Siemens a pacesetter in mobile data in Indonesia

Siemens a pacesetter in mobile data in Indonesia

Cellular communications and data transmission have been
flourishing issues. The growth rate of cell-phone users has
reached significant figures in recent years, so that by the end
of this year half billion people worldwide will be using mobile
cell phones, with 250 million of them using GSM (Global System
for Mobile Communication), the most popular world standard.

Anticipating the situation, telecommunications giant, Siemens,
has prepared its measures to bring people, including Indonesians,
to encounter these evolved standards, from voice to mobile
Internet and mobile applications.

One of the most popular terms currently discussed for the
future of mobile networks is WAP (Wireless Application Protocol).
The service will let users exchange quick messages across cell
phones and computers. The idea of WAP came from the wireless
industry, based on existing Internet technology.

"With the explosive growth of the Internet and mobile
computing, the demand for mobile data and Internet-based services
is growing. Anticipating this, we have introduced a WAP gateway
in Indonesia," said Satya Heragandhi ICN Senior Marketing Manager
of PT Siemens Indonesia.

He said that Siemens launched the first live WAP in Indonesia
in March. This Siemens WAP Gateway system can be accessed via the
networks of the three GSM operators in the country. He said this
was a kind of pilot project. Siemens wants to introduce WAP to
Indonesians by collaborating with the operators.

Siemens initiated the platform for high-speed mobile data
industry in Indonesia. "We offer GSM network operators a complete
WAP-based solution to enable their subscribers to gain access to
Internet-based content and applications. Siemens offers
comprehensive experience in planning, building and integrating
GSM systems. Siemens has also endorsed WAP to various Indonesian
segments, including telecommunications experts, operators as well
as end-users" Heragandhi said.

He also added "Siemens wants to demonstrated how the mobile
phone can become an intelligent mobile terminal for tailor-made
information by using a personalized WAP portal site".

Siemens takes a leading edge in introducing innovative
telecommunications solution for the world market. With 149 years
of experience in Indonesia, Siemens has shown its commitment with
providing a complete WAP Gateway in its own premise. The reason
for this is in order to be able to introduce all the local
competence in the Indonesian mobile data market, WAP content has
to be built and develop locally in Indonesia.

"In our WAP system, Siemens provides users useful information.
Later, users will be able to access various public information,
such as train schedule, flight schedule and local news. The next
thing will be e-commerce that users can deal at anytime,
anywhere. This will absolutely depend on content providers,"
Satya said, adding that contents are the key to the market, and
more-over local content is even more essential to guarantee the
success of the products.

As a matter of fact, Siemens has already commercially deployed
WAP solutions at over 10 mobile operators in Europe and Asia,
including operators in Germany, Spain, Norway, Belgium, Singapore
and Hong Kong. Furthermore, Siemens, to date, has entered into
relationships with more than 25 GSM network operators in Asia,
Europe and Africa to implement WAP solutions for trial and/or
commercial operation.

Opportunity

WAP initially brings in more opportunity to people to access
the Internet via different media, which is now the mobile phone.
WAP brings in a lot more new opportunities to mobile operators,
Internet service providers, Internet content providers,
application developers and the most important: mobile phone
users.

Similar to personalized websites in the World Wide Web, users
have only to access a generic WAP portal that can be configured
to personal needs and interests -- by simple point-and-click
selection. Entering this portal site again, the user has instant
and comfortable access to those topics he is interested in.

The point of WAP standard is to serve Internet contents and
Internet services to wireless users with WAP ready devices, such
as mobile phones and terminals. WAP converts the extraneous
information so that websites can be displayed on the screen of
mobile phones.

Beyond the WAP solutions, Siemens has demonstrated other
innovative mobile solutions based on any cellular systems,
including GSM, GPRS and UMTS/IMT-2000.

Heragandhi said The WAP gateway introduced in March is only
one step to bringing Indonesians into the era of the high-speed
mobile data system.

The rapid changes in the telecommunications industry in
Indonesia -- the merger of communications, information,
entertainment and services -- are primary drivers for Siemens
strong commitments in Indonesia.

Data transmission handled by mobile technology is set to
increase even more sharply in the future. The general trend
toward convergence, which is enabling data and voice networks,
fixed and mobile networks, means that mobile multimedia
communications will also become increasingly important.

Siemens aims to leads to the next generation of mobile
networks with a wide range of mobile solutions based on GSM,
GPRS/EDGE and the UMTS, which will include seamless integrated
voice and data services that will enable the mobile phone to
become a powerful tool for information, transaction, payment,
security and entertainment.

New products

In addition to providing a complete WAP solution and other
mobile data transmission technologies, Siemens also offers
sophisticated mobile phones to provide uniquely innovative
wireless Internet services to its mobile customers.

The mobile communication market has proven to be one of the
fastest growing segments in the telecommunications market.
Handsets, therefore, must be applicable for Internet
transmission.

To match the WAP standard, Siemens has a wide range of mobile
phones able to request information (weather forecasts, economic
data and news) and makes electronic shopping, ticketing, banking
or brokering even less dependent on time and place.

Future wireless systems will provide users not only voice,
text and audio features, but also high-quality images and video
in the wide-band frequency. This will include interactive news
delivery (voice, video, e-mail and graphics), interactive audio,
Internet games and video conferencing with file transfer
capability. Siemens is ready with its WAP-based mobile phones,
which include the S35i, C35i and M35i.

Robby Darmasetiawan, General Manager of PT Dian Graha
Elektrika, distributor for Siemens AG in Indonesia, said the new
handsets would be launched in Indonesia early next month.

"The products are also launched at about the same time in
other countries in Asia and Europe," he said.

He said that users could find what they were looking for in
the products: lighter, smaller, cuter, smarter, longer-lasting
batteries, multi-banded and other features.

"The products make users mobile, appearing as an organizer,
notepad and WAP terminal in a single device that fits in the
pocket" he said.

"To grab a bigger market in Indonesia, any producer must meet
what consumers want. We have to follow their lifestyles and offer
what they need," Robby said. That is why Siemens introduces three
types, targeting three different segments.

Actually, cell-phone producers divide Indonesian consumers
into several segments, but the market trend shows that cellular
phones will become a lifestyle necessity for most.

The 35i Advantage

Overall, the 35i series gives users access to the Internet,
allows them to send e-mails, use Short Messaging Services (SMS)
and send paper-free faxes -- and it is no bigger than a cigarette
case. In conjunction with smart cards or multimedia cards, the
35i series can also be used for Mobile Banking, for instance. It
is linked to the mobile phone via an infrared interface.

People around the world are excited about the WAP technology,
the stepping stone to the newer age in mobile data telephony.
With Siemens WAP technology system and handsets, users, also
those in Indonesia, can look forward to an exciting new world of
mobile Internet access and a higher level of information,
blending personal convenience, contents and applications with
convenient and innovative technologies set by Siemens,

Visit Siemens Solution, at IITELMIT Exhibition, June 28 - July 1,
Jakarta Convention Center, Hall A : Stand 47. Further Information:
PT Siemens Indonesia -I&C Division, Jl. M.T. Haryono Kav. 58-60,
Jakarta 12780, Tel. (21) 27509 200 (Operator),(21) 27509 363
(Marketing), Fax. (21) 27509 345

Or visit our Website www.siemens.co.id