The development of new broadband technology will greatly influence the future development of information technology. In the coming years this technology will significantly increase the capacity of wireless or mobile information transfer and will open up countless opportunities for developing new products, services and business operations.

To date however, the development of mobile applications has been hindered by the fact that the work has been technology based and largely directed by engineers. As a result, the number of versatile, user-oriented applications with potential for commercial success has been limited.

The Octopus project aims to create an open innovative environment for the development and testing of new mobile applications.

The objectives of the Octopus project are:

The development & testing platform is open and freely accessible and offers cooperative partners an excellent opportunity to rapidly develop and test mobile applications and services using existing state-of-the-art enablers. It is possible to simultaneously connect 3 000 terminals to the development platform and services can be tested anywhere within the range of the mobile networks.

This environment is aimed at supporting companies, research and education institutions and other organisations. Companies can develop and test technologies, applications and services and create a diversified, international network in this field, as well as creating new businesses in mobility services among first adopters in the field.

Octopus offers educational and research institutions a versatile opportunity to conduct research, develop and update education and create new educational programmes. It also offers the possibility to create networks with operators in this field.

During the first stage, the environment consisted of an infrastructure offered by OPOY / Finnet companies for 2 - 2.5 G services and enablers such as browsing, SMS, MMS. Now the capacity of the network is moving on to Edge and 3G. At the same time new technology enablers have been added to the network, such as the Presence-server. The environment is continuously enhanced with the latest and most attractive mobile service and application enablers.

Stage one allowed the development and testing of applications and services to be linked into messaging services and the mobile Internet, including Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), browsing, e-mail and Short Messaging Service (SMS). In the current stage the Presence has been added to this selection of technology enablers.

The expected results of the project include:

At the end of the project, the operating model developed will enable the creation of a commercial company to continue the work of the Octopus programme as a business.

A cooperation network of mobile application developers in the Oulu region has also been formed, which includes high tech companies, operators, educational institutions, research institutions and other companies and organisations. This network will attract wireless companies, software houses, applications developers and service providers and it will create new jobs, expertise and improved standards of living in the Oulu region.

Inhabitants of the region, companies, etc.

The City of Oulu is the lead partner in the project. Other Partners include: Nokia, OPOY/ Finnet Companies, Oulu Polytechnic, Oulu Region Centre of Expertise, The University of Oulu, VTT and the Mobile Forum (the Octopus programme is coordinated by the Mobile Forum, a consortium of the main operators of mobile businesses in the Oulu area).

Total costs were 3 966 000 euros of which the EU contributed 1 766 000 euros.

Octopus
Mr. Jari Pirkola (Program Manager), tel. +358 400 867 784

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case

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment

Research & innovation