MELBOURNE, Australia-Vodafone New Zealand has chosen Ericsson to provide end-to-end multimedia messaging service (MMS) services between New Zealand and Australia. Vodafone New Zealand plans to launch extended MMS services in September.
According to Ericsson, it will establish a “push-proxy gateway” in Vodafone’s network to allow MMS applications and content to be delivered between MMS-enabled mobile devices.
“It will only be a few months before we can send any-length text and music clips, with color pictures, animations, audio and video clips from MMS-enabled mobiles to MMS-enabled mobiles,” said Ericsson account manager Neil Livingston. “We look forward to ensuring MMS is a great success in Australia and New Zealand.”
Ericsson was chosen in January to supply global multimedia messaging software and network infrastructure to the Vodafone Group.
In related Australasian MMS news, New Zealand’s Xtra will offer wireless messaging services through a new deal with wireless data giant Openwave Systems. Xtra is the Internet service provider business of Telecom New Zealand. The company will use Openwave’s Email Mx product to power the next generation of its e-mail and messaging services.
“We’ve invested in Openwave Email Mx to enable us to deliver value to our customers and to develop next generation service that will benefit our end users,” said Share Ohlin, Xtra’s chief information officer.
In addition, Nokia will supply MMS equipment to Australia’s Optus, which launched MMS services today. The operator will offer free MMS services for a month.
Two phones will initially be available for the services, the Nokia 7650 and the Ericsson T68i with CommuniCam.
