BridgePort Networks, Oberthur Card Systems and CounterPath Solutions Announce Commercial Availability of MobileSTICK Fixed Mobil
09 February 2007 - 5:55AM
PR Newswire (US)
MobileSTICK brings Voice 2.0 to the PC for GSM and UMTS operators,
enabling profitable competition against Skype and similar services
3GSM World Congress, BARCELONA, Spain and VANCOUVER, Feb. 8
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BridgePort Networks, Oberthur Card
Systems and CounterPath Solutions (OTCBB:CTPS) today announced the
commercial availability of the MobileSTICK solution, first
previewed at 3GSM World Congress in February 2006 (then referred to
as SoftMOBILE with USB SIM authentication). The MobileSTICK
solution transforms personal computers into voice, SMS and
multimedia messaging (MMS) terminals for mobile operator services,
leveraging standards-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
technology. Bringing together the mobile number identity with the
benefits of Internet VoIP and messaging services, MobileSTICK can
use virtually any broadband-connected PC, while maintaining
security and mobile operator control via the same SIM card-based
authentication already trusted by GSM and UMTS operators.
"MobileSTICK is a quick win, fixed-mobile convergence solution for
mobile operators that addresses an existing need", said Mike
Mulica, President & CEO of BridgePort Networks. "It can be
rapidly deployed and will quickly generate profitable new
convergence revenues." Simply plugging the MobileSTICK USB device
into a PC or laptop with a fixed line or Wi-Fi broadband connection
launches a PC softphone, secured by a SIM card that utilizes the
user's existing mobile phone number to make and receive phone
calls, SMS messages and multimedia (MMS) messages. The user's
existing mobile remains active and continues to utilize its
existing SIM. Using the SIP standard and the PC's non-cellular
broadband connection, MobileSTICK allows mobile operators to offer
flat rate voice and messaging services to PC users, bringing
Internet economics and Voice 2.0 flexibility to the mobile number,
appealing to teenagers, college students, young adults, home office
workers, frequent international travelers and other mobile
professionals. These users currently deal with the complexities of
using their mobile phone in conjunction with VoIP services such as
Skype, Yahoo Messenger with Voice, Microsoft Windows Messenger and
GoogleTalk. They suffer from multiple numbers to be reached on, no
or mysterious calling line identities, multiple voicemail boxes,
poor or no integration with SMS and MMS services, manual call
forwarding, high prices for calls to mobile numbers and to send SMS
messages, a second bill or separate credit card charge and other
problems. MobileSTICK solves all these issues by truly unifying the
VoIP service with the mobile phone. The MobileSTICK solution is an
end-to-end Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) application, comprising
the following components: - BridgePort Networks' NomadicONE Network
Convergence Gateway software, release 6.1 located in the mobile
service providers' network running on IBM BladeCenter T telecom
grade Linux servers - Oberthur Card Systems' AngelIC - a low cost,
operator brandable USB memory drive with embedded USIM release 6
compliant SIM card and 256MB of flash memory, including secure
storage - CounterPath Solutions' customized, operator brandable
Voice over IP SIP softphone for the Microsoft Windows platform,
combining voice and messaging functionality with a user-friendly
interface MobileSTICK stimulates much greater usage of MMS through
the innovative MMS drag and drop feature. The user has easy access
to many more photos, and other multimedia content stored on their
PC or accessed from the mainstream Internet via the PC browser than
from the mobile phone. Simply dragging this content to the
softphone client and dropping on a buddy or contact generates an
MMS message uploaded from the PC to the network over the PC
broadband link and sent to a mobile phone, with the source address
of the MobileSTICK user's mobile phone number. This in turn
stimulates return phone calls and messages. In contrast to FMC
services based on dual mode cellular/WiFi handsets, a network
application also offered by BridgePort Networks, the MobileSTICK
