L.M. Ericsson, Motorola Inc. and ZTE Corp. joined Asia-Pacific’s largest mobile alliance group, Bridge Mobile Alliance, increasing the membership base from eight to 11. The vendors joined the alliance through a new associate-membership scheme, which extends membership to global technology partners and breaks from the alliance’s previous policy of reserving membership to Asia-Pacific mobile operators.
The alliance said its associate-membership scheme aims to include key technology players, such as application solution vendors, handset and network equipment providers, and content developers, to promote knowledge exchange and collaboration between mobile operators and technology solutions providers.
“What is pervasive in the mobile-service industry landscape today is the fragmentation of technological developments across different technology players and solution providers,” said Lim Chuan Poh, chairman of Bridge Mobile Alliance. “Mobile operators are also faced with the difficulty of making investment decisions for new service offerings as yet another technology or standard emerges. To overcome these challenges, technology players and operators must collaborate more closely to redefine the service creation and delivery landscape, starting as early as research and development. The Bridge Mobile Alliance service incubation program aims to achieve this by enabling early access to new technology research and development. It will leverage the collective R&D expertise and resources of the partners to create solutions that are relevant for Asian operators.”
According to the alliance, Asia Pacific is predicted to overtake North America’s position as the largest telecommunications revenue producer by 2007, and by 2010, Asia-Pacific revenues are predicted to contribute 32.2 percent of all global telecom revenues. However, Asia Pacific’s array of languages, varied telecom regulatory policies and disparate wireless technology standards all present challenges for the region.
“The Asia Pacific’s mobile market has vast growth potential. However, because of diverse market developments, there is a lack of common standards and service platforms that would enable interoperability of mobile devices and services across the region, which is one of the key factors hindering the region from reaching the next frontier of mobile revolution,” said Dr. Patrick Sim, chief executive officer of Bridge Mobile. “With the establishment of our extensive regional footprint and shared infrastructure, we are able to deliver end-to-end solutions seamlessly across Asia Pacific. The joining of global technology players such as Ericsson, Motorola and ZTE would help us pioneer the development of Asian-centric mobile technologies and services, thereby bringing the alliance to the forefront of leading-edge innovation.”
Established in November, Bridge Mobile Alliance operates through a Singapore-incorporated joint-venture company, Bridge Mobile Pte Ltd., and has more than 64 million subscribers. Current members include Airtel in India, CSL Hong Kong, Globe Telecom in the Philippines, Malaysia’s Maxis, SingTel Mobile in Singapore, Australia’s SingTel Optus, Taiwan Mobile, and Telkomsel in Indonesia.
Several European carrier alliances also have formed to allow the carriers to better compete against rival operators with larger geographic footprints and advantages in buying network equipment and services.
