Ventures News: Mobile Movies: Westel Offers GPRS Video Services in Hungary, Based on Siemens' Integration of PacketVideo's Mobile Media Platform
Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group has added video streaming to the GPRS network of Westel Mobile Telecommunications Ltd
Munich - 2.25.2003
Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (Siemens mobile) has added video streaming to the GPRS network of Westel Mobile Telecommunications Ltd. Westel is the market-leading mobile service provider in Hungary, having 3.4 million customers. In this context, the operator acquired a complete solution for video streaming from Siemens, acting as general contractor, which contains PacketVideos mobile media platform. Subscribers with video-enabled mobile devices can now receive short MPEG-4 video clips. In addition, Westel provides proprietary and external video content, such as cinema trailers, via WAP.
To use the new video service, Westel is offering GPRS-ready devices with PacketVideo player.
János Winkler, Chief Marketing Manager at Westel explained, Recently there has been much talk about future video services in third-generation networks. With this service we are proving that such services are already possible in todays GPRS networks.
Dr. James Brailean, PacketVideos chief executive officer, said, This announcement demonstrates how companies with complementary capabilities such as Siemens and PacketVideo can collaborate to bring streaming video over a challenging radio environment such as GPRS.
Volker Ziegler, President of Solutions within Siemens mobile explained, With its new offering, Westel is proving itself to be one of the pioneers in the field of mobile data services. We are glad to have been able to make a decisive contribution to the start of the first service of this kind in Hungary.
About MPEG-4
The history of MPEG goes back to the year 1987. MPEG stands for Motion Pictures Expert Group, a worldwide organization that develops standards for video compression independent of vendor or platform. The first development was presented in 1992: MPEG-1. Intensive research on MPEG-4 was already underway in 1996 with a view toward operation on mobile devices. Among other things, the standard provides mechanisms for compression and distribution of interactive media content. In addition, MPEG-4 has 3D potential, for example, for displaying avatars.
About Westel
Westel - as the market leader in the Hungarian mobile telecommunication market - is one of the most well-known brands in Hungary. Matáv Hungarian Telecommunications Ltd. became the sole owner of Westel and the mother company is still Deutsche Telekom. Westel maintained its market leader position in 2002 by introducing the most new services and several new tariff packages among Hungarian GSM service providers launching several services as the first mobile provider in Europe or even in the world.
Westel attaches special importance to making all relevant services bearing substantial influence on mobile communication available to its customers among the very first in the world. Consequently in April, 2002 Westel was the first mobile service provider of the world to introduce the MMS service commercially.
About Siemens Mobile
The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group offers the complete range of mobile solutions including mobile devices, infrastructure and applications. Devices include mobile phones, fashion accessory phones, wireless modules, mobile organizers and cordless phones as well as products for wireless home networks. The infrastructure portfolio includes GSM, GPRS and 3G mobile network technologies from base stations and switching systems to intelligent networks, e.g. for prepaid services. Mobile Applications cover end-to-end solutions for Messaging, Location Based Services or Mobile Payment. For fiscal 2002 (September 30), Siemens mobile recorded sales of EUR 11 billion and employed approximately 28,600 people worldwide. You can access further information about Siemens mobile on the Internet at http://www.siemens-mobile.com
About PacketVideo
PacketVideo is the worlds leading provider of carrier class mobilemedia software. PacketVideos standards-based software products enable the creation and distribution of one- and two-way video, high-quality audio, animation and rich graphics over wireless networks to mobile devices such as phones and PDAs. PacketVideos pv3 Mobilemedia System, including pvAuthor 3, pvPlayer3, pvServer3, and pvCamcorder, delivers the highest quality media experience possible in every mobile environment. PacketVideos mobilemedia products enhance communication, productivity, security, information and entertainment, enabling the delivery of an enriching and productive mobile experience. For more information, visit www.pv.com
PacketVideos investors include AOL Time Warner (NYSE: AOL), Comverse Technology (Nasdaq: CMVT), Credit Suisse First Boston, GE Equity (NYSE: GE), Infineon Technologies (NYSE: IFX), Intel Capital (Nasdaq: INTC), Kyocera (NYSE: KYO), Motorola (NYSE: MOT), Philips (NYSE: PHG), QUALCOMM (Nasdaq: QCOM), Siemens Mustang Ventures, SAIC, Sony Corporation of America (NYSE: SNE), Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq: SUNW), Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN), and others.
