Compaq Computer Corporation and Nokia today announced a global alliance to jointly develop and market end-to-end mobile Internet and Intranet solutions to enterprise customers. The two companies will integrate their respective products, the Nokia WAP Server software and the Compaq ProLiant(TM) server running Windows NT(TM). Compaq and Nokia are jointly developing worldwide marketing and distribution plans in support of this alliance. Both companies will also invest funds in support of the joint marketing plan.
The combined Nokia and Compaq solution will enable enterprise customers to provide their employees with mobile Internet solutions that feature enhanced productivity functionality such as business-class email and contact information, customer relationship management (CRM) tools, order/shipment status, and e-mail telephony links. In addition, the Nokia and Compaq solution delivers improved end-to-end security and manageability.
The new offering will be initially introduced to customers in North America followed by Europe and the rest of the world.
Both Nokia and Compaq see an enormous market opportunity for mobile Internet solutions for enterprise customers, ISPs, ASPs, and wireless carriers. Several industry analysts have predicted that by the end of 2002, the number of mobile phone users worldwide will top one billion and that by the end of 2003, more people will connect to the Internet via a mobile device than a PC.
"Compaq is a globally established provider of enterprise solutions and wireless network infrastructure and we look forward to working with Compaq and their customers to deploy cutting edge mobile Internet solutions," said T. Kent Elliott, senior vice president and general manager, Nokia Internet Communications.
Mary McDowell, vice president and general manager, Compaq Industry Standard Server Group said, "Wireless and the Internet are the great trends of our day, and their convergence is reshaping the way we live and work. Today, Nokia and Compaq are joined together right at the intersection of those powerful trends."
McDowell added, "Nokia is a recognized leader in mobility, and this ProLiant-based enterprise solution complements Compaq's extensive telecommunications expertise in wireless networks, including mobility management solutions that support more than 50 million wireless subscribers worldwide."