11th Sep 2006 07:03
Synchronica PLC11 September 2006 Strictly embargoed until 07.00, 11 September 2006 Synchronica plc ("Synchronica") Synchronica Among First To Support New FUMO Standard London, UK - 11 September 2006 - Synchronica plc, an international developer andprovider of mobile device management and synchronisation solutions, has todayannounced its full support for the recently ratified Firmware Update ManagementObject (FUMO) version 1.0 standard. Pioneered by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA),FUMO allows mobile devices to be updated over-the-air using theindustry-standard protocol OMA DM. Whether it be a simple security patch, or anoverhaul of a phone's operating system, FUMO enables operators and devicemanufacturers to perform simple and complex updates over-the-air. Operators around the globe have traditionally been reluctant to introduceproprietary technology for over-the-air updates, largely due to being lockedinto a relationship with a specific supplier. The OMA has addressed this bycreating an industry standard (OMA DM / FUMO), which allows updates to beinstalled over-the-air using a device-independent and cross-platform protocol.OMA has been conducting an interoperability-testing programme for devicemanufacturers and server vendors ensuring an interoperable update solution forthe billions of mobile devices on the market. To date, the OMA has over 300members including all major device manufacturers and software vendors of themobile industry. Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO of Synchronica explains, "Although OTA firmware updateusing the industry standard OMA DM has been on the market for around two years,it has now reached a broad acceptance in the industry and is supported by allmajor device manufacturers. We have reached a stage where operators andmanufacturers can offer it as a standard service to customers reducing supportcosts and improving customer satisfaction. Instead of directing subscribers to aservice shop or asking them to send-in their devices for a software-update,operators and manufacturers can now send common updates, or security patchesover-the-air." "Driven by the need for an interoperable update solution for the billions ofmobile devices in the market, OMA has released FUMO as a Candidate EnablerRelease that will ultimately meet consumer demand for increased quality andcapability in the handsets they already use," says Jari Alvinen, Chairman of theBoard, OMA. "As FUMO moves into the OMA's interoperability testing program andsubsequently becomes an Approved Enabler Release, the potential global impact ishighly significant across the mobile value chain. Ever widening consumer demandfor rich mobile content and services necessitates mobile devices that supportincreasingly sophisticated technologies. The need to administer and manage thesedevices makes FUMO a required capability for operators around the globe." - Ends - For more information please visit www.synchronica.com or contact: Nicole Meissner, Simon Hudson / Clemmie CarrChief Marketing OfficerSynchronica plc Tavistock CommunicationsTel: +44 1580 831 412 Tel: +44 20 7920 3150 / 07966 477 256Mobile UK: +44 (0) 7977 256 412Mobile D: +49 (0) 173 606 9160Fax: +44 (0) 1580 606 [email protected] [email protected] About Synchronica Synchronica develops and markets synchronization and device management solutionsfor mobile operators, device manufacturers, and enterprises. Its productportfolio ranges from data synchronization (OMA DS) to device management (OMADM) and firmware update over-the-air (FUMO/FOTA). Synchronica has a strong trackrecord in the mobile industry including several live carrier-gradeinstallations. Products include the SyncML DM Server which enables operators anddevice manufacturers to build automated customer-care systems and the SyncMLGateway, which enables seamless synchronization of corporate data includingPush-Email using OMA DS and Push IMAP. Its latest offering, Mobile Manager,enables mobile operators and application service providers (ASPs) to offermobile device management as a hosted solution to enterprise customers.Headquartered in the UK with offices in Berlin and Washington D.C., Synchronicaplc is a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange (AIM:SYNC). Moreinformation is available at www.synchronica.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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