LONDON—The Wireless Village standards group released its version 1.0 specifications for wireless instant messaging, prompting a range of new product and service announcements from Wireless Village members.
The standards group said the specifications will allow universal interoperability between wireless and wired instant messaging and presence services. The new specifications will allow users to send instant messages among mobile phones, personal digital assistants, personal computers and servers, as well as relay their presence information, using products from participating members. The specifications cover transport technologies from short message service (SMS) to the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) to HTTP. The Wireless Village standards effort was set up in April.
Among the group’s more than 100 members, several announced new products or support for the version 1.0 specifications. Motorola, along with messaging partner Personity, officially launched its Motorola Messenger system, which the company said offers users a variety of instant messaging services, from chat rooms to presence capability. Fellow handset maker and Wireless Village member Ericsson launched its Instant Messaging and Presence Server, which the company said allows users to view presence information, share content and join in community chats, regardless of their devices. Others announcing products or support for the specifications included Invertix, Openwave Systems, Ecrio and OZ Communications.
Wireless Village members said the version 1.0 specifications will interoperate with second-, 2.5- and third-generation (3G) networks, as well as the new multimedia messaging specifications.
