Vancouver, June 12, 2002 — (press release excerpt) — Nearly 200 of the world's leading mobile operators, device and network suppliers, information technology companies and content providers have announced the formation of a new, global organization called the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA).

The Open Mobile Architecture initiative and WAP Forum have joined to form the foundation for this new organization and the Location Interoperability Forum (LIF), MMS Interoperability Group (MMS-IOP), SyncML Initiative Ltd. and Wireless Village initiative, through Memorandums of Understanding, announce their intent to consolidate with the Open Mobile Alliance. Other industry fora focusing on mobile service specifications are also welcome to join.

The Open Mobile Alliance will collect market requirements and define specifications designed to remove barriers to interoperability and accelerate the development and adoption of a variety of new, enhanced mobile information, communication and entertainment services and applications. The definition of these common specifications and the testing of interoperability will promote competition through innovation and differentiation, while ensuring the interoperability of mobile services across markets, terminals and operators, throughout the entire value chain.

The charter for the Open Mobile Alliance is to:

• Deliver responsive and high-quality open standards and specifications based upon market and customer requirements.
• Establish centers of excellence for best practices and conduct interoperability testing (IOT), including multi-standard interoperability to ensure seamless user experience.
• Create and promote a common industry view on an architectural framework.
• Be the catalyst for the consolidation of standards fora and work in conjunction with other existing standards organizations and groups such as IETF, 3GPP, 3GPP2, W3C, JCP.

The work previously handled within the Open Mobile Architecture initiative and the WAP Forum will be continued within the new Open Mobile Alliance. The WAP Forum members at their annual general meeting on June 10th, ratified changes in their articles to fully support the creation of the Open Mobile Alliance. Details on the consolidation of other industry initiatives will be announced as soon as relevant contracts on consolidation are finalized.

The Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) delivers open standards for the mobile industry, helping to create interoperable services which 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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