News Archive 2001

18.12.2001
The MeT Initiative together with its 55 Associate Members to further establish a framework for secure mobile transactions
Valimo was one of the first Associate Members to join MeT.

The MeT initiative, founded to establish a framework for secure mobile transactions regardless of mobile device and network, is pleased to announce that the number of Associate Members has reached 55. The continuous growth in the number of Associate Members demonstrates the importance of MeT in the development of specifications and deployment of solutions in various sectors of the industry.

In addition to the six initiative Sponsors (Ericsson, NEC, Matsushita, Nokia, Siemens, Sony), the list of Associate Members includes the following companies: ActivCard, Aldata Solution, AirWallet, AOL Deutschland, AU-System, Baltimore Technologies, BBVA, Blueice Research, Bluesoft, Comverse, CommerceNet, Condat, C-SAM, Discretix Technologies, Diversinet, eFunds International, Entrust Technologies, France Telecom, Gemplus, Hitachi, Huawei Technology, Idex, ICL Invia, Infineon Technologies, Interpay Nederland, In2M Corporation, University of Jyväskylä (ITRI), Jinny Software, Kent Ridge Digital Labs, Keyware, MediaQ, Miotec, Modirum, Mobey Forum, mSafe, Netaccount, Oasis Technology, Ontain Corporation, Radiolinja, RSA Security, Schlumberger Systèmes, Sonera Smarttrust, Symbian, Systems@Work, STMicroelectronics, Telia, Ticket Anywhere, TietoEnator, Toshiba, Valimo Wireless, Verifone, Verisign, VTT, Xfera Moviles, Wells Fargo Bank.

In less than a year of its existence, the MeT initiative has introduced specification 1.0 on mobile device functionality for mobile e-commerce. The MeT specification work is now continuing with release 1.1, which will provide both mobile terminal manufacturers and service providers with a common platform for developing secure mobile e-commerce services. This new specification specifically addresses consistency and enables interoperability testing with the conformance test suite. The future specifications will include documents in areas such as payment and ticketing.

The open standard of the MeT Initiative enables mobile devices to deliver mobile e-commerce for a wide array of services across various networks. MeT leverages existing industry standards such as evolving WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), ECML (Electronic Commerce Modeling Language), WTLS (Wireless Transport Layer Security), TLS (Transport Layer Security), WIM (Wireless Identity Module), PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) and local connectivity standards such as Bluetooth to ensure transaction security.

MeT is creating a common platform upon which various services can be built from a common set of components. MeT -based services can be accessed both remotely and locally. MeT is addressing the needs of application areas such as identification, authorization, credit and debit card payments, loyalty schemes, and ticketing.

More information can be found at www.mobiletransaction.org. The specifications can be downloaded free of charge at www.mobiletransaction.org/documents.html.

About Ericsson

Ericsson is the leading communications supplier, combining innovation in mobility and Internet in creating the new era of Mobile Internet. Ericsson provides total solutions covering everything from systems and applications to mobile phones and other communications tools. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for customers all over the world. For more information about Ericsson, visit the Website at www.ericsson.com/pressroom.

About NEC

NEC Corporation is a leading provider of Internet solutions, dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its customers in the key computer, network and electron device fields through its three market-focused in-house companies: NEC Solutions, NEC Networks and NEC Electron Devices. NEC Corporation, with its in-house companies, employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and saw net sales of 5,409 billion yen (US$43 billion) in fiscal year 2000-2001. For further information, please visit the NEC home page at http://www.nec.com/.

About Nokia

Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges. For more information about Nokia, please visit www.nokia.com.

About Matsushita Communication Industrial

Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd., best known for its Panasonic brand products, is a principal subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd and specializes in mobile communications area. One of the world's first 3G handset manufacturers for commercial services in Japan, the company recorded consolidated sales of 1.060 billion yen (US$8.56 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001. For more information, visit http://www.mci.panasonic.co.jp/english.

About Siemens IC Mobile

The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (26,000 employees, sales of 6 billion EUR in first 9 months of FY 2000) offers a complete range of mobile telephone products including devices, infrastructure and applications. Devices include mobile phones, ISDN phones, mobile organizers, cordless and corded phones. The infrastructure portfolio includes the complete range of network technologies from base stations and switching systems to applications and intelligent networks. For more information about Siemens, please visit http://www.siemens.de/ic/mobile.

About Sony

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be a leading personal broadband entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of nearly US$ 60 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001. Sony's Home Page URL: www.world.sony.com

For further information, please contact:

Bo Albertson, Marketing Director Communications
Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
Tel. +46 8 7641388
bo.albertson@ecs.ericsson.se

Akiko Shikimori
NEC Corporation
Tel. +81(0)3 3798 6511
a-shikimori@ay.jp.nec.com

Nokia Mobile Phones
Communications
Tel. +358 7180 08000

Shigeo Kusakabe
Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd.
Tel. +81 (0)3 3438 9203
kusakabe.george@pas.mei.co.jp

Michael Leyer
Siemens ICM Mobile Devices
Tel. +49 (0)89 722 - 57902
michael.leyer@mch.siemens.de

Masanobu Sakaguchi
Corporate Communications, Sony Corporation
Tel: +81 3-5448-2200
Masanobu.Sakaguchi@jp.sony.com