[Logica announces it is the first company to deploy a proven Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) intercarrier messaging solution with a mobile operator.]

Logica, the global solutions company and leading supplier of mobile messaging and mobile payments, today announced that it is the first company to deploy a proven Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) intercarrier messaging solution with a mobile operator. Intercarrier messaging will allow users to send MMS messages across different networks, further enhancing the potential for operators to increase their revenues from MMS. Logica is first-to-market to support the MM4 interface, the standard interface through which MMS centres can communicate with each other, with its Picasso MMS Centre.

Logica's successful deployment of a proven MMS interface will drive intercarrier MMS messaging -- a critical factor if MMS is to achieve critical mass adoption. The importance of intercarrier messaging was first evidenced with Short Messaging Services (SMS) which saw the number of SMS grow exponentially once the challenge to SMS intercarrier messaging was solved. In 2001 alone, 100 billion text messages were sent globally and it is estimated that this will grow to 165 billion by 2003. (Gartner Dataquest June 2002)

"The impact of interoperability on the MMS market will be highly significant for both wireless carriers and their subscribers," said Steve Buck, head of MMS product marketing, Logica. "Already, studies have shown that the ARPU (average revenue per user) of MMS handset subscribers can be up to 132 per cent higher than the ARPU of 2G GSM handset subscribers. Now that we have solved the interoperability issues that can hold back the mass adoption of MMS, the market will open up for carriers and subscribers alike. Users will benefit from first class MMS services between all networks and carriers will have access to enhanced revenue streams."

Having pioneered SMS interoperability, Logica has once again demonstrated its technical and engineering expertise in the wireless arena by being the first company to have an intercarrier messaging interface available for MMS.

The MMS market is gaining momentum with more than 70 carriers worldwide launching or announcing the launch of an MMS service, but consumer uptake of these services will be hampered by interoperability problems. As a result of the MM4 interoperability testing and Logica's intercarrier messaging solution, operators will now be able to allows consumers to send each other MMS messages regardless of their network.

Logica is a founding member of the 3GPP Interoperability programme. In addition to support for the MM4 Interface, Logica's Picasso MMS Centre is network and device agnostic, with proven integration to existing network infrastructure and MMS handsets.

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