Combined SMS, MMS and Mobile IM Announced

Airwide Solutions, one of the leading providers of next-generation mobile messaging infrastructure, has teamed with Colibria to provide a messaging solution that seamlessly integrates SMS, MMS and mobile IM. The solution delivers on the promise of next-generation networks by helping operators quickly and cost-effectively deploying new revenue-enhancing services.

The interoperable technologies offer mobile operators a flexible way to provide subscribers with enhanced messaging services that work across 2.5 and 3G networks, as well as IMS-enabled networks. The integrated set of technologies is designed to provide subscribers with a richer messaging experience regardless of the network or messaging technology, while offering operators significant savings in operating expenses and integration efforts.

Using Airwide and Colibria technologies, operators can deploy a messaging environment in which subscribers are confident their messages will be delivered regardless of their handset or network. In particular, new mobile IM subscribers will be able to communicate with the large existing base of SMS subscribers and growing numbers of MMS users. This messaging interaction can also be extended to SIP clients on mobile and fixed phones.

"Addressing subscribers' needs must be at the core of every mobile service. For MIM to be successful, existing SMS and MMS users must be able to communicate with MIM users and vice versa," said Matt Hooper, executive vice president of marketing at Colibria. "This means that operators and technology providers are critical in building compelling, mobile IM and converged messaging services and ensuring their interoperability. Our partnership with Airwide helps operators easily overcome the challenges of implementing a next-generation messaging solution that embraces existing messaging services and supports the important evolution to MIM."

The integrated Airwide/Colibria system will be available in Q3 of 2007.