Open Mobile Alliance Announces First Year Milestones - New Interoperable Enabler Releases Demonstrate Clear Progress Towards Mobile Interoperability
Berlin (ots)
Today, the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) announced at its inaugural Annual General Meeting the key milestones achieved in its mission to promote interoperability across the mobile value chain. OMA announced a series of initiatives, including five new Enabler Releases, bringing the total number over its first year of operation to sixteen. In addition, OMA reported significant progress in Technical Plenary activities, membership and industry liaisons.
Progress Towards Interoperability
In recent months, OMA has introduced five new service Enabler Releases based on open standards; OMA Multimedia Messaging v.1.2, OMA Device Management v.1.1.2 and OMA Games Services v.1.0. These three Enablers have passed the first phase of the OMA Release Program. In addition, OMA Data Synchronization v.1.1.2 and OMA SyncML Common v.1.1.2 have passed phase two of the OMA Release Program.
The OMA Release Program includes three phases: Phase 1 being a candidate Enabler Release available for product implementation; Phase 2 being an approved Enabler Release, which has undergone interoperability testing based on those implementations; and Phase 3 which is a verified end-to-end interoperability release working across several service enablers. OMA currently has thirteen Enabler Releases in Phase 1, and three Enabler Releases in Phase 2 of the OMA Release Program.
In the last twelve months, OMA's Technical Plenary has hosted six Technical Plenary meetings and conducted seven interoperability "Test Fests." OMA Test Fests are designed to ensure technology implementations from various vendors interoperate seamlessly. Recent Test Fests have included testing Instant Messaging and Presence Services (IMPS) 1.1, Data Synchronization 1.0.1, 1.1.1, Device Management 1.1.1, and Multimedia Messaging (MMS) Enablers. Ninety-one Tests have been conducted to date on various member companies' products that have implemented the various specifications, demonstrating a clear commitment by the membership to create interoperability in the mobile industry.
To date, OMA has completed the consolidation of six industry forums which have continued to evolve their technical work in OMA: SyncML initiative, Wireless Village, Location Interoperability Forum (LIF), WAP Forum, Mobile Wireless Internet Forum (MWIF), and Mobile Gaming Interoperability Forum (MGIF).
Organization and Alliances
OMA membership has increased 60 percent to more than 300 companies, with interests representing the entire mobile value chain including: mobile operators, information technology companies, wireless vendors and application and content providers. The OMA members list can be found on the OMA website at www.openmobilealliance.org/currentmembers.html
In the past year, OMA has further strengthened its industry alliance relationships by establishing liaison agreements with other organizations and standards bodies to promote de-fragmentation in the mobile standardisation arena. OMA has working relationships with industry organizations such as 3GPP, 3GPP2, ETSI, GSMA, MOBEY Forum, MPF, PayCircle.
"OMA continues to gain momentum and our member companies see great value as OMA continues to help move the mobile industry towards improved interoperability globally," said Jari Alvinen, Chairman of OMA's board of directors. "The industry will see continued strengthening of OMA's interoperability programs and efficient specifications development process. These are results of OMA's partnerships with other industry organizations, our committed membership and our effective operations."
Notes to Editors
The Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) delivers open standards for the mobile industry, helping to create interoperable services that work across countries, operators and mobile terminals and are driven by users' needs. To expand the mobile market, companies supporting the Open Mobile Alliance will work to stimulate the fast and wide adoption of a variety of new, enhanced mobile information, communication and entertainment services. The Open Mobile Alliance includes all key elements of the wireless value chain, and contributes to the timely and efficient introduction of services and applications.
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