Database supplier Sybase is confident of securing the right to provide servers and telecommunications solutions for the Beijing 2008 Olympics, based on its experience in Sydney three years ago.
Chief executive John Chen expects Beijing to build a 'digital venue' offering many applications based on mobile and wireless local area network technologies. 'I have been talking to people over in Beijing and they have a lot of ideas about how wireless technologies can be used,' Mr Chen said.
The New York-listed company said it would benefit from its experience of building a mobile infrastructure for Australia's Telstra Corp at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. According to Mr Chen, Telstra's mobile network handled more than 500,000 calls during the opening ceremony, including 125,000 from within Stadium Australia.
Beijing has yet to open the tender for mobile services support during the Olympics.
China accounts for about one-third of Sybase's Asia sales, which in turn accounts for 12 per cent of the company's total revenues.
Mr Chen said the China market had expanded 50 per cent in recent years, with strong momentum in the banking and retail sectors.