Seattle, — January 14, 2002 — 4thpass Inc. today launched an alliance for wireless Java developers, giving them access to its Mobile Application System (MAS) technology to submit, test and, showcase new applications.
The 4thpass MIDlet Alliance program helps developers put their most compelling and powerful applications for next generation mobile devices in front of wireless operators.
“Mobile Java is clearly the technology [that] carriers are looking to as the next catalyst for the mobile marketplace,” said 4thpass marketing director Javed Chaudry. “Our MIDlet Alliance program is designed to help wireless operators discover how easy it is to extract value and create new revenue streams from this technology.”
4thpass is looking to populate the Alliance with a limited number of members who best exemplify what the Java developer community can offer to mobile service providers. 4thpass takes no share of any revenue a developer happens to generate by selling his application to a carrier.
“The success of wireless Java largely depends on what offerings carriers will have for consumers and businesses when they launch mobile Java services,” added Chaudry, who heads the MIDlet Alliance. “From that standpoint, it only makes sense for us to have a close relationship with application developers and help each other succeed.”
Major wireless carriers and device makers worldwide are launching Java services. Analysts from the ARC Group project more than 100 million Java-enabled devices on the market this year and expect by 2006 all handsets being built will be Java-enabled.
“The 4thpass Alliance can put developers in front of carriers. And if carriers are putting our applications in front of millions of subscribers, that means we tap into a vast revenue stream,” said Brian Levin president and co-founder of Mobliss, a leading wireless media and marketing company and a charter member of the MIDlet alliance.
When developers submit applications to the MIDlet Alliance, 4thpass Mobile Application System (MAS) technology verifies the applications to ensure they are compatible with mobile device profiles and compliant with various wireless industry standards. Accepted applications are published to an electronic catalog accessible to wireless operators.
4thpass builds software for wireless carriers to efficiently manage and deliver applications over the air to next-generation Java-enabled mobile devices. Through the 4thpass Mobile Application System, carriers can serve Java applications to devices of different sizes and capabilities.
4thpass has already licensed its Mobile Application System to LG TeleCom in Korea and has trials underway with major carriers in Europe, China, and the U.S. Major wireless players Nextel and Motorola are also investors in 4thpass.
