Autodesk introduces multimedia messaging

CANNES -- Autodesk Location Services has announced the availability of what it calls the industry's first location MMS (location-enabled Multimedia Messaging Service) and location SMS (location-enabled Short Messaging Service) solutions. At the 3GSM World Congress in France last week, Autodesk described Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) as offering a dramatic increase in mobile-to-mobile messaging by enabling two or more media sources -- including sound, animations, and video clips -- to be integrated and sent along with text.

By location-enabling MMS, wireless operators can offer further value to subscribers by making the MMS relevant to the user's location.

For example, a business traveler seeking accommodation could enter a short command for locating hotel options and the location intelligence in the system would determine the whereabouts of the traveler and provide information for hotels in the vicinity. Using MMS, the subscriber would be able to view photographs of the hotel's facilities.

"Location-enabling MMS opens the door to an abundance of data-rich services that operators can make available to their corporate and individual wireless subscribers," said Joe Astroth, executive vice president, Autodesk Location Services. "Location sensitivity is the key element that will enable mobile-to-mobile messaging that is highly personalized and relevant to subscribers' changing needs as they move from place to place, activity to activity."

Astroth said person-to-person SMS, the forerunner of MMS, is already enormously popular among mobile users, particularly in Europe, with revenues projected to reach US $6.5 billion worldwide by 2003, according to the analyst firm International Data Corporation. By location-enabling SMS and MMS, operators can offer a host of new data services to their mobile subscribers, such as navigation, concierge and proximity searches.

Autodesk Location Services also announced today the introduction of Autodesk Location Connect 2.

"The enterprise space offers enormous opportunity for location-sensitive applications, particularly in terms of adding location sensitivity to existing applications and functions," said Scott Ellison, Program Director of Wireless and Mobile Communications for International Data Corporation. "Particularly rich opportunities include businesses with substantial sales and field service personnel, transportation, shipping, any business with delivery functions, as well as the enormous public safety market."

Telecom Italia

During 3GSM, Autodesk Location Services also announced an agreement with Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) to participate in the TIM Application Program (TAP) as the provider of location-based services. In this role, Autodesk Location Services said it will location-enable applications and services offered to TIM's enterprise customers. Telecom Italia Mobile supports 23.95 million subscribers in Italy and represents the majority of corporate wireless customers.

"By integrating location sensitivity into our applications and services we provide our enterprise customers with an opportunity to bring new value to their brand and products," said Roberto Pellegrini, TIM Business Division Director. "Autodesk Location Services was selected to join us in this important initiative based on their LBS expertise evidenced with innovative services such as location SMS and MobileConnect as well as the company's deep knowledge of the enterprise market and its needs."

TIM operates in the Italian market, in Europe and Latin America and is one of the leading European operators. As of December 12, 2001 TIM counted 23.95 million lines in Italy alone. Taking into account the European and Latin American lines, TIM Group, reached a total target of 50.7 million mobile lines in December 2001.

Localized and wireless

Autodesk Location Services, a division of Autodesk, Inc., provides infomobility solutions to carriers and enterprises worldwide. The Autodesk LocationLogic platform and Autodesk Location Connect suite of applications bring personalized, localized and actionable wireless data services to wired, mobile and wireless environments. 

Astroth, as executive vice president, brings extensive location-based software experience to the Autodesk Location Services Division. He has worked in the GIS and computer-mapping industry for more than 20 years and is responsible for the mobile and wireless solutions strategy at Autodesk. He has served as a member of the Autodesk executive management team since 1995.

Astroth led the company’s first effort to bring mobile and wireless technologies to Autodesk customers with the introduction of Autodesk OnSite software. He is credited with leveraging Autodesk’s knowledge and experience to expand the company’s focus on, and investment in, location-based services.

Astroth came to Autodesk from Convergent Group, where he was vice president of product management and engineering for the GDS Software Division. During his tenure, he helped the company to become a key worldwide provider of GIS software. Before joining Convergent Group, he was a senior principal consultant at McDonnell-Douglas System Integration Company and EDS, Inc. Earlier in his career he was a part-time technology consultant and full-time professor at the University of Missouri, where he cofounded a GIS research center for government and commercial projects. Astroth completed his doctoral work at the University of Chicago and was awarded the Fulbright Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship in 1982, and the Mellon Foundation Dissertation Award by the University of Chicago in 1983.

He is the author of numerous articles, professional papers, and presentations. His doctoral dissertation on Loocation Theory and Spatial Interaction Modeling was published by the University of Chicago Press.