Nokia and Industry Leaders Join Hands to Boost Wireless@SG Access

To provide seamless and secure Internet access over Wi-Fi for enhanced Internet experience through Nokia's Wireless@SG SSA Wizard

Nokia, in close collaboration with broad industry representation comprising Singapore's Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), SingTel, QMax and iCELL have today agreed to further enhance Wireless@SG, Singapore's award-winning public Wi-Fi network.

The initiative, named Wireless@SG Seamless and Secure Access (SSA) will focus on improving usability and security as well as the convergence of Wireless@SG and Singapore's mobile networks and is expected to boost Wi-Fi usage among users with handheld devices.

A free end-user trial commences today with the aforementioned improvements to Wireless@SG service in Suntec City, Vivocity, Ngee Ann City, Wisma Atria and Paragon. Interested parties can contact the respective Wireless@SG operators for more details.

As part of this initiative, Nokia is actively working with IDA and industry players to enhance Wi-Fi access to Wireless@SG networks. Nokia has the widest range of Wi-Fi capable devices in the market and this initiative enables many Nokia Wi-Fi device users to enjoy seamless and secure access to Wireless@SG networks.

Today, Nokia introduces enhanced connectivity via Wireless@SG SSA Wizard, an application that allows users to connect securely to Wireless@SG hotspots with little or no user intervention. The application can be downloaded from iCELL and QMax's respective websites during the trial period. Users only need to enter their credentials upon their first SSA connection. Thereafter, they will automatically be connected to the network whenever they enter the SSA trial locations. This will enhance the usage of services such as VoIP that require such a feature. While it remarkably improves user experience on Nokia Wi-Fi devices, users can also be assured that security breaches, such as wi-phishing, rogue hotspots, VoIP eavesdropping are being prevented through the efforts. With this, users can also enjoy premium services over Wi-Fi such as music downloads and online games. This seamless access is expected to boost Wireless@SG usage among users with handheld Wi-Fi devices.

In addition, for SingTel Mobile postpaid customers, they will be invited to experience SIM-based authentication, a feature that is supported in all Nokia Wi-Fi enabled devices, at the Ngee Ann City, Wisma Atria and Paragon Wireless@SG hotspots. Customers just need to configure their Nokia devices with SingTel's *SEND service to enjoy Wireless@SG SSA service.

Said Grant McBeath, Nokia Singapore's General Manager, "Nokia is proud to participate in shaping the evolution of Wireless@SG. We understand that people want to stay connected to their world 24/7 and we've been privileged to support this with our growing range of Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices in Singapore, which has already seen the launch of pioneering Wi-Fi services such as SingTel's mio Mobile services. We aim to keep bringing more value to our customers and further enhance the Wireless@SG user experience."

A wide range of Nokia devices will be made capable of Seamless and Secure Access to Wireless@SG hotspots, namely the newly launched Nokia E66 and Nokia E71 as well as the following devices - Nokia E51, Nokia E65, Nokia E61i, Nokia E90, Nokia N81, Nokia N81 8GB, Nokia N82, Nokia N95, Nokia N95 8GB and Nokia N78.

Said Khoong Hock Yun, Assistant Chief Executive of IDA, "Infocomm has become an intrinsic part of Singaporean's lives, changing the work we work, live, learn and play. This is clearly evident by the many Singaporeans who have adopted a mobile lifestyle enabled by Wireless@SG. This Seamless and Secure Access service trial can further enhance the mobile wireless experience, allowing Wireless@SG users to benefit from seamless connectivity and greater security."

The participants in the Wireless@SG SSA collaboration are committed to a spirit of openness, expressed by adherence to public guidelines and open standards issued by global trade and standardization organizations, such as the Wi-Fi Alliance, the GSM Association (GSMA) and 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Similarly, additional guidelines resulting from the collaboration will be made available to interested vendors and service providers.