Objective The project objective is to demonstrate the technical feasibility and business viability of a wireless media highway for the distribution of advanced multimedia products. The project will:contribute significantly to the understanding of users' perception of the value of wireless multimedia servicesidentify how commercial exploitation of the services using third generation systems can be acceleratedcreate new enabling technologies, in particular for the presentation of visual materialassess by qualitative and quantitative means the feasibility and velocity of electronic money transfers during the trialsmake valuable contribution to standardisation.The objectives of the project are reflected in the final project outputs, which are:a comprehensive evaluation of the complete business chain for interactive, wireless multimedia servicesbusiness plans for commercial services for all players in this marketrecommendations for regulatory, legal and commercial practices and structures which will encourage service take up, usage and exploitationcontribution to the standardisation work for the optimisation of multimedia, UMTS and GSM standards for interactive wireless services.The main achievements reached until now are:* the configuration for the Service Platform has been defined, and the HW and the SW for the Basic Service Platform and terminals for 100 end-users have been delivered and installed to each trial network* preparations for the Service Trials, including the setting-up of the operating and supporting organisations, have been completed, and the feedback process has been defined* customer surveys on multimedia services were carried out in each trial country, and the Service Description (Issue 2) document was released based on the results from the surveys* basic and enhanced versions of de/compression and presentation tools for the audio-visual and graphical & animation material have been developed* contributions to standardisation bodies (ITU-T and MPEG4) have been submitted regarding the video coding schemes* the Payment System architecture has been defined, and the components of the architecture (SIM/E-purse, Client Payment System application, Payment Server application, PSO application) have been developed and the integration of the Payment System has been initiated* Service Trials have been initiated.Expected ImpactThis project will contribute towards maintaining Europe's lead in wireless communications systems and media content provision. Mobile multimedia services will generate an estimated incremental annual revenue of 5000 MECU per annum by 2005 for a broad range of players. New employment opportunities will be created in equipment and terminal manufacturing, media content supply and manipulation, and network service provision.The availability of information services through wireless networks will assist the development of teleworking, and therefore will have a favourable impact on employment, transportation patterns and the environment.Main contributions to the programme objectives:Main deliverablesThe technical feasibility and business viability of wireless communications for the distribution of advanced multimedia products. A client-server platform was developed and tested in end-user trials in 3 existing GSM networks in Europe, as well as a high speed 2G+ GSM demonstrator (HSCSD) in a laboratory environment.Contribution to the programmeThe complete business chain from content creation to delivery and secure payment was developed and trialed, demonstrating the "business -case" for mobile multimedia communications.Technical ApproachBased on the studies of user requirements, service platform architectures, compression and presentation technologies, a client-server based service platform will be implemented and tested in genuine end-user trials. The APIs for the service feeding and electronic payment functions will be included in the implementation. System enhancements will be developed and demonstrated in the Technical Demonstrator to assess the benefits of wider band user channels and determine how they can be incorporated into UMTS.The following new technologies will be investigated and applied in the project:presentation technologies, optimised for the inherently narrowband cellular user channelsfor optimal server connectivity, an enhanced direct LAN access solution allowing the distribution platform to access the wireless network on a LAN-to-LAN basiselectronic payment techniques allowing automatic charging for information downloaded by the user with minimum financial overheadwide band user channels allowing transmission rates of the third generation mobile systems (n x 9600 bit/s, n >= 2).Summary of TrialGenuine end-user trials will conducted in parallel in three different countries on a commercial-like basis using operational personal telecommunications networks and clearing/interchange networks. These will allow the realistic assessment of wireless multimedia services and verification of the identified business opportunities.Two different strategies for media content provisioning will be employed. One is based on adjusting the existing information feed as necessary to allow the automatic loading of the media server with content. The other is based on genuine editing of media content in the same way as a publication would be edited.During the service trials all necessary data will be collected to allow a comprehensive analysis including an examination of user acceptance of the selected applications, a technical and commercial assessment, and the preparation of the business plans.Key IssuesIdentification of the user groups for the service trials, and the requirements for new services in mobile environmentDefinition of the new competitive applicationsDefinition and implementation of the user-friendly electronic payment systemDefinition of long and short term very low-bit-rate coding algorithmsEstablishing and operating the service trials on a commercial-like basisDefinition and implementation of the Technology Demonstrator based on new emerging standards. Fields of science engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationstelecommunications networkssocial scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementemploymentengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technology Programme(s) FP4-ACTS - Specific programme of research, technological development and demonstration in the area of advanced communications technologies and services, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 4 - Mobility, personal & wireless communication Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Nokia Telecomunnications Oy EU contribution No data Address 00045 Helsinki Finland See on map Total cost No data Participants (10) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Bertelsmann AG Germany EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data Citicorp Kartenservice GmbH Germany EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data Datanord Multimedia Srl Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Tortona 31 20144 Milano See on map Total cost No data E-Plus Mobilfunk GmbH Germany EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data Gemplus France EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data Nokia Telecommunications Oy Finland EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data Omnitel Pronto Italia SpA Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Jervis 77 10015 Ivrea See on map Total cost No data Orange PCS, Ltd United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data Reuters AG Germany EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data ZGDV (Computer Graphics Center) Germany EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data