GENEVA-Hewlett-Packard Co. announced at Telecom ’99 a new company initiative focused on the mobile electronic services industry that combines products, a subscription- and transaction-based payment model, and centers for product development and testing. The company is targeting wireless carriers with the initiative.
HP said its integrated mobile e-services platform bundles hardware, software and services combining Wireless Application Protocol-based servers with other HP and third-party partner technologies. Twenty-four communications companies, including Nokia Corp. and Motorola Inc., are partners in the venture.
The mobile e-services initiative is part of a wider company strategic directive focused on e-services announced in May. As part of that, HP unveiled the e-speak protocol that allows different e-services to communicate with one another. In September, HP and Nokia announced a partnership to develop and promote WAP solutions.
Wireless service providers can integrate only the technologies or services they need, said Ulf Beyschlag, worldwide program manager for mobile e-services, who characterized the announcement as a dramatic shift in HP’s focus.
HP is offering “services on tap,” meaning carriers can sign a service agreement for a specific service or technology from HP for a set time period. HP also will offer transaction-based mobile services to carriers, whereby HP will help a carrier offer a service and receive a percentage of the profits from each transaction.
Carly Fiorina, HP president and CEO, said the killer applications for the Internet will center on transactions, including the “ability to dynamically broker all services” and “perform complex transactions securely anywhere you want.”
The company also established a mobile e-services bazaar in Helsinki, Finland, with similar centers planned for the United States and Asia. The center combines an online cyber-bazaar and a center of innovation, both of which will allow information exchange among companies. The bazaar will include product and service details, product testing and development, purchasing capability and a developer program.
No carriers currently are using the service, but announcements are expected by early 2000, said Michael Pierantozzi, director, e-services market development and strategy computing utility services division. The company declined to comment on the financial resources devoted to the program.
