SpatialNews Press Release
Xmarc and Genie Sign Trial Worldwide Location-Based Services,
LBS, Deployment Agreement
SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 14, 2000--
Xmarc's WIISE Platform to Power Trial for Wireless Applications for Genie's Mobile Internet Portal
Genie (www.genie.co.uk), one of Europe's major mobile Internet portals and Xmarc, Inc. (ASX: FHL) today announced
that Genie has selected Xmarc's industry proven Wireless & Internet Infrastructure Software Environment (WIISE) platform
to trial location-based services (LBS) to Genie's UK mobile user community.
Xmarc's WIISE solution will power a trial early next year of location-based applications to Genie's United Kingdom
subscribers. This will enable Genie to deliver applications to help users locate where they are, find points of interest, and
obtain directions to their desired locations - delivering personalised information to users based on their current location and
personal user profile.
"We chose Xmarc for the trial because they will enable us to differentiate the Genie service to our consumers by adding
value added location services to our expanding user base," said Jim Ryan, Genie's director of portal services.
Xmarc's WIISE platform contains a set of location service engines that are critical to the delivery and deployment of
wireless applications. The WIISE services include routing, proximity search, geo-location, map rendering, secure profiling,
wireless coverage and remote data access.
"Xmarc was selected for its proven technology, specifically for its ability to scale for the wireless Internet, and its ability to
enable rapid design and delivery of LBS applications," said Simon Thrower, Project Manager, Genie. "We are on an
extremely tight implementation schedule, and need a company whose proven products and market experience will help us
meet our deadline for this rollout."
"Genie's decision to utilize the Xmarc infrastructure further validates our market leading position in providing a LBS
platform," said Rick Smith, Operations Director, Xmarc Europe Ltd. "We are extremely pleased to have our platform power
Genie's location-based applications."
About Genie
Genie is the global mobile Internet division of BT Openworld. It delivers the best quality content via its web and WAP
portals to fixed and mobile devices around the world, with an objective to be the world's leading mobile Internet portal.
Genie currently has web and WAP portals in the UK (where it is the mobile Internet leader), Italy and the Netherlands
with over 2 million registrations. Content on the portals includes breaking sports results from Sports.com and 365
Corporation, the latest news from Guardian Unlimited, business stories from 451.com, last minute travel deals from
lastminute.com and up-to-the-minute stock quotes from T D Waterhouse. Genie has also partnered with world-leading
portals including Yahoo! and Freeserve to enable their customers to access their emails via Genie.
Genie's other businesses included Qdodge.com, a system for topping up pre-pay mobile phones in real time via the web
and ATM type machines.
Over the coming months, Genie is pursuing an aggressive international rollout programme for both its web and WAP
portals.
In November 2000, Genie launched the UK's first exclusively online mobile operator selling mobile phones offering
un-metered mobile Internet access through text messaging and WAP.
About Xmarc
Xmarc provides infrastructure software solutions for wireless and Internet-enabled companies that need to manage,
interact with, and distribute critical corporate and location-based information. Xmarc's Wireless & Internet Infrastructure
Software Environment (WIISE) enables companies to optimize network performance, to visualize and manage corporate
assets and to develop and deploy customized location applications to a variety of devices, including mobile phones, PDAs,
and PCs.
Xmarc's WIISE is a server-centric software platform consisting of two layers, a data warehouse layer and a location
services layer. The data warehouse layer seamlessly integrates into Oracle8i, Informix or IBM's DB2 databases, and
encompasses Xmarc's Enterprise Spatial Manager and Cellular Network Cartridge product lines as well as standard data
sets. The location services layer contains six distinct location-based services that provide businesses with access to an entire
suite of mobile data and location applications.
Headquartered in San Jose, California, Xmarc is an international company, with offices in the United States, Europe, and
Asia Pacific. More information about Xmarc is available at www.xmarc.com.
Return to Today's News Index
|
