This is interesting... Apple, Ericsson, and Sun
(From the ADC newsletter)
[3] Apple, Ericsson, and Sun Team to Create Wireless Content
Delivery Solution
Apple, Ericsson, and Sun Microsystems announced a relationship that
will enable network operators to deliver standardized multimedia
content to a variety of wireless devices, including mobile phones
and PDAs. Drawing on Apple's leadership in content creation, Sun's
expertise in content delivery, and Ericsson's experience in wireless
infrastructure, the Ericsson Content Delivery Solution will expand
the market for streaming media, opening new distribution channels
for content providers.
This standards-based solution is an end-to-end platform that
includes: Apple's QuickTime for content creation and encoding, Sun's
reliable and scalable software and systems to enable content
distribution, and Ericsson's ability to provide mobile operators
with a full infrastructure and services solution.
<a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2002/feb/12wireless.html" target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2002/feb/12wireless.html</a>
EDIT
small url problem)
[ 02-16-2002: Message edited by: imacman287 ]</p>
[3] Apple, Ericsson, and Sun Team to Create Wireless Content
Delivery Solution
Apple, Ericsson, and Sun Microsystems announced a relationship that
will enable network operators to deliver standardized multimedia
content to a variety of wireless devices, including mobile phones
and PDAs. Drawing on Apple's leadership in content creation, Sun's
expertise in content delivery, and Ericsson's experience in wireless
infrastructure, the Ericsson Content Delivery Solution will expand
the market for streaming media, opening new distribution channels
for content providers.
This standards-based solution is an end-to-end platform that
includes: Apple's QuickTime for content creation and encoding, Sun's
reliable and scalable software and systems to enable content
distribution, and Ericsson's ability to provide mobile operators
with a full infrastructure and services solution.
<a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2002/feb/12wireless.html" target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2002/feb/12wireless.html</a>
EDIT

[ 02-16-2002: Message edited by: imacman287 ]</p>
Comments
This standards-based solution is an end-to-end platform that includes:
- Apple's QuickTime for content creation and encoding.
- Sun's reliable and scalable software and systems to enable content distribution.
- Ericsson's ability to provide mobile operators with a full infrastructure and services solution.
Apple = QT
Sun = Server
Ericsson = Mobile Users.
Dave
[ 02-16-2002: Message edited by: DaveGee ]</p>
This is nothing more than a hardware/software contract for Apple, Sun and Ericsson. It's a turn-key platform/solution.
Sun and Ericsson will use QuickTime to create the content for their new 3G networks. This will probably result in some more PowerMac sales for Apple and a shit load of QuickTime Pro sales and accompanying tools/services.
Ericsson will use Sun servers to serve the QuickTime content to the 3G network. Sun makes money off of the servers and tech support/consulting. Ericsson provides the market and the infrastructure for the 3G network and makes money off of the subscriptions.
3G is just an IP-based wireless network capable of delivering rich multi-media. eg. streaming video on your cell phone or PDA.
This is just cut and dry tech business.
If there is more to it, then it is not apparent at this time.
Isn't it amazing how marketing makes everything sound so flowery?
Yup.
Well, maybe it's just narrow vision at the device manufacturers ...
Had conversations with the guys at Ericsson who built the R380 ("Smartphone") about which media architecture / CODEC they were going to have on their communicators. Wasn't QT.
Trouble is, the bit of Ericsson who did this deal has nuttn to do with the handset guys, so it means very little ...
With all due respect to your opinion in this matter, Apple is not late to the CODEC game in consumer devices. The new-upcoming MPEG-4 is the name of the game and QT6 can and probably will become the standard for creation, delivery and reproduction of content.
Most wireless devices out there are using short term codec solutions; they were marketed based upon crippled "me too" codecs with "questionable" future. By waiting until a standard was created and having some of the big hardware (servers / wireless devices) players involved, Apple is in a much better position than its rivals. And, on the other hand, most content creation companies already use Quicktime and Macs anyway, so Apple is way ahead of the field here.
Partnerships like this Apple-Sun-Ericcson is a step in the right direction and by no means late.
Peace :cool: