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Novosoft LLC. Launches Beta Testing of Mobile Instant Messenger for GSM phones

Novosibirsk, Russia - August 23, 2001

Novosoft LLC. has launched beta testing of an application allowing GSM subscribers to access popular instant messaging systems directly from their mobile phones.

Stored on the phone SIM-card, Novosoft Mobile Instant Messenger (MIM) is a Java application combining the advantages of Short Messages Service and the popular Internet instant messengers (MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Lotus Sametime, etc).

MIM is an attractive solution for all mobile phone owners who use Instant Messaging services but do not always have access to the Internet from their desktop computers. Using MIM, they appear being online for Internet-connected users and get access to the functionality provided by their favorite Internet messenger directly from their mobile phones, including:

• sending and receiving messages
• replying to messages
• managing Contact list
• viewing messages history
• viewing other users' current status (online/busy/offline)
• setting own status

MIM takes the idea of "Messaging and Presence" (see for example 'Wireless Village' initiative by Nokia, Motorola and Ericsson - wireless-village.com), and expands the capabilities of simple SMS to the new range of features, such as keeping track of message recipients status, setting own presence options and finally, providing GSM subscribers with mobile access to the growing number of Internet messengers users worldwide.

MIM was first presented at SIMagine'2001, Worldwide GSM and Java Card Developers Contest that was held in Cannes in the framework of 3GSM World Congress, and where Novosoft LLC. won 'Innovation Award'.

The application will be of interest to GSM operators who wish to boost their SMS traffic and attract new subscribers by offering them innovative services based on breakthrough technologies. Finally, Internet Messaging service providers may benefit from MIM, as it allows making their services accessible from mobile phones and attracting new users without modification of existing services.

Novosoft plans to offer yet another innovative product to its partner GSM operators in Russia. Novosoft Business Card Organizer will substantially expand the functionality of an address book of mobile phones. The user can keep important contact information - several phone or fax numbers, an email address, a street address or a just a note - under one name. An important feature of Business Card Organizer is that it is capable to browse through phone numbers of a record automatically and dial available numbers when the default one is busy or blocked.

Both Novosoft applications are planned for commercial release in October 2001 on the basis of Siberian Cellular Systems-900, the largest GSM operator in Siberia. Novosoft partner and provider of SIM cards on which new applications will be stored is Schlumberger, the leading manufacturer of a comprehensive set of GSM SIM cards with 8 to 64 Kb user memory, compliant with the latest standards: GSM 11.11, GSM 11.14, GSM 03.19).

For more information, please visit Novosoft website at www.novosoft-us.com

Company Information:

Novosoft LLC. is one of the leading Russian-based offshore programming companies operating in the market of custom software development. Founded in 1992, the company is incorporated in Austin, TX, and a staff of 350+ experienced software engineers residing in Novosibirsk, Siberia. Novosoft has worked with major customers such as Samsung America, Hewlett Packard, and IBM. The company, a certified IBM and Lotus business partner, has a proven track record of more than 450 successfully completed projects ranging from desktop applications to electronic and mobile commerce systems.

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