- Major Industry Players Back Initiative to Develop New SIM Technology.
The GSMA announced that it has completed the first phase of its Smart SIM initiative and has published three white papers* outlining the commercial implementation of the technology. Led by the GSMA, this initiative aims to drive the development and adoption of the Smart SIM, which will enhance the mobile user experience by providing simplified, transferable and consistent access to services, data, applications and settings, irrespective of device type. The first phase of the project worked to ensure that consistent interoperability between mobile handsets and SIMs can be achieved, aligning device requirements and analysing the various SIM business models and sharing them with industry partners.
"Use of Smart SIM technology will mean that operators will be able to deliver a variety of capabilities without having to manage extensive and complex commercial relationships or a mix of handset, operating system and chipset technologies," said Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at the GSMA. "With the backing of some of the world's largest operators, OEMs and software developers, the mobile industry will address customer demand for the simplicity and transferability of user device settings, applications and data, from handset to handset."
The completion of the first phase of the project was achieved through the participation of 23 members, including 12 mobile operators representing more than 1.2 billion subscribers, as well as SIM vendors, handset and device OEMs, software developers and other key players across the mobile ecosystem. The 23 members include AT&T, China Mobile, Gemalto, Giesecke & Devrient, Infineon, KT, Latvian Mobile Telephone, LG, MCCI, Microsoft, Oberthur Technologies, Option, Orange, Sagem Orga, Samsung, SK Telecom, Softbank Mobile, SST, STC, Swisscom, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, and Telenor.
The GSMA's Smart SIM initiative will provide operators, handset manufacturers, software developers and chipset vendors with the ability to create a 'smart execution' environment and provide a common and interoperable approach to application and service development. The initiative is focused on creating a business environment whereby data mobility, service mobility and enhanced user experience is guaranteed resulting in standardised, interoperable and rich environments that will be used to build new services and applications.
The completion of this first phase lays the groundwork for the next phase of the Smart SIM initiative. The focus for phase 2 is to promote the technology across the mobile industry and expand the Smart SIM ecosystem by carrying out global trials of Smart SIM services in 2010.
Supporting quotes
"Orange supports the standardisation of SIM enabled services and welcomes the launch of the white papers," said Frederic Dufal, Director of Device Developments & Projects, Orange. "This first phase addresses some of the key questions around use cases and implementation. However, in order for customers to really benefit from the true potential of interoperable SIM enabled services such as improved personal data storage and content distribution, we need a stronger commitment from all players in the mobile ecosystem. Together we have the opportunity to greatly simplify the customer's user experience, and with the launch of the three white papers, the Smart SIM initiative takes a positive step forward to achieving this goal."
"Within the objective to accelerate the deployment of new business cases generated by the implementation of an interoperable and advanced SIM technology, we are pleased to support this initiative. Some of our members are participating in the initiative and are already working on implementation," said Michel Canitrot, Chairman of the Board, SIMalliance. "The work the GSMA and members of this project are carrying out also complements the work we are doing around the Smart Card Web Server."
"We are very pleased with what has been accomplished in phase 1 of the Smart SIM initiative," said Dr. Cheol Kim, Project Leader on Global Technology Strategy, SK Telecom. "We believe the Smart SIM will bring many new business opportunities and will enhance the user experience in many ways. SK Telecom joined the GSMA's initiative with the aim of resolving existing interoperability issues and to create a new market for the mobile industry. During 10 months of hard work and close collaboration, we have identified several valuable business cases and interest from the mobile industry has grown. Members of the project are aware that the Smart SIM will bring many benefits to all stakeholders and we are now focusing on expanding this in terms of business and technology commercialisation. SK Telecom will continue to play a leading role in facilitating the adoption of the Smart SIM through communication with the market and showing the actual benefits of the technology."
"Smart SIM is an exciting opportunity to enable customers to benefit from services with a consistent experience and which are portable across different devices," said Vivek Dev, Innovation Director, Telefonica S.A. "The suite of technologies defined by the project will enable a new generation of compelling mobile services that move with the Smart SIM between devices, ensuring a seamless, secure and consistent customer experience."
Note to Editors
* On completion of the first phase of the Smart SIM initiative, the GSMA has published the following three white papers:
SC-04 Business opportunities and Smart SIM summary
SC-05 Technical implementation guide
SC-06 Detailed use cases paper
To view or download the white papers, please visit: http://www.gsmworld.com/newsroom/document-library/technical_documents.htm.
About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry. Spanning 219 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world's mobile operators, as well as more than 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies, and media and entertainment organisations. The GSMA is focused on innovating, incubating and creating new opportunities for its membership, all with the end goal of driving the growth of the mobile communications industry.
For more information, please visit Mobile World Live, the new online portal for the mobile communications industry, at http://www.mobileworldlive.com or the GSMA corporate website at http://www.gsmworld.com.
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