Synchronica is Major Backer of Mobile Industry's First Device Management Portal

Synchronica is Major Backer of Mobile Industry's First Device Management Portal

London, Miami, November 7, 2006. — Synchronica, a vendor of mobile device management and synchronization software based on open industry standards, has announced its support for the mobile Device Management Forum and its associated portal, http://www.devicemanagementforum.org, launched on 31 October. The Device Management Forum is the first of its kind to focus on the key issue of mobile device management and involves a group of high level stakeholders involved in the development, distribution and management of end user telecommunications devices and services. Stakeholders include leading device manufacturers, network operators, software vendors, distributors and retailers.

The Device Management Forum is the brainchild of former Ovum and Gartner analyst Abraham Joseph, a recognised industry expert in mobile device management and over-the-air (OTA) technologies. Overseen by Mr Joseph, the portal will provide telecommunications industry professionals with mobile industry news, event listings, in depth articles and interviews with industry leaders.

Synchronica provides two key products for mobile device management: SyncML DM Server provides an automated hotline to help device manufacturers and mobile operators to combat spiraling customer care costs. The automated hotline can be used to identify and resolve phone configuration problems over the air and send OTA firmware updates. Mobile Manager is a web-based MDM solution, targeted at providing a self-care solution to large enterprises, ASPs and operators.

Explaining the drivers behind the foundation of the MDM Forum, Mr Joseph said: "Device management is a key issue. An increasingly disparate array of devices and peripherals need to be managed to deliver and maintain qualities of service, secure corporate assets and comply with regulation. Additionally, device management is becoming important in other industrial sectors, such as automotive and healthcare, where the techniques developed for telecoms and IT are finding wide applicability. Our aim is to provide this portal to enable key industry players to keep abreast of the applications that drive and influence the development of device management products and services."

Commenting on Synchronica's role as a major stakeholder in the Device Management Forum, CEO Carsten Brinkschulte said, "The complexity of today's communication devices is driving demand for sophisticated methods of managing large numbers of smartphones, either using a self-care facility or a hosted service. By delivering device configuration, management and security services over the air, device manufacturers, operators and large enterprises can enjoy the benefits offered by these powerful mobile communications tools, without incurring large costs for their deployment and management. This is why Synchronica plans to play a key role in the MDM Forum."

About Device Management Forum

The Device Management Forum brings together major stakeholders in the development, distribution and management of communication devices and services. Its major objectives are to promote knowledge and understanding of device management and associated issues, and to help stakeholders maximise the benefits from their investments. Management and security of mobile devices, particularly smartphones, is one of the DM Forum's key focuses. However, DM Forum recognises that fixed and mobile applications and devices are converging, that device capabilities and form factors are changing rapidly and that technologies originally developed for the communication market are being applied in other sectors. For these and other reasons, the DM Forum defines its focus simply as device management. More information is available at http://www.devicemanagementforum.org

About Synchronica

Synchronica develops and markets synchronization and device management solutions for mobile operators, device manufacturers, and enterprises. Its product portfolio ranges from data synchronization (OMA DS) to device management (OMA DM) and firmware update over the air (FUMO / FOTA). Synchronica has a strong track record in the mobile industry including several live carrier-grade installations. Products include the SyncML DM Server which enables operators and device manufacturers to build automated customer-care systems and the award-winning SyncML Gateway which enables seamless synchronization of corporate data including Push eMail using OMA DS and Push IMAP. Its latest offering, award-winning Mobile Manager, enables mobile operators and application service providers (ASPs) to offer mobile device management as a hosted solution to enterprise customers. Headquartered in the UK with offices in Berlin and Washington D.C., Synchronica plc is a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange (AIM:SYNC). More information is available at http://www.synchronica.com

For more information, please contact:

Nicole Meissner, CMO
Synchronica plc
Tel.: +44 1892 552 780
nicole.meissner@synchronica.com

Device Management Forum:

Abraham Joseph
Mobile: +44 7801 309 751
abraham.joseph@devicemanagement.org

Bob Brace
Mobile: +44 7785 398 053
bob.brace@devicemanagement.org