Optaros Develops AJAX Solution for Swisscom Mobile

September 20, 2006; 02:23 AM

Optaros Inc., an open source software consulting and integration firm that provides enterprises with online platforms for the next generation of the Internet, announced the development of Swisscom Mobile Labs (http://labs.swisscom-mobile.ch/), an innovative web platform and testing environment for Swisscom Mobile that all Internet users can access. The environment allows the leading Swiss telecommunications company to propose and introduce new products and services at an early stage to interested people. Swisscom Mobile Labs enables users to download and use products and services and to comment on, evaluate and rate proposed services. By facilitating a discussion and ongoing communication with users, Swisscom Mobile can present new services early to improve and optimize these services based on user feedback or to adapt or change services completely if needed.

Swisscom Mobile Labs is one of the first known "Web 2.0"-oriented offerings in Switzerland and illustrates a new approach on how services can be developed, tested and proliferated iteratively while leveraging customer input and feedback. This approach is commonly referred to by Web 2.0 experts as "perpetual beta."

Optaros developed the entire web platform in approximately four weeks and used modern technologies such as AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML), Alfresco's repository content, as well as many other open source frameworks and components.

"We are excited about the quality of the application and the speed in which the platform has been developed and put into production. Very seldom do we receive such innovative and mature solutions for acceptance," said Stefan Mauron, Head of Strategic Initiatives at Swisscom Mobile.

Besides having developed the solution following Optaros' Assembly methodology, Optaros also handles the operation and maintenance of the platform.

"The web platform Swisscom Mobile Labs clearly shows the way that many enterprises will go in the future," said Bruno von Rotz, Vice President and Country Manager for Optaros in Switzerland. "Labs such as the one we implemented for Swisscom Mobile help to adjust and optimize products, communication offerings and services to the needs of the customer. We are happy that Swisscom Mobile leverages our open source and next generation internet expertise in such an innovative endeavor."

About Optaros:

Optaros is a consulting and systems integration firm that helps enterprises solve IT business problems by providing services and solutions that maximize the benefits of open source software. Bringing together experts in creating enterprise IT solutions and experts in the power of open source, Optaros plans and builds business systems that give you better value today and increased control in the future. For more about Optaros, please go to www.optaros.com

About Swisscom Mobile

Swisscom mobile holds a market share of 64%, 69% customer growth in 2005, and the number one ranking in the Swiss mobile communication industry. In 2005, Swisscom Mobile achieved revenues of CHF 4,168 billion and served more than 4.3 million mobile phone customers. Swisscom Mobile is owned by Swisscom AG (75%) and the British Vodafone Group (25%). The company operates GSM networks (900/1800 MHz) covering all of Switzerland. The network was extended in 2005 with EDGE. With HDSPA, Swisscom Mobile has taken a new turbo network into production in February 2006. It is five times faster than UMTS and can reach about the speed of ADSL. Further, Swisscom Mobile reached an UMTS coverage of almost 90% in Switzerland and offers approximately 1,000 hotspots for wireless access to the Internet.

For more information on Swisscom Mobile, please visit http://www.swisscom-mobile.ch