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Agere pushes GPRS technology with developer software launch

Not all phones have these "advanced" features, and the reason (reckons Agere) is that it's too hard. So Agere has announced software to make it easier: "a comprehensive General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) software solution for developing innovative data and multimedia features" in wireless handsets.

The package is based on software from Openwave, and from esmertec. Esmertec has Java software; and Openwave has WAP browser and photo messaging technology - and Agere has licensed these.

Agere itself brings its own GPRS chip sets to the party, and will be providing reference designs with these features "to give handset manufacturers the core GPRS capabilities to get to market quickly."

Quote: "Whether through internal development or strategic licensing agreements, Agere is focused on delivering the best and most comprehensive GPRS hardware and software solutions available for mobile phone manufacturers." The speaker is Luc Seraphin, vice president of Agere's mobile terminals division.

Another quote: "We seek to radically improve the phone user experience with the new Openwave Mobile Messaging Client by offering easily integrated, easily accessed, and world-hardened MMS software across a wide variety of handsets and operators." This from Thomas Reardon, vice president and general manager, Openwave.

At esmertec, they are rashly claiming to have "the fastest Java for mobile phones" which is going to lead to conflict in the streets when rivals get to hear about it. Tao systems, in particular, will want to challenge that claim.

Agere's complete GPRS software solution includes predictive text and voice recognition capabilities for dialling and information storage.

Agere is at this address and you can mail the company as eurodocmaster@agere.com

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