TOKYO, Japan, Nov. 7 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Aplix Corporation (TSE: 3727)
announced today it has reached a licensing agreement with NEC Corp. (Main
office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Kaoru Yano) and Panasonic Mobile
Communications Co. (Main office: Yokohama, President: Yoshiaki Kushiki) on
MOAP(L) to offer integrated solutions for Linux-based mobile phones.
The license allows Aplix to design and develop software solutions for
mobile phones using the MOAP(L) Linux platform co-developed by NEC, Panasonic
Mobile and NTT DoCoMo (Main office: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Masao
Nakamura), and to sublicense this technology to other handset manufacturers.
With innovation and competition continually driving the industry,
manufacturers are under tremendous pressure to develop, test and deliver
multi-functional mobile devices -- with ever-increasing data features and
capabilities -- according to the different operator specifications faster
than ever before. It is a real challenge for them to meet all of these
requirements, re-use them in other phone models, and replace certain
components (to differentiate their models) easily in a cost efficient
manner. To meet this challenge, Aplix aims to create and offer manufacturers
full features Reference Implementations (RIs) to meet the different
operators' requirements.
For Linux-based mobile phones, Aplix's MOAP(L)-based RI (the integrated
solution of its own middleware framework, the MOAP(L) Linux platform co-
developed by NEC, Panasonic Mobile and NTT DoCoMo, and the different
middleware / software partners it has lined up with), offers its customers a
broad palette of functions as the RI allows other third-party middleware and
applications to be incorporated easily and efficiently, while streamlining
the development process and keeping costs down at the same time. Kiyohito
Nagata, Vice President and Managing Director of Product Department at NTT
DoCoMo said, "NTT DoCoMo has been working with NEC and Panasonic Mobile to
develop the MOAP(L) Linux platform for mobile phones. We expect that
integration of Aplix's middleware framework over MOAP (L) will easily enhance
further functionality of mobile phones."
Shunichiro Tejima, Executive General Manager of Mobile Terminals Business
Unit at NEC said, "We have been promoting Linux-based platform for mobile
phones and building up the ecosysystem. By this license agreement, we are
confident that their new integrated solution would help accelerate this
system."
Osamu Waki, Managing Director at Panasonic Mobile Communications
said, "We think the integration of MOAP(L) and the Aplix middleware framework
will lead to the development of solutions that will give added impetus to the
development of Linux-based mobile phones."
Aplix chairman Ryu Koriyama said, "We are very happy about our new
agreement with NEC and Panasonic Mobile, which will further strengthen our
cooperative relationship with both companies. The software experience we
have accumulated, and our new initiatives should allow us to provide
solutions that will contribute to ever greater efficiency in the development
process of highly sophisticated mobile phones."
About Aplix Corporation
Aplix Corporation is the global leader in deploying Java technology in
mobile phones. Aplix was first established in 1986 and has been a Sun Java
(TM) licensee since 1996. Aplix was publicly listed on the Tokyo Stock
Exchange (Mothers) in 2003. On August 24, 2004 Aplix and the Taiwan based
company iaSolution finalized the integration of the corporations.
-- Headquarters: Tokyo
-- Other offices: Yokosuka, Okinawa, San Francisco, Munich,
Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing, Seongnam and Seoul
For more information, please visit: http://www.aplixcorp.com/ and
http://www.iasolution.net/
About the JBlend(TM) Platform
The JBlend platform is the de facto solution for running Java
applications and services in consumer electronics devices, including mobile
phones. The platform has been licensed by over 50 companies as of December
2005.
JBlend technology:
-- Sets the pace by maintaining market leadership through
innovation.
-- Has proven results, enabling first-to-market deliveries
for our customers.
-- Over 233 million mobile phones and consumer electronics
devices have been shipped with JBlend as of June 2006.
About NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo is the world's leading mobile communications company. DoCoMo
serves more than 52 million customers, of which more than half subscribe to
FOMA(TM), launched as the world's first 3G mobile service based on W-CDMA in
2001. DoCoMo also offers a wide variety of leading-edge mobile multimedia
services, including i-mode(TM), the world's most popular mobile e-
mail/Internet service, used by more than 47 million people. With the
addition of credit-card and other e-wallet functions, DoCoMo mobile phones
have become highly versatile tools for daily life. NTT DoCoMo is listed on
the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM) and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. For more
information, please visit http://www.nttdocomo.com .
* Newsroom: http://www.nttdocomo.com/press/index.html
About NEC
NEC Corporation (Nasdaq: NIPNY) is one of the world's leading providers
of Internet, broadband network and enterprise business solutions dedicated to
meeting the specialized needs of its diverse and global base of customers.
NEC delivers tailored solutions in the key fields of computer, networking and
electron devices, by integrating its technical strengths in IT and Networks,
and by providing advanced semiconductor solutions through NEC Electronics
Corporation. The NEC Group employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and
had net sales of approximately 4,825 billion yen (approx. $41.2 billion) in
the fiscal year ended March 2006. For additional information, please visit
the NEC home page at: http://www.nec.com .
* Newsroom: http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/
About Panasonic Mobile Communications
Panasonic Mobile Communications Co., Ltd., whose headquarters are based
in Yokohama, Japan, is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture
of mobile communications products. As one of the main business domains for
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., best known for its Panasonic brand
digital electronics, Panasonic has been developing cutting edge technologies
since its establishment in 1958, including the world's first 3G video handset
for the Japanese market in 2001. Panasonic is committed in providing added-
value solutions to end-users through its mobile communication products. For
more information, please visit the company's website at:
http://www.panasonic.co.jp/pmc/en/
* Newsroom: http://panasonic.co.jp/pmc/news/en/
-- MOAP is a registered trademark of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan.
-- Linux(R) is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in
the U.S. and other countries.
-- JBlend and all related trademarks thereto are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Aplix Corporation in Japan and other
countries.
-- Java and all other Java-based marks are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United
States and other countries.
-- All other product or service names are the property of their
respective owners.
