Openwave to Support Leading i-mode Phone

The popular i-mode service, created by Japan's NTT DoCoMo, Inc., has already been launched in a number of countries throughout Europe, each with unique content. As NTT DoCoMo continues to roll out its service in Europe and other regions, operators and handset manufacturers intend to develop and integrate i-mode compliant phones with their existing standards. Openwave client software delivers market leading implementations of both i-mode and Open Mobile Alliance standards.

"We appreciate Openwave's devoted effort and cooperation for the development of the i-mode browser and messaging client for the SAGEM i-mode handset," commented Mr. Shigeru Sando, Managing Director, i-mode Global Business, NTT DoCoMo, Inc. "We are confident of the success in global i-mode as we continue our cooperative relationship, and it is our intention to strengthen our relationship for the global expansion of i-mode."

SAGEM was one of the first European manufacturers to act on NTT DoCoMo's call to develop i-mode phones outside of Japan. With Openwave client software, SAGEM has created a consistent and unique user-interface for their i-mode phone while leveraging the investments that they are already making in phone software and applications.

"The i-mode SG321i is an invaluable asset for SAGEM's GSM product portfolio since it is not only our first product based on i-mode technology but also the very first slide phone that we launch and we are happy to have worked on it with Openwave," said Thierry Buffenoir, Managing Director of SAGEM's Mobile Phones Division.

"We're proud to be a part of SAGEM's market building momentum for i-mode phones in Europe," said Don Listwin, chief executive officer at Openwave. "We are partnering to deliver phones that work on any network and platform and dramatically improve the user experience."

"We are delighted to be working with SAGEM and Openwave, and welcome their work in the i-mode marketplace," said Benoît Louvet, Multimedia / i-mode Director at Bouygues Telecom. "With the rapid growth of i-mode services in France and in Europe, Bouygues Telecom is pleased to see Openwave take a leading role, combining their multimedia heritage with innovation in the implementation of i-mode to help us deliver an improved user experience."

Source: Openwave Systems, Inc.