home page > news & events > news archive 2005

NEC completed Interoperability Test with Preliminary Version of the SUPL

Tokyo, April 28th,2005 --- NEC Corporation completed interoperability test of live assisted-GPS (A-GPS) calls on W-CDMA network with a preliminary version of the Secure User Plane for Location (SUPL) interface.

 

SUPL is a standards-based protocol that allows a mobile handset client to communicate with a location server, and the protocol is in the final stage of standardization by Open Mobile Alliance (OMA). NEC proactively participates in the standardizing activity from its beginning, and NEC Location Information Platform, which already supports a preliminary version of the SUPL, enables smooth migration to SUPL based platform when it is defined.

 

The biggest advantage of SUPL is that the interface is independent from operator’s network architecture and their bearer types. Another merit is that it realizes cost effective location information system because SUPL based platform has less impact on the existing operators’ network.

 

Location Based Services now comes to the forefront inspired by the increasing popularity in Asia and due to the governmental regulation such as E112 in Europe and E911 in North America. With the global partnership of Qualcomm, NEC has provided commercial user plane location platform for leading mobile operators. These successful implementations are achieved due to the high scalability, stability, and reliability of the NEC Location Information Platform.

 

Media Contact:

Akiko Shikimori
NEC Corporation
Tel: +81 3 3798 6511
e-mail: a-shikimori@ay.jp.nec.com

 

About NEC's mobile application business

NEC is a total mobile solutions provider capable of providing everything from cellular handsets to infrastructure to mobile applications. NEC has been actively expanding its sales in mobile applications, infrastructure and handsets, not only inside Japan, but also on overseas markets. The firm has a track record of delivering platforms for implementing mobile internet services such as i-MODE/WAP2.0, along with location information systems, contents conversion software, mail servers, and the like. NEC's mobile applications are value-added applications by which, using cell phones, persons anywhere can easily get the information they want and freely participate in their favorite communities and thus live more fulfilling lives. The fundamental concepts behind the applications are "personalize," "community" and "security." In the last couple of years, because of the penetration of camera-equipped cell phones and the introduction of ring tone services for call sender, the keywords "personal" and "community" have assumed greater importance. On the other hand, when introduction of 3G infrastructure and IMS gets going, the changeover to all-IP and broadband multimedia data communications will move into high gear. The predictions are, as a result, that packet-based voice services -- such as VoIP service and PoC (Push to Talk Over Cellular) -- will expand and the integration of voice and data services will accelerate along with the introduction image distribution services of such things as cartoons or movies.

 

On the foundation of its Mobile Internet Platform, NEC will aggressively expand sales efforts in its primary products of (i) "Ring back melodies," in which phone call recipients let call senders hear their favorite music or messages, (ii) "Location information system," a platform for providing various services based on participant location and (iii) "3G/2.5G Mobile Visual Solution" to provide such multimedia data as cartoons, together with its other application software offerings.

 

About NEC Corporation

NEC is one of the world's leading providers of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and global base of customers. Ranked as one of the world's top patent-producing companies, NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks, and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 140,000 people worldwide and had net sales of approximately $40 billion in the fiscal year ended March 2003. For additional information, please visit the NEC home page at: http://www.nec.com/