Wireless Internet company Openwave Systems Inc. announced a new deal with Microsoft Corp. as well as a major sale to handset maker Motorola Inc. Openwave also announced an acquisition it said will improve its wireless Internet browsing technology.
Under Openwave’s deal with Microsoft, the companies announced Openwave will add Microsoft’s Messenger and Hotmail technology to its Phone Suite V7 phone software platform. Openwave’s V7 platform, which combines browsing, messaging and downloading clients into one integrated user interface, is for sale to mobile-phone makers. Under the new Microsoft deal, Openwave’s V7 customers will be able to add Messenger and Hotmail software to their V7-based mobile phones.
“MSN is thrilled to work with Openwave and, ultimately, mobile operators to bring leading MSN communications services to a broad range of wireless users,” said Brian Arbogast, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s MSN Communications Platforms. “With Openwave’s rich V7 platform and broad applicability to mass market phones, and rich MSN communications services and loyal customers, we believe we can provide a great opportunity for mobile operators to drive more wireless data usage.”
In a separate but related deal, Openwave announced the world’s No. 2 mobile phone maker, Motorola Inc., licensed the WAP browser portion of its V7 software platform. Openwave is selling the platform in pieces as well as an integrated offering. Openwave also announced that Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., LG Electronics Co. Ltd., Audiovox Communications Corp. and others are using its messaging client-part of the V7 platform-in their phones.
Finally, Openwave announced it acquired the assets of Nombas Inc., which sold platform-independent script engine technologies and tools. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Openwave said it would add Nombas’ ScriptEase technology to its WAP browser offering, which supports real-time interaction with Web applications. RCR
