Fact sheet

HP teams with Openwave to help deliver location services to on-the-go customers in Canada

Mobile customers receive valuable information when and where they need it

October 14, 2003

HP today announced that the HP OpenCall Mobile Location Solution (MLS) is being used by Bell Mobility in Canada to provide the 'MyFinder' location-based services (LBS) to its mobile customers in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. With the powerful new solution from HP and its partners, Bell Mobility's suite of location-based services support useful and convenient services based on the user's location. MyFinder allows Bell Mobility customers to receive location-specific information on their digital wireless handset and PDAs (personal digital assistant).

With a push of a button, MyFinder finds the location of the user's mobile device (with their consent) within Bell Mobility's coverage area and allows the user to look-up information for services such as restaurants, gas stations, hotels, hospitals, banks or theatres. MyFinder will also provide the user with the address and directions for a requested destination, as well as the expected distance and time of travel to get there — whether by vehicle or by foot. Directories and directions can be sent as a text message to the user or to a friend's mobile device.

HP OpenCall MLS is a modular, highly adaptive integrated platform that enables the rapid deployment of new location-aware services. This helps Bell Mobility target specific subscriber segments with differentiated services, increase the subscriber base, and reduce churn (customer defection).

"Commercial location services represent an exciting revenue opportunity for mobile operators, and Bell Mobility is clearly a step ahead," said Sebastiano Tevarotto, vice president and general manager, HP Network and Service Provider Business Unit. "With HP's understanding and expertise in network-based solutions, as well as our close partnerships with leading industry partners, we were able to provide Bell Mobility with a solution that allows many new services to be deployed quickly and securely. This will help Bell Mobility compete with greater agility in a competitive market."

Today's version of MyFinder narrows the location of a mobile device down to the general area using the cellular transmission tower which is in contact with the customer's wireless device.

In the United States, Federal mandates require mobile operators to provide 9-1-1 location services, which can expedite emergency response by automatically locating the caller. Thus far, all major CDMA-based U.S. mobile operators that have selected an emergency 9-1-1 location solution have chosen the HP OpenCall MLS.

HP integrates powerful technologies from key partners

In addition to HP's own location-based services technology, the HP OpenCall MLS incorporates key technology from Openwave Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: OPWV) and SnapTrack, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of QUALCOMM. The commercial MyFinder application is enabled by Webraska Mobile Technologies, a partner of HP.

"Our collaboration with HP is focused on deploying technology that will help operators make money on differentiated data services," said David Hose, chief development officer at Openwave. "Bell Mobility, an Openwave customer, is an innovator who we believe will help lead the adoption of location services."

The HP OpenCall MLS include Openwave Location Manager and Openwave Location Studio, and Openwave IN Routing. Openwave Location Manager is built upon the HP OpenCall Intelligent Network Server, and is a key building block that is needed for safety or commercial location-based services. It is an industry-leading location gateway that brings together a subscriber's location with the valuable location-based services subscribers are demanding and provides the core functionality of the HP OpenCall Positioning Center (MPC).

Openwave Location Studio manages subscriber privacy and security by allowing subscribers to define how, when, and from whom they will receive location-sensitive information and provides a standards-based API (application programming interface) and SDK (software developer kit) for third party developers.

Openwave IN Routing provides location-based call routing and voice-based location services. With IN Routing, mobile operators can provide an enterprise solution that automatically connects callers to the company's nearest location. It can also manage localized content.