Motorola and Sprint PCS to Trial a New Category of Consumer Applications

Sprint PCS to Test J2ME Applications on Motorola's Timeport 270c Phone

Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT) and Sprint PCS (NYSE:PCS) today announced a collaboration to conduct Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME(TM)) lab trials.

Sprint PCS is the first nationwide North American CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) carrier to perform an in-house lab trial, which will enable both companies to begin testing the ability for customers to download applications on a wireless phone based on their own varying wants, needs or situations.

"With Sprint PCS' clear path to Third-Generation, packet-switched technology, we have the opportunity to bring a variety of personalized applications to our customers using J2ME(TM) technology," said Paul Kershisnik, Sprint PCS' vice president of marketing. "Sprint PCS has a long history of connecting its customers to the most innovative products and services. Working through this trial and our Application Developers Program to deliver applications using J2ME(TM) technology we will continue this tradition."

"Consumers today are looking to personalize wireless phones with accessories, changing the look and feel with interchangeable covers or even downloading ring tones," said Ron Garriques, corporate vice president and general manager of Worldwide Product Line Management for Motorola's Personal Communications Sector. "J2ME(TM) technology will elevate personalization and customization to a new level, making devices smarter; enabling consumers to, if they choose, download interactive applications to their wireless device regardless of location."

This new customization is made possible by the J2ME(TM) standard, which has evolved from Java and is designed to work on small, low-powered handheld devices such as wireless phones, pagers and personal digital assistants.

A key attribute to incorporating J2ME(TM) into a wireless device is that it enables consumers to continually upgrade the applications on a device once it has been purchased. Since J2ME(TM) is an industry standard, the same software and applications can work on a variety of different devices.

Today, there are currently 2.5 million Java developers in the world who write programs for wired devices. These developers will also be able to write applications that will work across a variety of J2ME(TM) wireless devices.

The significance and market opportunity associated with J2ME(TM) is expected to be equivalent to what occurred in the personal computer industry when third-party application developers began writing applications for the mass consumer computer market.

The Motorola and Sprint PCS lab trial is slated to begin later this month in Sprint PCS' Lab in Kansas City and will run for about three months. The key focus of the trial is to explore downloading wireless applications "over-the-air" between a wireless phone and network.

Sprint PCS Application Developers Program

Sprint PCS offers a program designed to assist developers in the creation of wireless Internet applications for the Sprint PCS Network and the wireless data industry.

The Sprint PCS Wireless Web(SM) Application Developer's Program, which is posted at http://developer.sprintpcs.com, provides technical assistance and a developer's forum to foster compelling application development. The site also provides industry information and information on current and future Sprint PCS wireless data products, tools and services.


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