Eight of the world's largest mobile network operators
will announce the formation of group in London to research and
specify an open mobile terminal platform.
The companies include the UK's mmO2 and Vodafone, France's
Orange, the Philippines' Smart Communications, Spain's Telefónica
Móviles, Italy's Telecom Italia Mobile, Germany's T-Mobile and
Japan's NTT DoCoMo.
The group, OMTP, has as its goal the definition of common
platform requirements for 2.5G and beyond handsets which will allow
carriers to deliver standardised applications across multiple
handsets while also allowing enough room for the carrier to add
some level of customisation.
OMTP will produce recommendations relating to existing standards
or support the development of new standards by existing bodies.
In addition to the eight founding carriers, several others have
also expressed an interest to join. They include Spain's Amena,
Norway's Telenor, the Netherlands' KPN Mobile, Austria's One,
France's SFR and Hong Kong's Hutchison Whampoa.
Membership is open to any mobile operator and annual dues have
been set at €100,000 (£68,500). Other companies can become sponsors
for the same price, although they will not get a vote in group
meetings, and there are other cheaper membership options
available.
The group's website can be found at
www.omtp.org.
Martyn Williams writes for IDG News Service