NTT DATA Corporation has developed AirBridge and Air Messenger, which enable wireless instant messaging with cell phones and wireless devices using Java. Wireless instant messaging is something the company believes can be marketed to North America, Europe, Asia and other global markets. To this end, NTT DATA is working to promote wireless instant messaging for Java based phone and wireless devices on the North American market and to carry out marketing with a view to providing such products worldwide within the current fiscal year ending March 2003. The targets of this marketing campaign will include cell phone carriers in Japan and overseas, ISP, corporate contact centers, and mobile device manufacturers.

Air Messenger and AirBridge are systems that provide instant messaging on Java based phone and other Java wireless devices, making use of the iPlanet Portal Server, an eCommerce portal platform provided by Sun Microsystems, Inc. Marketing is being carried out in cooperation with Sun.

What Is Instant Messaging?

Conventional tools for communicating on the Internet include email and bulletin boards on community sites. A weakness of these methods is that messages are sent out without being able to confirm whether the other party is presently connected to the Internet or is able to read the message immediately.

With instant messaging, users register in advance with the service and can be contacted immediately if they are currently connected to the network. Users exchange messages in real time, while keeping aware of the other party's situation, such as "Away from desk" or "Too busy to answer right now." According to a Gartner Group study *, the number of instant messaging users worldwide is expected to reach 180 million by the year 2004.

Overview of the Services

Built around iPlanet Portal Server Instant Collaboration Pack 3.0, wireless instant messaging enables the exchange of messages not only between cell phones but also between cell phones and PCs.

(1) Presence service

Users who are pre-registered on a contact list show up as icons on other users' systems when they are logged onto the network. Users can also indicate their current situation to each other, such as "Away from desk," "Too busy to answer right now" or "Don't disturb."

(2) Messaging service

This service enables users to communicate with each other at their own convenience. Unlike conventional chat services, where users must always share the same screen, Air Messenger lets users communicate only as necessary.

(3) Form flow

Questions can be sent to users on forms with the possible answers already listed. A user receiving the form can then reply simply by pressing a few cell phone buttons and returning the form. Since the replies can be made without having to enter text messages on the small cell phone keypad, communication is fast and easy. One possible role of this service is in for conducting surveys by questionnaire.

The Technologies

Air Messenger

Air Messenger is the client software used on Java based phone and other Java wireless devices.

Besides providing the instant messaging functionalities, this software includes a branding space that can be used for a wide range of purposes, from corporate advertising to playing back video images in multimedia instant messaging service, or displaying map information and the like.

Moreover, Air Messenger takes advantage of J2ME** with its ease of porting and flexibility to achieve multi-device support as well as multi-carrier support with minimum effort.

AirBridge

AirBridge is a gateway that seamlessly links clients on PCs and on wireless devices, achieving quick and sure message switching even in the unstable environment of wireless communications. AirBridge is designed to support a variety of mobile devices and IM servers. Management of user information is kept separate from the basic messaging functionalities.

Air Messenger Bot

The Form Flow service is provided by Air Messenger Bot, using forms created on Air Messenger to simplify the input required of users. Users can access Air Messenger Bot using the same interface as for ordinary message exchange. By passing messages back and forth with Air Messenger Bot, users are able to respond to questionnaires, or obtain information from outside services about highway traffic conditions and the like. Since message exchange between users and Air Messenger Bot is asynchronous just like that with other users, a user can be exchanging messages with a friend while waiting for traffic conditions to be investigated. What's more, the form flow and other services implemented using Air Messenger Bot can be kept updated to the latest versions without any intervention by users.

The use of Air Messenger Bot transforms instant messaging into something more than simply a message passing means. It has the potential to become the next-generation application platform following on email and the Web.

Looking Ahead

Future plans call for strengthening the joint marketing efforts with Sun, moving forward with implementations of these solutions for multi-carrier and multi-device environments aimed at both Japanese and worldwide markets. At the same time, sales to cell phone carriers, etc. will be promoted and business models developed with the aim of achieving service provision to the Japanese market within the current fiscal year ending March 2003. Marketing and development will also be carried out toward enhancing the status of these solutions as an application platform.