IBM and Symbian to deliver the first wireless solution to extend today's e-business infrastructures to next generation smartphones

…companies will combine to produce the key software to run and manage future Symbian based smartphones and communicators - including Ericsson's future communicator devices and the Nokia 9210 Communicator

CeBIT, Hannover, March 22nd 2001 - IBM and Symbian - the world's leading software platform supplier for next-generation mobile phones - today announced new software that will help make Smartphone devices an integral part of today's wireless infrastructure. The new offering will take key components from IBM's Tivoli, Lotus and DB2 data management software brands to enable enterprises to extend existing business-critical applications to mobile professionals using Symbian-based devices - such as Ericsson's future communicator devices and the Nokia 9210 Communicator. Through this alliance, IBM's mobile software solutions will be capable of addressing all devices based on the Symbian platform. Symbian's licensees, which last year accounted for over 70% of the total mobile phone market*, also include Kenwood, Motorola, Panasonic, Psion, Sanyo, Siemens and Sony.

By co-developing and delivering software for these devices, IBM and Symbian will make it easier for businesses to develop applications that leverage the growing wireless IT infrastructure.

The initial results of a year-long development alliance, the new offering will help companies in the race to extend their e-business applications to mobile workforces. The new IBM components for the Symbian platform - including mobile device management from Tivoli Systems, Lotus' Mobile Notes client and IBM's DB2 Everyplace - will give companies what they need to optimise the productivity of their mobile workforce. By delivering this new functionality at the device level, the new IBM software will allow companies to simplify the management of mobile devices, and will allow mobile professionals to carry all of their key office-based personal information, collaborative tools and database-oriented resources on their smartphones.

Following close collaboration and co-development of the new software offerings with the world's leading mobile handset manufacturers, the first complete implementation of the full IBM/Symbian solution - Tivoli, Lotus Mobile Notes, DB2 - is planned for availability on the Nokia 9210 Communicator. In addition, IBM's Lotus Mobile Notes component is planned for availability on Ericsson's future communicator devices.

"IBM's leadership in e-business and support for open web standards make them a key partner for us to work with to promote the power, robustness and capabilities of the Symbian platform in the enterprise", commented Mark Edwards, EVP Sales & Marketing, Symbian. "IBM's focus on the Symbian platform will be key in driving mass market adoption for Symbian-based devices in the mobile professional marketplace - together we will deliver comprehensive solutions for business-critical applications in a mobile environment."

"Smart companies realise that in order to succeed in tomorrow's marketplace they must build mobile services and applications into their e-business strategies today," said Val Rahmani, General Manager, IBM Wireless. "By partnering with Symbian, IBM will give corporate customers a simple and flexible way of extending existing resources to their mobile employees, customers and partners."

Using the new IBM/Symbian solution, exciting new mobile application areas will be realised for the first time. For example, financial service professionals armed with a Symbian-powered smartphone can produce more accurate reports and recommendations by receiving up to date product information in real-time whilst on client premises. They will also have access to key productivity tools such as collaborative workrooms and email so that they can share vital information such as reports and the latest sales automation tools.

"We are pleased to be endorsing this announcement of IBM and Symbian. As the company with the first open Symbian platform product, the Nokia 9210 Communicator, we are delighted that one of the leading corporate systems providers is delivering software to extend solutions to the mobile world. IBM, Symbian, and Nokia all share a vision of open standards and interfaces creating the most profitable business environment, and we look forward to extending our relationship into other areas as well," said Jouko Häyrynen, Vice President of Market and Business Development, Nokia Mobile Phones.

The key components for the new IBM/Symbian platform will include:

• Mobile device management from Tivoli Systems, which optimises mobile worker productivity by allowing wireless devices to effectively 'talk' to corporate IT systems and infrastructures. Mobile device management from Tivoli enables automatic configuration of device software and services and manages software downloads and installation. This new functionality allows remote and mobile users to update data - ensuring fast and accurate delivery of information such as pricing, inventory and order status - as well as providing access to services such as corporate intranet and Internet applications.
• Lotus' Mobile Notes opens up corporate intranet applications to access via wireless networks. The Mobile Notes client allows Lotus Domino collaborative applications to run locally on a mobile professional's smartphone, communicator or PDA. These applications are synchronised back to the Domino server over the wireless network or connections appropriate for the mobile device. By using a mobile version of the PC browser, users can complete forms, participate in workflows, access sales force automation tools, or run interactive applications locally on their mobile device.
• In addition, IBM has ported the latest version of DB2 Everyplace, the industry's leading compact relational database, to the Symbian platform. DB2 Everyplace will enable enterprises to build and manage database-enabled applications on smartphone devices in addition to storing and synchronizing with enterprise data. In addition, the Lotus Mobile Notes client is implemented using DB2 Everyplace.
  

Further information on the new IBM/Symbian mobile e-business offering will be made available at IBM's CeBIT 2001 press conference, which is taking place at 14.00 on March 22nd, Room 3 A, CeBIT Convention Center. Further information on Ericsson mobile Internet devices and solutions will be available at the Ericsson stand, Hall 17. Further information on the Nokia 9210 Communicator will be available at the Nokia Stand, Hall 26.

* Source: Gartner Dataquest, "Estimated Shipments of Handsets Worldwide 2000"

About Symbian

Symbian owns, develops and licenses a software platform for next generation mobile phones. Owned by Ericsson, Matsushita, Motorola, Nokia and Psion, Symbian's mission is to license the Symbian platform to all mobile phone manufacturers and to create a mass market for next generation mobile phones by working closely with wireless networks, content, services, messaging and enterprise wide solution providers. For more information see the  Symbian

About IBM

IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and key Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. The fastest way to get more information about IBM is through the IBM home page at the  IBM website .