
Europe
: Elisa opened its 3G network for commercial use and, as the first
supplier in Finland to do so, is offering the new Vodafone Mobile
Connect 3G/GPRS data card, which is connected to portable computers.
Inset is Executive
Vice President Pasi Lehmus, Elisa who is quoted below.
Due to the new
network technology the ease of use, familiar to broadband, is now
wireless. With the data card, customers, especially corporate customers,
can immediately utilise the network effectively.
Elisa's third
generation mobile communications network and the Vodafone Mobile Connect
3G/GPRS data card create a powerful package that enables improved
mobile working. With the easily connectable card and portable computers
the utility services of the operation environment can be used wirelessly
and effectively. The card has a simple Finnish user interface for
forming a remote connection and for controlled usage of necessary
programs. The data card is already widely used elsewhere in Europe
and works seamlessly between 3G and GPRS networks.
Due to faster
data communication connections the speed of opening e-mail messages
with attachments and the usage of wireless Internet, for example,
is increased considerably. Using the 3G network costs Elisa customers
the same as using services in the 2G network.
"It is important
to Elisa that our customers can easily utilise fast communication
connections both with phones and portable computers. We have opened
the 3G network as a basic service to all mobile phone customers. Therefore,
they do not have to change SIM cards to use the new fast connections,"
says Executive Vice President Pasi Lehmus.
The 3G network
is supplied to Elisa by Nokia. In addition to network technology co-operation,
Elisa and Nokia are developing together new combinations of mobile
phones and services both for corporate and private customers. At the
moment Elisa is, for example, producing a configuration service that
is based on a Nokia solution. With the service the utilisation of
mobile services becomes easier than ever. Also, the mobile phone packages
tailored for corporate customers are a central part of the co-operation
between Elisa and Nokia.
"3G enables
corporations to use solutions that can facilitate and diversify the
utilisation of mobile phones. For example, the effective utilisation
of mobile data and multimedia support the business of corporations
and create a significant competitive advantage," says Nokia's
Chief Technology Officer Pertti Korhonen.
Elisa's 3G network
has wide coverage in the following locations: Espoo, Helsinki, Joensuu,
Kuopio, Oulu, Salo, Tampere, Turku, Vaasa and Vantaa. The network
also works at a limited level in several other locations, and according
to expansion plans the network will cover over 30 locations by 2005.
Elisa develops
third generation services in co-operation with IT technology service
provider Fujitsu Services Oy. Today Elisa has released a partnership
agreement with Fujitsu concerning wide-scale co-operation in IT data
communications services.