Sprint Nextel will activate and manage customer devices on its Xohm WiMAX network using Service Manager software from Mformation Technologies, officials said today.
Mformation already supplies the provisioning and updating technology for Sprint’s CDMA network, but the deal is Mformation’s first involving WiMAX devices, CTO Rakesh Kushwaha said.
“The technology is obviously different… However, the business processes are the same,” he said. “If you are updating the software on a phone, it doesn’t matter which technology you use.”
There are differences such as how device updates are received. CDMA and GSM networks typically receive updates through an SMS message, while WiMAX uses a normal IP connection. It helps that Mformation has experience as a veteran member of WiMAX standards bodies and is partially owned by Intel, itself a WiMAX supporter. Mformation has almost two years of laboratory and testing experience in WiMAX, Kushwaha said.
The customization done for Sprint can be carried to other customers, he added.
Meanwhile, details about Mformation’s work with the new Clearwire WIMAX company are not yet public, however, “The short answer is yes” about the companies working together, he said.
Mformation’s Service Manager received the 2007 GSM Association’s award for Best Service Delivery Platform and was a finalist for the 2008 CTIA E-Tech award in the 4G Service Management category.
Mformation's platform is also in the networks of Bell Mobility, T-Mobile, Telefónica, Telus and Vodafone.