Apr 9, 2001 12:00 PM,

Wireless fever

Kelly Carroll

Everyone wants a piece of wireless. Those companies not traditionally pegged as contributors to the space, such as Hewlett-Packard and IBM, hope to bring their systems integration, back-end expertise and enterprise experience to the table.

More on this Topic

Industry News

Blogs

Briefing Room

Although it might take time before they are automatically associated with wireless, these companies are striking mobile data relationships and looking to become the systems integrators that make wireless and data one and the same.

HP wants to extend its name beyond computer hardware and printers. “We have been doing a lot of research about how to attack the mobile wireless space because the merger between telecommunications and the information sector truly is happening,” said John Chapman, director of strategy and business development for HP's e-services solutions group.

With President and CEO Carly Fiorina at its helm, HP has a mission to achieve excellence in the provisioning of mobile wireless solutions that drive mobile commerce, Chapman said. One thing is missing: The company has not created a business group devoted to wireless.

“This is a challenge from a public relations standpoint,” Chapman said. “Unlike our competitors, we have not set up separate divisions like Oracle. Instead, our mobile wireless efforts have been part and parcel of what we have been doing altogether.” The company is considering appointing a vice president to head the wireless business.

IBM has a telecommunications division but, like HP, has not established a wireless image. About 18 months ago, IBM began to work with service providers that wanted to target the mobile enterprise space. Now, as IBM strives to move beyond its broad-based corporate image, it has stepped up efforts in the wireless data content area, said Mike Hill, general manager of telecommunications for IBM.

“Considering our knowledge of business and data, we wanted to help service providers increase their revenue while also helping enterprises,” Hill said. “Specifically we wanted to put resources into helping carriers create wireless portals and help enterprises access the wireless network.”

They might not be traditional players, but HP and IBM have been making noise in the mobile data space (see box). In December HP opened its Mobile E-Services Bazaar in the Silicon Valley — a lab for emerging mobile technologies, ideas and strategies.

“We are getting folks together but it is more about marketing and creating alliances,” Chapman said. “[The industry] is spending billions to make this happen. Our goal is to sit in the middle of that. If people are meeting under the auspices of HP, then hopefully we are the provider of equipment and middleware that will make it happen.”

HP also is working with giant carriers such as NTT DoCoMo and China Mobile on research and development. “Our lab people are working with their lab people, and we are in discussions with them to be the provider of their hardware and infrastructure,” Chapman said.

IBM has aligned with NTT DoCoMo as well. The company is helping the carrier distribute and bill for content. IBM also manages the copyrights of the music NTT DoCoMo distributes wirelessly. The vendor is in talks with other carriers, Hill said.

“We might not have the competency of a traditional switch vendor, but we bring our knowledge of running an efficient data delivery structure,” he said.

Wireless carriers are under financial pressure — especially those that have gotten ahead via acquisition because they most likely need help on the back end integrating billing systems, Hill said.

“This can become an issue when a carrier tries to go to market as a single brand,” he said. “As the industry builds up e-business infrastructure, we can help free up money, unite billing systems and give carriers a single brand presence.”