NEW ORLEANS-CellStar and Sybase entered a strategic partnership to incorporate Sybase’s mFolio Content Services Solution into CellStar’s existing wireless communications portfolio of products and services. CellStar said it will seamlessly provide the mFolio Content Services Solution to wireless carriers via a wide range of smart phones, including devices with Intel Corp.’s XScale Technology.
The new offering, CellStar mFolio Powered by Sybase, is a standalone mobile software application that enables the delivery of highly focused, device-optimized Internet content to wireless subscribers, helping to overcome the barriers to mobile Internet adoption.
“With the rapid advances in technology, wireless users have an ever-increasing number of applications and Web accessibility options available to them on their handhelds,” said Maria Hernandez, vice president of product development at CellStar. “By leveraging Sybase’s mFolio, we can offer wireless carriers complete, out-of-the-box solutions to easily access rich online content on their mobile devices, at a fraction of the price of competitive offerings.”
CellStar will deploy the mFolio solution on devices for carriers and will have rights to embed and sell mFolio to regional carriers and mobile virtual network operators in the North American market. CellStar will provide logistics and distribution services such as programming devices with the application, assisting carriers with setup and operation of the content services and ongoing support to ensure successful acceptance of the new data service by the carrier’s subscribers.
Last week, CellStar Corp. said its Latin American operations adopted a new strategy to focus on GSM product distribution in the region.
“In the past, we have primarily distributed CDMA wireless products to network operators,” said Lusia Marmol, general manager of CellStar Latin America. “However, recently the competitive landscape has changed, and GSM wireless products have become a critical component of our growth strategy.”
CellStar said its Miami operations, which exports to Latin America, have increased handset purchases to support the GSM shift.
In other news the logistics services company announced it will add three new products for North American distribution to its line-up of offerings from Sierra Wireless.
CellStar will distribute the AirCard 580 for use on CDMA 1x EV-DO networks, the AirCard 775 for use on EDGE networks and the Sierra Wireless MP 775 GPS, a rugged in-vehicle modem for use in public safety, field services and transportation.
