Next-gen initiative to focus on wireless Internet standards, specs

Ten companies from telecommunications and computing have come up with an industry initiative to make wireless Internet access as simple and pervasive as accessing data over fixed wires. The Mobile Data Initiative Next Generation (MDI-ng) will focus on developing standards and specifications designed to accelerate the creation and adoption of wireless Internet technologies.

Backed by companies spanning telephony, computing hardware, and Internet connectivity, the MDI-ng plans to identify and remove common technical and market barriers that currently limit wireless Internet connectivity and performance for mobile users. Member companies are BT Cellnet, Dell Computer, France Telecom, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Motorola, Siemens Mobile, Sonera, and Toshiba. The Europe-based GSM Association also supports the launch of the group.

The new group will work closely with wireless standards bodies to address wireless solutions for mobile Internet-capable devices with specific focus on the needs of the business professional. The group will also address standards compatibility, application scalability between devices, security, reliability, and ease of use.

"Intel, working with other industry leaders, is committed to supporting the growing range of wireless devices from handsets to computers, so they all work together effortlessly, run applications that scale seamlessly, and use services that automatically fit to any type of user and their chosen technology," said Rob Eckelmann, vice president and general manager of Intel Europe Middle East and Africa. "This founding group brings together the leaders from all of the key areas—equipment, content, networks and services—to turn this vision of a truly sweeping wireless revolution into reality."

Interoperability
The MDI-ng will set up wireless industry meetings and workshops where service providers and suppliers will meet to discuss interoperability issues. Interoperability tests and technology overviews will be carried out to help guide the efforts of participating companies, industry standards bodies, and the broader mobile services sector.

The objective of this effort is for business and consumer users to benefit quickly from tested and proven wireless Internet solutions that are simple and reliable. The MDI-ng will primarily address wireless access by different mobile devices to cellular phone systems; the group will also focus on complementary wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and wireless local area networks.

Relationship to the MDI
The MDI-ng continues and expands the work initiated in the original Mobile Data Initiative (MDI), started in 1996 with Intel, Ericsson, IBM, Toshiba, and Nokia as founding members. The original MDI was also primarily focused on mobile computing using cellular phone systems but only addressed GSM 900 and 1800 MHz technologies and the U.S. PCS 1900 MHz. Now, the MDI-ng effort takes on the packet-switched network technologies across the full range of handheld devices, from the most compact phones to mobile PCs.

Edited by Ellen Jensen
Managing Editor, Wireless Networks Online