WHATS EMS & MMS?
In the middle of last year Alcatel, Ericsson, Motorola and Siemens introduced plans for EMS (Extended or Enhanced Messaging Services) phones. EMS will require new handsets, but can run over existing infrastructure. A related system comes from Philips spin-off Magic4, which is based on a back-end server and embedded client that can bundle up to 17 SMS messages as one enhanced message, and which features extensions to straightforward EMS such as “iconimations”, downloadable menus and operator logos. Magic4, Ericsson, Motorola, Siemens and Alcatel are the main sponsors of EMS, while other manufacturers such as Mitsubishi Trium, NEC, Panasonic and Sagem are also showing interest. EMS has also received the backing of the important 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) body. At the same time Nokia is pushing MMS (Multimedia Messaging Services), with phones due to be launched commercially in the summer, and a full service slated for year end: expect a lot of CeBit coverage on this. Noki
