to phone. This application has already taken off in Japan, where it is referred to as Shamail, which translates to photomail in English." He said Vodacom plans to introduce photomail in time for the festive season at an equivalent cost to that of sending an SMS. "We expect millions of photomails to be sent over the Christmas period," he stated.'"

Posted to the site on 21st October 2002