LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif.-The OTA Flash Forum announced it will form a special committee to handle over-the-air updates for wireless devices, and will work to promote the technology to the wireless industry. The group, which consists of members like Bitfone Corp., Gemplus, Motorola Inc., Orange plc and T-Mobile USA Inc., said it will work with standards groups like the Open Mobile Alliance.
The moves come after several major wireless players already have announced their intent to install over-the-air updating technology. Motorola, SK Telecom, NTT DoCoMo and others have announced plans for OTA technology, and Bitfone, Insignia, DoOnGo and other startups are selling the technology.
“Our goal for the OTA Flash Forum is to accelerate the definition and adoption of industry standards for OTA updates of mobile devices,” said Gene Wang, chairman of the OTA Flash Forum and head of OTA technology company Bitfone. “Working as a forum we are creating and submitting proposals to standards bodies, such as the OMA, that will lead to reduced costs and improved quality and customer satisfaction for the wireless industry overall.”
OTA technology allows carriers and others to send software fixes and even new applications to users’ devices remotely.
