MMS Comes to Landline Phones

LogicaCMG says that its MMS solution will be used by ITENOS (International Telecom Network Operation Services), a subsidiary of Germany's Deutsche Telekom, to launch the country's first fixed-line MMS service. When the fixed-line MMS service is launched later this year, ITENOS will enable customers such as ASPs (application service providers) and content providers to deliver rich multimedia content to fixed-line handsets. Handset manufacturers such as Siemens and Alcatel are currently developing specialised cordless digital handsets to deliver this multimedia content.

Dirk Seul, Product Manager Mobile Solutions at ITENOS, said: "Tens of thousands of MMS are being sent in Germany each day -- a significant proportion of which are sent from the home. I believe that the cordless digital telephone will drive fixed-line MMS growth by allowing users to send MMS at a competitive price from the comfort of their homes. This is undoubtedly an attractive proposition that we are confident will be a great success."

By offering MMS and other data services to fixed-line subscribers, application and content providers are able to target specific market segments such as teenagers, the elderly, ethnic communities and business users with special products and tariffs.

LogicaCMG and Deutsche Telekom, represented by ITENOS, are both members of the Fixed Line MMS Forum, the objective of which is to introduce MMS to the fixed network in order to enhance its appeal to subscribers. This will lead to the introduction of further fixed-mobile convergent applications whilst ensuring interoperability between fixed and mobile networks."

Posted to the site on 25th September 2003