Swedish “Wireless Valley” Deploys City-Wide Context-Aware Wireless Platform - Kista Mobile Showcase
Kista, Sweden Promotes Next Gen Wireless Services Utilizing Appear Networks’ Technology
Stockholm, 10 December 2004: Kista Science City AB, (Kista), and Appear Networks, (Appear), today announced the launch of an interactive city-wide context-aware wireless showcase located in Kista Science City, fifteen minutes outside of Stockholm. Appear supplies the underlying context-aware application provisioning server.
 The Kista Mobile Showcase promotes mobile applications, solutions and services found in the Swedish high tech region, home to over 700 companies and more than 27,000 employees. The wireless deployment consists of 110 Wi-Fi access points distributed through out Kista Science City points of interest, including the Kista Gallerian (a shopping mall with adjoining subway station), IT University Campus, research buildings of Electrum and Wireless@KTH, and Kista Science Tower.
The showcase features an interactive tour which enables visitors to personally experience next generation mobile solutions and applications while discovering Kista Science City. Showcase visitors are provided a Wi-Fi enabled handheld device and the user’s location is recognized and dynamically updated upon entering various Wi-Fi enabled zones located through out Kista, achieving indoor location detection accuracy not possible with GPS. Personalized location-based services automatically appear and disappear from the visitor’s mobile device, according to his precise location. For example, as the user approaches the bank, stock quotes appear on his mobile device. Walking by the lunch court triggers a list of menus available from nearby restaurants. Upon entering the subway station an updated timetable becomes available.
“This demonstration of context-aware wireless services is an important part of this groundbreaking city-wide showcase.” says Tomas Bennich, Project Manager for Kista Mobile Showcase. “Appear was selected to join the consortium because their hardware-agnostic, application-independent platform allows us to easily include other third party applications.”
“We have been working with Kista Science City for over six months to create a compelling, realistic demonstration of the future of value-added applications for wireless broadband.” says Alex Cabrera, Project Leader at Appear. “We focused on ease of use. Location-relevant services will appear and disappear spontaneously, and be instantly accessible at a click of a button”.
About Kista Science City: www.kista.com
Kista Science City AB is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Electrum Foundation, operating as an executive part of the Electrum system. Kista Science City promotes Kista globally as an attractive location for Information, Communication and Technology companies to operate. Kista Science City proactively develops networks in Kista and the surrounding areas, and coordinates the interaction between the high tech industry and state, local government, and private enterprises.
About Appear Networks: http://www.appearnetworks.com
Appear Networks is a leading provider of context-aware application provisioning software for wireless networks. The Appear Server enables both network operators and venue owners to deliver personalized, location based, time specific wireless applications to end user mobile devices. Appear Networks is privately held, and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.
Press Contacts:
Appear Networks
Mia Falgard, +46 8 545 91 370, mailto:mia.falgard@appearnetworks.com
Kista Science City
Marta Sandén; +46 8 790 40 41
marta.sanden@kista.com
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