PR Contact
Anne Watkins
anne@blue-mule.com
Tel: 206-818-1801
Munich - 2.25.2003
Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (Siemens mobile) has added video streaming to the GPRS network of Westel Mobile Telecommunications Ltd. Westel is the market-leading mobile service provider in Hungary, having 3.4 million customers. In this context, the operator acquired a complete solution for video streaming from Siemens, acting as general contractor, which contains PacketVideos mobile media platform. Subscribers with video-enabled mobile devices can now receive short MPEG-4 video clips. In addition, Westel provides proprietary and external video content, such as cinema trailers, via WAP.
To use the new video service, Westel is offering GPRS-ready devices with PacketVideo player.
János Winkler, Chief Marketing Manager at Westel explained, Recently there has been much talk about future video services in third-generation networks. With this service we are proving that such services are already possible in todays GPRS networks.
Dr. James Brailean, PacketVideos chief executive officer, said, This announcement demonstrates how companies with complementary capabilities such as Siemens and PacketVideo can collaborate to bring streaming video over a challenging radio environment such as GPRS.
Volker Ziegler, President of Solutions within Siemens mobile explained, With its new offering, Westel is proving itself to be one of the pioneers in the field of mobile data services. We are glad to have been able to make a decisive contribution to the start of the first service of this kind in Hungary.
About MPEG-4
The history of MPEG goes back to the year 1987. MPEG stands for Motion Pictures Expert Group, a worldwide organization that develops standards for video compression independent of vendor or platform. The first development was presented in 1992: MPEG-1. Intensive research on MPEG-4 was already underway in 1996 with a view toward operation on mobile devices. Among other things, the standard provides mechanisms for compression and distribution of interactive media content. In addition, MPEG-4 has 3D potential, for example, for displaying avatars.
About Westel
Westel - as the market leader in the Hungarian mobile telecommunication market - is one of the most well-known brands in Hungary. Matáv Hungarian Telecommunications Ltd. became the sole owner of Westel and the mother company is still Deutsche Telekom. Westel maintained its market leader position in 2002 by introducing the most new services and several new tariff packages among Hungarian GSM service providers launching several services as the first mobile provider in Europe or even in the world.
Westel attaches special importance to making all relevant services bearing substantial influence on mobile communication available to its customers among the very first in the world. Consequently in April, 2002 Westel was the first mobile service provider of the world to introduce the MMS service commercially.
About Siemens Mobile
The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group offers the complete range of mobile solutions including mobile devices, infrastructure and applications. Devices include mobile phones, fashion accessory phones, wireless modules, mobile organizers and cordless phones as well as products for wireless home networks. The infrastructure portfolio includes GSM, GPRS and 3G mobile network technologies from base stations and switching systems to intelligent networks, e.g. for prepaid services. Mobile Applications cover end-to-end solutions for Messaging, Location Based Services or Mobile Payment. For fiscal 2002 (September 30), Siemens mobile recorded sales of EUR 11 billion and employed approximately 28,600 people worldwide. You can access further information about Siemens mobile on the Internet at http://www.siemens-mobile.com
About PacketVideo
PacketVideo is the worlds leading provider of carrier class mobilemedia software. PacketVideos standards-based software products enable the creation and distribution of one- and two-way video, high-quality audio, animation and rich graphics over wireless networks to mobile devices such as phones and PDAs. PacketVideos pv3 Mobilemedia System, including pvAuthor 3, pvPlayer3, pvServer3, and pvCamcorder, delivers the highest quality media experience possible in every mobile environment. PacketVideos mobilemedia products enhance communication, productivity, security, information and entertainment, enabling the delivery of an enriching and productive mobile experience. For more information, visit www.pv.com
PacketVideos investors include AOL Time Warner (NYSE: AOL), Comverse Technology (Nasdaq: CMVT), Credit Suisse First Boston, GE Equity (NYSE: GE), Infineon Technologies (NYSE: IFX), Intel Capital (Nasdaq: INTC), Kyocera (NYSE: KYO), Motorola (NYSE: MOT), Philips (NYSE: PHG), QUALCOMM (Nasdaq: QCOM), Siemens Mustang Ventures, SAIC, Sony Corporation of America (NYSE: SNE), Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq: SUNW), Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN), and others.
PR Contact
Anne Watkins
anne@blue-mule.com
Tel: 206-818-1801