Nokia US$21m software deal puts Web applications into users' hands

Wireless communications giant Nokia is gearing up to extend enterprise network security to mobile business applications.

This strategy follows the Finnish company's acquisition last week of privately held Eizel Technologies in a stock-for-stock deal worth US$21 million.

Eizel develops a unique line of software that transforms e-mail messages, attachments, intranet applications and Web content into formats easily accessible by any Internet-ready mobile device on any wireless network.

The Pennsylvania-based company will form part of Nokia Internet Communications, the network security division of Nokia in California's Silicon Valley. This transaction, which is subject to regulatory conditions in the United States, is the Nokia unit's ninth acquisition to date.

'Eizel gives us an innovative solution for businesses wanting real-time, secure wireless access to relevant Internet and intranet content anywhere, any time,' Nokia Internet Communications Asia-Pacific marketing director Jeff Ratzlaff said.

'Until now, accessing business content and enterprise applications on the Internet without a wired broadband connection has been an unfriendly user experience. The technology we're acquiring from Eizel will change that.'

Founded in 2000 by scientists from Pennsylvania's Carnegie Mellon University, Eizel employs advanced computer science technologies - such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, pattern recognition and natural language processing - to solve problems relating to universal access to Web content.