Ericsson pushes 3G software
With a set of third-generation applications, the Swedish telecom-equipment maker hopes to persuade people to catch the next wave in wireless services.
The programs, which Ericsson and independent developers created, include business applications, multiplayer games and Web browsing software.
Ericsson is sending a set of 3G applications to 40 mobile operators, which the company hopes they will use to demonstrate the technology to their customers. The Swedish company thinks that operators could also use the applications as part of upcoming commercial 3G packages.
"(The 3G applications) are interactive, have rich content, great graphics, and all of them used bandwidths provided by W-CDMA," Ericsson's Kevin Nicholl said in a statement. W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) is a high-speed 3G mobile wireless standard developed by Ericsson.
Several of the applications are suited for enterprise customers. These include a mobile version of Microsoft's NetMeeting video conferencing program, an application that offers corporate LAN (local area network) access, and a work-force management application that should enable users to coordinate activities, such as handling work orders and scheduling, from their mobile phones.
Other applications are for entertainment, such as Sea Wars, a single or multiplayer game where the user is in charge of a fleet of battle ships.
Ericsson is also shipping MMS Composer, which lets users generate their own multimedia messages.
ZDNet UK's Graeme Wearden reported from London.