Nokia provides secure mobile access to corporate data with new Nokia WAP Server release

| Source: Nokia Oyj Nokia Oyj

Key enhancements of the Nokia WAP Server 1.1 include increased performance and scalability using UNIX platforms. Large corporations will benefit from the UNIX platforms used in the Nokia WAP Server 1.1 as several thousand users can access the server simultaneously. That is significantly more than the performance of the previous version, which operates on Windows NT and scales up to 500 simultaneous users. On the other hand, the new version provides even more capacity for e-business service providers and mobile ISPs as it is able to support a market of millions of WAP enabled devices.

The Nokia WAP Server 1.1 also provides an over-the-air provisioning tool, a feature that automatically programs settings and allows easy and immediate access to corporate data and mobile Internet sites. Enhanced security is another important upgrade to the Nokia WAP Server. Therefore Nokia has augmented Nokia's security pack for the Nokia WAP Server 1.1 with a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for accessing origin servers over the Internet, in addition to already available Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS) functionality.

According to Pertti Lounamaa, Vice President of Nokia Internet Communications: "As the penetration of WAP applications and WAP-enabled devices continues to increase, concerns regarding scalability and reliability become real issues for service providers. Nokia addresses those concerns through this new version of Nokia WAP Server on UNIX platforms. This, in conjunction with the previously announced Nokia WAP Server over-the-air provisioning tool, will greatly boost the use of WAP services leveraged by large enterprises and mobile Internet service providers."

In addition, the Nokia WAP Server 1.1 includes the following new features as standard:

  • A generic WAP e-mail connector that enables instant e-mail access to existing legacy corporate
    e-mail systems, such as Microsoft Exchange v. 5.5, Lotus Notes v. 4.6, Linux Sendmail, Solaris Sendmail,
    Netscape Messaging, and all POP3 and IMAP4 compliant e-mail servers.

  • SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) makes management and monitoring of the server seamless with leading systems management tools.

  • Terminal Bearer functionality provides instant capability for sending SMS messages by connecting a Nokia 6100 or 5100 phone to the Nokia WAP Server.

  • Cookie Proxy facilitates commonly used session handling techniques by emulating terminal cookies on the Nokia WAP Server.

  • Support of WML and WMLScript content, which is compliant with the recently announced WAP 1.2 specification, thus adding to the existing full WAP 1.1 support of the Nokia WAP Server.

    The Nokia WAP Server 1.1 will be available in the second quarter of this year for the Europe, Americas and Asia Pacific markets. Nokia will be demonstrating the Nokia WAP Server at CeBIT 2000, on February 24 - March 1.

    About the Nokia WAP Server

    The Nokia WAP Server allows businesses to fully leverage the power and functionality of existing and new service offerings in a mobile environment. It is an open server platform for mobile applications that lets companies maintain control over end-to-end security of access to data and customer traffic between the wireless network and the Internet or their own internal networks. The Nokia WAP Server complies with the WAP 1.1 specification and sets the industry milestone with its security option, the first commercially available implementation of the Wireless Transportation Layer Security (WTLS). The trial version of the currently available Nokia WAP Server 1.0 has been downloaded more than 10,000 times from the Nokia website during the first month of availability.

    About WAP

    WAP is an open global standard for communication between a mobile handset and the Internet or other computer application. WAP-based technology enables the design of advanced, interactive and real-time mobile services, such as mobile banking or Internet-based news services, which can be used in digital mobile phones or other mobile devices. The WAP specification allows solutions from multiple suppliers to perform consistently and reliably for the end-user across digital networks. For more WAP information visit: www.wapforum.org.

    About Nokia

    Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. The company is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks, related services as well as multimedia terminals. In 1999, Nokia's net sales totaled EUR 19.8 billion (USD 19.9 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 55,000 people.