solution does not depend on emerging standards, long lead times for
compelling low-cost handsets from major handset providers and does
not require a new subsidy for a new handset. "MobileSTICK targets
hundreds of millions of current and future PC softphone users, who
also have GSM or UMTS mobile phones, with an integrated and highly
secure proposition, and is forecast to penetrate 10-15 percent of a
typical mobile operator's subscriber base in strong PC broadband
markets within three years", said Marc Bertin, Chief Strategy
Officer of Oberthur Card Systems. "MobileSTICK enables service
providers and operators the opportunity to offer a unified and
flexible solution that responds to user requirements," said Donovan
Jones, President & COO of CounterPath. "The softphone component
provides an application to drive immediate revenue streams while
its platform capabilities and adherence to open standards support
the roadmap to fixed mobile convergence of presence and video
services." The companies and several partner network equipment
providers, messaging systems providers and system integrators are
marketing the MobileSTICK solution worldwide. For a live
demonstration, please visit the following locations at 3GSM World
Congress: Oberthur Card Systems - Hall 8 - Stand B68 Openwave
Systems - Hospitality Suite AV93-97, Avenida Cristina Acme Packet -
Hall 2, Level 1 - Stand B16 AMD - Hall 2, Level 1 - Stand B26 About
BridgePort Networks BridgePort Networks is the leader in MobileVoIP
convergence - combining the personalization and mobility of mobile
phone services with the flexibility, innovation and outstanding
cost economics of the rapidly growing VoIP sector. The NomadicONE
product family extends single identity phone number services over
multiple access networks, including - mobile, cable, DSL and Wi-Fi
- in both pre-IMS and IMS environments. The company was recognized
by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer for 2007.
BridgePort Networks is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. To learn
more visit: http://www.bridgeport-networks.com/. BridgePort
Networks, NomadicONE and MobileSTICK are trademarks of BridgePort
Networks Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their
respective owners. About Oberthur Card Systems With sales of 524
million euros in 2006, Oberthur Card Systems is one of the world's
leading providers of card-based solutions, software and
applications including SIM and multi-application smart cards as
well as services ranging from consulting to personalization.
Innovative products, security expertise and high quality services
ensure Oberthur Card Systems' strong positioning in its main target
markets. For more information, visit http://www.oberthurcs.com/
About CounterPath Solutions CounterPath Solutions, Inc., formerly
Xten Networks, Inc., is a developer of award-winning, carrier-grade
VoIP and Video over IP SIP softphones for telecom and Internet
telephony service providers, cable operators, IP-PBX manufacturers
and infrastructure manufacturers. CounterPath's SIP softphones and
softphone SDKs (Software Development Kits), which provide VoIP,
Video over IP, IM (Instant Messaging) and Presence functionality
and can be preconfigured to our customer's VoIP service, are
predominantly licensed on a per seat or per subscriber basis,
either co-branded or private labeled. CounterPath's technology is
deployed by over 235 customers in more than 50 countries.
Additional information about CounterPath and CounterPath's products
and services is available at http://www.counterpath.com/. CONTACT:
Media contacts: BridgePort Networks: Mike Pruyn, , (630) 328-7302;
Todd Carothers, , (408) 655-4760; Oberthur Card Systems: Stephanie
Cau, , +33 1 47 85 56 57; Caroline Simon, , +33 1 53 70 74 65;
Tiphaine Hecketsweiler, , +33 1 53 70 74 59; CounterPath Solutions:
Rob Brown, , (604) 320-3344 x120 DATASOURCE: CounterPath Solutions,
Inc. CONTACT: Media contacts: BridgePort Networks: Mike Pruyn, ,
(630) 328-7302; Todd Carothers, , (408) 655-4760; Oberthur Card
Systems: Stephanie Cau, , +33 1 47 85 56 57; Caroline Simon, , +33
1 53 70 74 65; Tiphaine Hecketsweiler, , +33 1 53 70 74 59;
CounterPath Solutions: Rob Brown, , (604) 320-3344 x120
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