Motorola Internet and Networking Group Created to Focus On Convergence And Personal Networking
MANSFIELD, Mass. — September 18, 1998 — Motorola (NYSE: MOT) today announced its Internet and Networking Group (ING), a critical unit of the Communications Enterprise, which will focus on making networks more responsive to the demand for integrated, personalized access. Through Smart Access Technology, Motorola will take a unified approach to both wireless and wireline networking to address the rapidly changing market as it moves from regulated telecommunications to a new market driven by the Internet, deregulation and digital/packet networks. The core businesses within ING are:
— corporate networking
— broadband communications
— wireless content services
— platform software
Concentrating its Smart Access Technology development in a single group allows Motorola to lead in voice, data and video integration, not only in the more traditional network access space of frame relay and cable modems and routers, but in personal devices, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), PCs and pagers. Motorola sees today's users operating at the center of the new network model, able to access information that is important to them, whether they're in the office, at home or on the road. The speed, mobility and integration of a truly personal network will result in significant increases in individual productivity and performance.
"We are on the precipice of violent change where the Internet, digital media and deregulation will dramatically alter not only the way business is conducted, but how people get their information and entertainment," says Randy Battat, senior vice president and general manager of ING. "In Motorola ING, we are bringing together new and previously segmented technologies in order to deliver this future vision with more critical mass."
The Yankee Group also recognizes this trend: "Voice-data integration within the network is being implemented mainly for cost control and bandwidth optimization. However, it also creates a foundation for voice-data integrated access to be extended to every person, home and office, and to be leveraged for computer telephony integration (CTI) and multimedia applications," states Jennifer Pigg, senior vice president of data communications.
To realize its vision of personal networking, Motorola has made key acquisitions, such as the purchase of Starfish and Lexicus, and investments in NetSpeak, Broadcast.com and @Home which have enabled Motorola ING to broaden its technologies and expertise. Software from Lexicus and Starfish will help drive Motorola to the forefront of personal communications with speech and handwriting recognition and operating systems that allow today's stand-alone communications devices, like PDAs, mobile phones and pagers, to communicate intelligently.
By bringing together broadband, wireless software and networking, Motorola will be able to deliver solutions for the changing world, such as IP over cable, wireless at the edge of the network and personal networks. This will build on Motorola's current leadership position in access technology, such as frame relay access devices (1) and cable modems (2). Technologies developed by ING are expected to be implemented in Motorola products throughout the company.
Through its business units, Motorola ING is already working with partners such as Broadcom, @Home, MCI and AT&T to provide networking and communications solutions throughout the world to customers like Otis, Worldspan, Boston Globe, Thai Farmers Bank, EPS, Time Warner, Media One, Singapore CableVision and Kindercare.
ING is a critical part of Motorola Communications Enterprise (CE), formed in July 1998 which is responsible for more than two-thirds of the company's business. The goals of CE are to integrate all of Motorola's communications expertise, to focus on existing and new customer needs and to gain competitive advantages on a global scale.
The Motorola Internet and Networking Group (ING) delivers Smart Access Technology to connect people and organizations in a world of converging communications. ING provides a full complement of wireline and wireless access solutions, including corporate networking, broadband communications, wireless content services and platform software. Please visit http://www.mot.com/ing for more information.
Motorola is a global leader in software-driven wireless communications, semiconductors, and advanced electronic systems and services. By liberating the power of technology, Motorola creates cellular telephone, two-way radio, paging, data, satellite communications systems and Internet products. Motorola's embedded semiconductors are essential digital building blocks for consumer, networking and computing, transportation and wireless communications markets. Other businesses include automotive electronics, components, computing, networking, and energy products. Sales in 1997 were $29.8 billion.
(1) 22% market share for FRADs, per Vertical Systems, 1997
(2) 60% market share for cable modems, per Paul Kagan & Associates
SOURCE: Motorola, Inc.
CONTACT: Bott Ikeler of Motorola, 508-261-5249, or [email protected];
or
Maria Doyle of Rourke-MS&L, 617-267-1909, ext. 314., or [email protected], for Motorola