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  VODACOM SELECTS SIEMENS' AND OPENWAVE'S MMS SOLUTION TO POWER PHOTO MESSAGING SERVICE
 

  Siemens' Mobile Communications Expertise Combined with Openwave's IP Messaging Capability and Experience with Photo Messaging Services Led to Vodacom's Decision
 
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. and MUNICH - October 18, 2002 -- The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group and Openwave Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: OPWV), today announced that they have been selected by Vodacom, the pan-African cellular communications company, to install Openwave® Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) and integrate with the operator’s GSM and GPRS mobile network. Through Siemens, Vodacom has licensed Openwave’s full range MMS solution components, including the MMSC (Multimedia Messaging Service Center) relay, message storage, directory, and gateway. Siemens as the main contractor is responsible for the overall project management as well as the seamless integration of the MMS Solution into Vodacom’s network.

Vodacom CEO, Alan Knott Craig, said, “In the third quarter we plan to launch cellular phones equipped with digital cameras that will enable photos to be sent from phone to phone. This application has already taken off in Japan, where it is referred to as Sha-mail, which translates to photomail in English.” He said Vodacom plans to introduce photomail in time for the festive season at an equivalent cost to that of sending an SMS. “We expect millions of photomails to be sent over the Christmas period," he stated.

“Vodacom has taken a leadership position in offering advanced features that we believe are critical to making MMS a success, said Volker Ziegler, President of Solutions within the Information and Communication Mobile Group. “There is no doubt multimedia messaging will drive the mobile services data business for 2.5G and 3G networks”.

“Photo messaging is the key service that will drive MMS success on GPRS,” said Openwave Senior Vice President of Customer Advocacy, Allen Snyder. “While MMS delivers so much more than SMS, photo messaging makes it even easier and more fun – just point, click and send.”

Openwave has been enabling IP messaging for service providers and millions of subscribers around the world for almost a decade. Its market-proven products and experience in large-scale IP messaging systems provided the foundation for mobile operators in Japan, where millions of consumers are using mobile phones equipped with small, easy-to-use cameras. Using Openwave’s technology, operators in Japan aggressively launched photo messaging 18 months ago. Since then, over 6 million subscribers have snapped up camera phones and now send millions of photos daily.

Siemens is one of the top three telco supplier worldwide offering mobile solutions, handsets and infrastructure. With its portfolio for mobile data services, Siemens offers one-stop shopping for everything needed to set up end-to-end solutions for mobile data services. Hardly any other manufacturer can claim such wide-ranging competence. As a prime contractor and systems integrator, Siemens implements mobile data services in GSM, GPRS, and UMTS networks throughout the world. Based on its extensive portfolio, Siemens can offer mobile operators turnkey solutions and help ensure a successful launch of their services.

About Vodacom
Vodacom is a pan-African cellular communications company providing a world class GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) service to some 7 million (31/3/02) customers in South Africa, Tanzania, Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The company also secured a GSM license in Mozambique in June 2002. Vodacom is the market leader in South Africa, with more than 93% of South Africans now within the coverage area of its impressive 5,000 base station cellular network.


About Openwave
 
Openwave Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: OPWV) is the worldwide leader of open IP-based communication infrastructure software and applications. Openwave is a global company headquartered in Redwood City, California. For more information, please visit www.openwave.com.

About The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (IC Mobile)
 
The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (IC Mobile) offers the complete range of mobile solutions including mobile devices, infrastructure and applications. Devices include mobile phones, wireless modules, mobile organizers and cordless phones as well as products for wireless home networks. The infrastructure portfolio includes GSM, GPRS and 3G mobile network technologies from base stations and switching systems to intelligent networks, e.g. for prepaid services. Mobile Applications cover end-to-end solutions for Messaging, Location Based Services or Mobile Payment. For the fiscal year 2001 (September 30), IC Mobile recorded sales of EUR 11.3 billion and employed 30,730 people worldwide. You can access further information about Siemens IC Mobile on the Internet at http://www.siemens-mobile.com


Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
 
This release contains forward-looking statements relating to expectations, plans or prospects for Openwave Systems Inc. that are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of Openwave's management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. In particular, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: (a) the ability to realize our strategic objectives by taking advantage of market opportunities in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; (b) the ability to make changes in business strategy, development plans and product offerings to respond to the needs of our current, new and potential customers, suppliers and strategic partners; (c) risks associated with the development and licensing of software generally, including potential delays in software development and technical difficulties that may be encountered in the development or use of our software; (d) the effects of our restructurings and the ability to successfully support our operations; (e) the potential negative reaction by our customers to our reduced size and market capitalization; (f) the ability to recruit and retain qualified, experienced employees; (g) the willingness of communication service providers to invest and improve their data networks; (h) the ability to successfully partner with other companies; (i) the ability to acquire additional companies and technologies and integrate such acquisitions; (j) increased global competition; (k) technological changes and developments; (l) general risks of the Internet and wireless and wireline telecommunications sectors; and (m) the uncertain economic and political climate in the United States and throughout the rest of the world and the potential that such climate may deteriorate further.

For a detailed discussion of these and other cautionary statements, please refer to the risk factors discussed in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including but not limited to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002. All documents also are available through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov or from Openwave's Web site at www.openwave.com. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements included in this document.



 
Openwave, the Openwave logo and Services OS are trademarks of Openwave Systems Inc. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

For further information:
 
Contact Openwave Worldwide Public Relations

Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Solutions
Marion Bludszuweit
+49-89 / 722-50483
Marion.Bludszuweit@icn.siemens.de

Openwave Systems Inc.
Vicky Ryce
+441442 458809
vicky.ryce@openwave.com

 



 
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