Europe : O2 UK has increased its mobile device management capabilities with the announcement of a platform upgrade from mobile solutions company SmartTrust. The mobile network operator will use the SmartTrust SmartManage™ solution to provision GSM/GPRS and forthcoming 3G devices with service settings for WAP, GPRS and MMS.

Allowing O2 to enhance the customer experience by ensuring devices are correctly configured to access its range of value-added data services, the platform supports all major device provisioning protocols and includes SmartTrust’s Terminal Capabilities Repository (TCR) – a database of more than 850 mobile devices, protocols and their capabilities. The TCR is continually updated to support new devices as they are launched, delivering continued support for O2, its subscribers and their devices.

O2 customers can use the device settings wizard found at O2’s website (www.O2.co.uk) to request a settings download. By selecting handset type, model and desired services, subscriber devices are automatically configured over-the-air (OTA). Customers can also request settings by sending a text message to shortcode 2020 (standard SMS charges apply).

“The complexity of device configuration is a key barrier to consumers’ use of data services,” says Paul Cuss, CEO at SmartTrust. “A constant stream of new devices has undoubtedly opened up new and exciting opportunities for data services. However, this diversification has made the management of devices all the more complex. If handsets are not correctly provisioned there is an immediate obstruction between an operator’s investment in data offerings and eventual revenue. SmartManage simplifies the end-user experience to overcome this challenge. It does not matter if it is an old handset or a new, if it is a churning customer or a new customer buying a handset in the operator’s store; SmartManage will always ensure correct configuration.”

“The business benefits brought about by the SmartTrust enhanced device management system are in assisting us to make it easier for our customers to gain access to our increasing range of data services,” says Anders Wasterlid, CTO Products & VP Data Product Supply at O2

SmartTrust has been providing device management solutions to O2 since 2002.