Ericsson unveils new WAP-phone

Today at a spectacular event in Hong Kong, Ericsson globally unveiled the R320, a high-performance dual band mobile phone. With its sleek and elegant design, Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)-functionality, calendar and big display, it is a phone for the customer who appreciates functionality and efficiency. The R320 is Ericsson's third WAP-product.

During 1999, Ericsson has launched a completely new product portfolio, where the R320 is an important new addition, which gives powerful connectivity decisively designed. The R320 is only 15 mm thin and weighs less than 100 grams. It is Ericsson's third WAP-product, after the mobile companion MC218, available on selected markets, and the smartphone R380, available in volumes during Q1 2000.

The R320 has a WAP-browser to access Internet content. WAP is a microbrowser especially developed for mobile use and the main world-wide industry standard for providing Internet communications and advanced services on digital mobile phones and other wireless terminals.

"We have now unveiled our third WAP-product," says Jan Ahrenbring, Vice President Marketing and Communications at Ericsson Mobile Communications. "As the first WAP-products come out on the market, WAP-services will emerge as well. The market will grow as devices leverage from content and the other way around. What we will then see is both local content, services such as ordering movie tickets or take away food, and global content, such as news and entertainment," says Jan Ahrenbring.

In-built modem and infrared communication capability make the R320 an efficient communication tool. The infrared functionality not only ensures easy and effective connection, it also allows to send and receive electronic business cards, ring melodies and phone book entries from one phone to another. Its voice memo function allows you to record up to twenty voice memos. The R320 has a calendar for keeping track of meetings, events and anniversaries. Synchronisation of the calendar in the R320 and a PC will be supported with the IrMC 1.1 open synchronisation standard, as a world first for GSM phones.

To promote Internet access using a mobile phone, Ericsson was a leading part in founding the WAP Forum. WAP Forum's primary goal is to bring together companies from all segments of the wireless industry value chain to ensure product interoperability and growth. As the market develops, a wide variety of interactive WAP-services will be available, such as banking, ticket booking, information and shopping.

The Ericsson R320 will be available in commercial volumes during Q1 2000. Two versions of the R320 will be produced. The R320s, and the R320sc which features a complete Chinese interface that is easy to learn and easy to use. This feature allows you to send and receive Chinese SMS messages and also lets you store Chinese names in the Phone Book.

Based on a new 3-volt platform, the phone's components draw less current and thereby ensure powerful work times, which will fulfil requirements from the most active users. Batteries use the latest lithium polymer technology, introduced in the T28 platform. High-performance lithium ion batteries are available as accessories. Ericsson has developed an all-new series of accessories, which can best be described as "intelligent accessories" in that they provide more than the usual functions.

R320 features include:

GSM 900/1800 dual band
In-built infra-red modem and RS232 cable modem

WAP browser
Full graphic display, featuring 5 rows of Latin text or 3 rows of Chinese text
Voice memo

Voice dialling/answering
SMS

Games
Vibrating call alert
Calculator

Alarm clock

On October 5, a web site dedicated to explaining WAP technology and benefits will launch, on www.ericsson.com/WAP. The site will also include the Developer's Zone for companies and people interested in developing and maintaining WAP sites.

Additional information about Ericsson mobile phones is available on the World Wide Web at http://mobile.ericsson.com

Ericsson's WAP-portal is located on: http://mobileinternet.ericsson.se

Additional information about WAP is available at http://www.wapforum.org

To view the new Ericsson R320 please look at http://www.ericsson.com/pressroom/phli_pcoph.shtml

Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers - network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers - the world over.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Jan Ahrenbring, Vice President Marketing and Communications
Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
Phone: +46 70 590 9900

Bo Albertson, Marketing Manager, Information and Events
Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
Phone: + 46 8 764 1388 or +46 70 510 0992