Product Launch

RNS Number:8189A
Ericsson(L.M.)(Telefonaktiebolaget)
21 March 2001


Ericsson and Microsoft demonstrate Windows Media handset support at
CeBIT

   Ericsson unveils prototype for the playback of streamed Windows
   Media Audio on a GPRS Network

Ericsson  and  Microsoft  Corp. will today at  the  CeBIT  tradefair  in
Hanover,  Germany, unveil their first step in integrating Windows  Media
Audio and Video support on Ericsson Handsets by displaying for the first
time  an  Ericsson prototype, which when added to the R520  handset  can
playback  personal music collections and streamed Internet  radio.  This
prototype is being demonstrated at Ericsson's exhibition area  at  CeBIT
(hall  26,  stand 68) and illustrates the rapid progress both  companies
have  made  in  collaborating on bringing richer media  experiences  for
consumers to the mobile Internet.

"Multimedia  and streaming services are key mobile Internet applications
that  will further strengthen Ericsson's mobile Internet offering," said
Anders  Torstensson, vice president and general manager for the GSM  and
UMTS  business  unit at Ericsson. "This collaboration  as  well  as  our
ongoing  standardization efforts carried out in the 3GPP (3rd Generation
Partnership Program) around wireless multimedia, illustrates  Ericsson's
commitment  to  offering richer digital multimedia experiences  for  our
mobile phone customers."

"Microsoft  and Ericsson share a vision of delivering digital  media  to
our  customers anytime, any place and on any device," said  Will  Poole,
vice  president  of  the  Windows Digital Media Division  at  Microsoft.
"Ericsson's  selection of the high-quality audio and integrated  DRM  of
Windows  Media  will give Ericsson customers access to vast  amounts  of
existing Internet digital media content already available from  some  of
the leading content providers worldwide."

Ericsson has a history of driving industry standards, such as Bluetooth,
and  is active in the ongoing standardization efforts carried out in the
3GPP  around wireless multimedia. The collaboration around Windows Media
will  bring  a vast amount of information and entertainment  content  to
Ericsson  phone  users  and  also offer  operators  the  opportunity  to
generate traffic in their high-capacity networks.

As  wireless  networks throughout the world are upgraded to  enable  the
delivery  of high-speed, two-way data, customers will be able to  access
new  wireless digital media services using wireless handsets. These  new
mobile Internet-based services will enable consumers to send and receive
personal digital audio and video, access downloaded and streamed digital
music,  Internet  radio,  and  short  subject  video  clips  like  movie
trailers,  news  clips, financial information and even weather  reports.
Windows  Media  is  already  being used in this  way  in  Japan  on  PHS
networks.

Ericsson is the leading communications supplier, combining innovation in
mobility  and  Internet  in creating the new  era  of  mobile  Internet.
Ericsson  provides total solutions covering everything from systems  and
applications to mobile phones and other communications tools. With  more
than   100,000   employees   in  140  countries,   Ericsson   simplifies
communications for customers all over the world.

Read more at http://www.ericsson.com/press

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Jonas Andersson, Strategic Product Manager
Ericsson Mobile Communications AB,
Phone: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]

Peter Bodor, Public Relations Manager
Ericsson Mobile Communications
Phone: [phone]; E-mail: [e-mail]

Microsoft:
Kate Kaemerle, Weber Shandwick
Phone + 1 425 452 5451; E-mail: [e-mail]

About Microsoft
Founded  in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide  leader  in
software,  services and Internet technologies for personal and  business
computing.  The  company offers a wide range of  products  and  services
designed to empower people through great software - any time, any  place
and on any device.

If  you  are  interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft,
please       visit      the      Microsoft       Web       page       at
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft's corporate information
pages.

About Windows Media
Windows Media is the leading digital media platform, providing unmatched
audio  and  video  quality  to  consumers, content  providers,  solution
providers,  software developers and corporations. Windows  Media  offers
the  industry's only integrated rights-management solution and the  most
scalable  and reliable streaming technology tested by independent  labs.
Windows  Media Technologies includes Windows Media Player for consumers,
Windows  Media  Services for servers, Windows Media  Tools  for  content
creation,  and  the  Windows Media Software Development  Kit  (SDK)  for
software developers. Windows Media Player, available in 26 languages, is
the  fastest-growing media player. More information about Windows  Media
can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia/

Windows  Media  delivers  the highest-quality audio  and  video  at  any
bandwidth  and  hits  critical thresholds  for  wireless  delivery.  The
Windows Media Audio 8 beta release, announced in December 2000, delivers
FM-quality  audio  and can achieve near-CD-quality downloaded  music  in
files  nearly one-third the size of an MP3 file. The Windows Media Video
8  beta version, also announced in December, will enable delivery of the
highest-quality mobile video experience, offering the same  high-quality
video  in  a  file or bandwidth that is nearly 50 percent  smaller  than
other  video  compression technologies. This is ideally suited  for  the
GPRS networks being built today in Europe, Asia and the United States as
well as networks upgraded to the third-generation (i.e., UMTS) standard.
The  Windows Media Video 8 beta delivers near-VHS-quality video at rates
as  low  as 250 Kbps and near-DVD-quality video at rates as low  as  500
Kbps.

Microsoft,  Windows  Media  and  Windows are  registered  trademarks  or
trademarks  of  Microsoft  Corp.  in  the  United  States  and/or  other
countries.  The names of actual companies and products mentioned  herein
may be the trademarks of their respective owners.