News
Issue #2002 - 47 (December 2002)
(Updated Dec. 22, 2002)

ACQUISITIONS, MERGERS & AGREEMENTS

Nokia & IBM Will Develop Business Applications on Advanced Mobile Handsets For The Enterprise Market

IBM Global Services will act as a system integrator of Nokia's Mobile VPN solution for Symbian OS-based mobile handsets.

Nokia's Mobile VPN solution includes Security Service Manager (NSSM) and Nokia Mobile VPN Client for over-the-air provisioning of Mobile VPN client software for the Symbian OS. 

The Nokia Mobile VPN Client is an IPSec VPN client supporting both legacy and PKI authentication. 

The companies aim to allow mobile handset users the same access and security to the corporate VPN as desktop and wireless laptop users. 

"A key component of setting up and maintaining a mobile workforce is securing information transactions from employees' mobile terminals to their corporate networks. This means that enterprises can be more productive and competitive while their employees can work smarter and more efficiently," adds Dan MacDonald, V.P. of Product Management & Marketing, Nokia Internet Communications. 

The companies are also hoping wireless providers will feel comfortable launching more advanced enterprise application services.

Source: CommWeb.com

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory: Nokia and IBM are both leaders in their respective fields. This relationship is symbiotically very attractive even though the product space being covered here is very limited. Nokia's Mobile VPN solution addresses a very small portion of the mobile end-to-end solution. We would expect to see IBM to integrate Nokia's VPN server as an extension of WebSphere application server. 

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of Securities Exchange act of 1934 in USA. Similar provisions exist in other countries. There is no assurance that the stipulated plans of vendors will be implemented. MobileInfo does not warrant the authenticity of the information. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.