11 April 2001
Industry leaders gathered at the New Zealand Wireless Data Forum (NZWDF) seminar entitled, The Mobile Information
Society, today to hear about the latest technology and information relating to the development of mobile communications
in New Zealand.
Part of a series of seminars run by the NZWDF, there has been a spectacular growth in interest in the past year and
around 400 people attended today’s seminar. “Numbers are up considerably which is also reflected in the amount of
general enquiries we get about wireless data and how it can be used in the business environment. New Zealand businesses
are now much more aware of the possibilities of wireless technology and are ready to embrace it,” says Luigi Cappel,
President of the NZWDF.
Nokia, key sponsor of The Mobile Information Society, presented a past and present snapshot of the development and
obstacles to the development of the ‘Mobile Information Society’ as well as Nokia’s new mPosition Platform. This will
enable mobile customers to access a range of new, personally relevant location based services – traffic, restaurant,
theatres, emergency services.
The Mobile Information Society focused on the latest developments in wireless data and in particular the global
megatrends that are driving society towards this change. The agenda included a number of key influencers and innovators
in the market place including Pocket Solutions Ltd who presented a working example of the success of wireless data
services through its customer Red Seal Natural Health. A recently installed application that incorporates some of the
most sophisticated technology in terms of sales order entry application, Red Seal sales representatives are transmitting
their sales directly through their cell phones back to the FTT site. This allows orders to get back to base and be
dispatched in record time. Pocket Solutions also introduced their new software package that is adapted to the new
symbian operating system.
A variety of leading-edge mobile technologies and applications were exhibited during the seminar. Much interest was
shown in the technologies offered by Auckland-based Mobile Commerce Limited which included a multi-channel, mobile
entertainment platform capable of serving network-based games through to a variety of access devices including mobile
phones, the web and interactive television. They were also demonstrating mobile-office, mobile-marketing, mobile-banking
and location-based solutions based on their multi-channel gateway that uses SMS, WAP, ICQ and e-mail as their
communication channels and wireless navigation technologies.
Auckland based WARP Limited, were also exhibitors at the venue. Independent contractors offering WAP site development
and hosting services, WARP recently became finalists in Nokia’s ‘Best of WAP’ contest, for their Snow Reports Site
(available via WAP at snow.warp.co.nz). They have developed a number of innovative WAP solutions for business and the
general public, including a WAP investor portal (available at WAP at wap.investor.co.nz) which provides the investment
professional or serious investor up-to-date data and investment news including share prices, fund prices and
performances.
The Mobile Information Society showcased leading edge technology in locator and travel software. Among these was Global
Technologies who presented their new loc@tor traveller which allows travellers to access a comprehensive database
providing travel information such as hotels, events and attractions and even the local pharmacy. Their exhibition will
demonstrate loc@ator traveller working on several devices including internet, palm top computers, mobile phones and
notebooks. Developments in the Global Technology pipeline include extending the database to Australia.
The NZWDF claims the seminar and exhibition was an overwhelming success. “The interest and innovation among the mobile
communication industry is at an unprecedented level and this is now filtering through to the public who are becoming
thirsty for knowledge on what is available and how it can be used. Events such as this can help disseminate the
information very effectively,” says Mr Cappel.
For more information please email us at info@wirelessdataforum.org.nz or contact:
Luigi Cappel Belinda Matheson Philippa Harknett
President NZWDF NZWDF NZWDF Public Relations
Tel 025 927 361 Tel 09 445 1516
Ends