South African mobile operator Cell C has selected Nokia's multimedia messaging service (MMS) solution for providing its customers with new mobile messages opportunities.  This is the first end-to-end MMS solution supplied by Nokia in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as Nokia's first network deal with a South African operator.

 

Under the agreement, Nokia will provide the Nokia Multimedia Messaging Service Center (MMSC), Nokia Application Gateway, Nokia Profile Server, Nokia Terminal Management Server, and the Nokia WAP gateway.  In addition, Nokia will provide care services for deployment, including emergency support, help desk, software maintenance, and training, as well as system integration to Cell C's IT network.

 

The system is already being delivered and will be operational at the first of December.

 

"Multimedia messaging is a key part of our business model for the future," says Talaat Laham, CEO, Cell C.  "We see it as a crucial differentiator in this competitive mobile landscape and are confident that Nokia's MMS solution has the technology and service focus to deliver attractive multimedia service to our customers."

 

"We are honored and delighted to have been selected as a supplier to Cell C," says Dr. Walid Moneimne, Senior Vice President, Networks Nokia.  "Multimedia Messaging has been very successful in other parts of the world, and we look forward to working closely with Cell C to recreate this success in South Africa.  Nokia has played a global role in the development, roll-out and marketing of multimedia services, and now we can offer this expertise to Cell C."

 

Commercial MMS services includes person-to-person MMS, which is a greatly enriched version of SMS with the capability of sending photographs, pictures and voice or sounds combined with text messages.

 

Nokia has among the wireless industry's most extensive track record in MMS with over 60 public references to date and an ever-growing number of launched systems, making multimedia messaging a reality for today's mobile consumers.

 

Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia is dedicated to enhancing people's lives and productivity by providing easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, and solutions for imaging, games, media, mobile network operators and businesses. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on five major exchanges.

 

 

Media Enquiries:

 

Communications

Networks, Nokia

Tel. (Int.) + 358 (0) 7180 38198

E-mail: networks.communications@nokia.com

 

Nokia

Communications

Tel. +358 7180 34900

E-mail: press.office@nokia.com