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To: slacker711 who wrote (570)	8/26/2002 9:54:30 AM
From: slacker711	Read Replies (1) of 1679

Pushing The Envelope With Push-To-Talk http://www.wirelessweek.com/index.asp?layout=story&articleid=CA240253&spacedesc=News&stt=000 By Brad Smith August 26, 2002 Wireless Week © 2002, Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved. Push-to-talk is a feature that Nextel Communications has benefited from since its inception, using the capability to win over enterprises to its network and distinguish itself from other carriers. But that advantage may not last much longer. A number of wireless carriers globally have expressed interest in push-to-talk. Now it appears many are getting ready to test the technology in their networks. One of the technologies being offered comes from Sonim Technologies of San Mateo, Calif., which came out of hiding last week to announce $18.6 million in venture financing. Sonim, which is 3 years old, has developed a software system that uses standards such as session initiation protocol to provide presence and availability information over a packet network. In a demonstration last week, the company showed how the system could be used to launch a conversation between two people, or within a group, by clicking a button. Bob Plaschke, Sonim's CFO and executive vice president of marketing, says the technology is compatible with such wireless air interfaces as GPRS, 802.11b and UMTS. Sonim's technology also uses smart server software to handle much of the core network functions, including optimizing bandwidth, the company says. Sonim expects to start trials of its service with three or four wireless carriers, probably early in 2003 when a demonstration phone is available, Plaschke says. Sonim is not disclosing the identity of the carriers. However, the CFO says one of the carriers wants to combine the push-to-talk service, which Sonim calls "instant communications," with location technology. Doing so could enable the service to notify a driver of an accident ahead and send the driver information on how to circumvent the traffic jam. The European carriers Sonim is talking with see push-to-talk as a voice form of SMS, Plaschke says, adding that carriers believe the teen and young adult populations will be big market for the capability. Sonim also sees a big potential market in replacing the traditional walkie-talkies that families use to stay in touch. To achieve success, though, Sonim will have to persuade handset manufacturers to load its 50-kilobyte thin client software onto their phones. Plaschke says Sonim is talking with a number of manufacturers but doesn't have a deal yet. Sonim is a technology partner of Symbian, the operating system company with ties to several handset manufacturers. Sonim isn't alone in its push-to-talk offering. According to Openwave Systems, a messaging infrastructure provider, the technology also works in an instant messaging scenario. All that is needed is presence and availability information, which comes from the SIP standard the industry is moving toward, and the software to handle the communications. Another push-to-talk technology company is Winphoria, which some insiders believe is working on a service for Sprint PCS and/or Virgin Mobile USA. Virgin Mobile reportedly insisted on the capability before it agreed to use the Sprint PCS network for its MVNO offering. Sprint PCS hasn't confirmed it will offer the service, but President Chuck Levine has said the carrier wants feature-rich services on its new 1XRTT network and has implied that will include push-to-talk. Sonim's $18.6 million financing comes primarily from 3i and Apax Partners and is one of the largest venture capital deals put together by a wireless company in recent months.

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