Ericsson will accelerate its licensing activities by creating a new company, Ericsson Mobile Platforms, that offers complete 2.5G and 3G technology platforms to manufacturers of mobile phones and other wireless devices. The technology is based on Ericsson's global standardization leadership and the world's strongest Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) portfolio for 2.5 and 3G mobile phone systems.
The GSM handset market is transforming to the highly complex GPRS, EDGE and WCDMA technologies. By establishing the new company, Ericsson accelerates the wireless industry by offering its leading technology to other manufacturers.
The Ericsson Mobile Platforms team is behind the technology for over 100 million Ericsson mobile phones over the past 15 years, with a long line of industry firsts. Recently, Ericsson was one of the first suppliers with GPRS phones on the market - a technology that is in high demand in the communications industry.
"We see the handset market going through the same transformation as the PC industry did earlier. In the near future, few companies will deliver platform chip-sets, but many companies will deliver handsets," said Jan Uddenfeldt, Senior Vice President, Technology. "We have a unique position to benefit from this development based on our IPR portfolio and end-to-end know-how of systems, applications and handsets."
Ericsson technology platforms will include complete component specifications, printed circuit board layouts and software. Ericsson will also offer support and service in customizing the platforms.
The platforms will be the fastest way for an Original Equipment and Original Development Manufacturer (OEM/ODM) to launch a new product with limited R&D investments. By licensing Ericsson's mobile technology platforms, the manufacturer will be able to focus on product differentiation such as applications, industrial design, distribution and branding.
"We will provide instant access to cutting-edge technology, making it possible for all mobile phone and wireless device manufacturers to bring new advanced products to the market quicker and more cost efficiently," said Tord Wingren, President, Ericsson Mobile Platforms.
The platform activities have been in operation since the beginning of the year, and are now consolidated in a new company from September 1, 2001. The new company and the technology competence will remain in the Ericsson group together with the Bluetooth licensing business, when the rest of Ericsson's mobile phone business is merged into the joint venture with Sony on October 1, 2001.
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