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Tira Wireless Appoints Mobile Application Pioneer Chris Erickson as President and COO
TORONTO - April 30, 2003 - Tira Wireless, a full service publisher of wireless Java™ applications for mobile phones, announced today the appointment of Chris Erickson as President and Chief Operating Officer.
Erickson brings to Tira many years of experience in the telecommunications and technology sectors. In 1997, Erickson co-founded 724 Solutions Inc., a leading provider of technology solutions for mobile operators to deliver next generation IP and data services. At 724, he held the positions of President and General Counsel, and was a member of its board of directors. He was instrumental in growing 724 Solutions from day one, through several rounds of financing, a successful IPO in 2000 and a number of acquisitions. Most recently, he was based in Europe in the role of Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Europe, Middle East, and Africa markets. Recognized for his leadership, Erickson was the recipient of Canada's prestigious 'Top 40 Under 40' award in 2000.
"Chris brings a unique combination of expertise in the global wireless industry, leadership abilities and a proven tack record in executing significant transactions. This combination of skills will prove invaluable as we move towards the next phase in the company's development," said Tony Davis, founder and CEO of Tira Wireless.
"I am very excited to join the team at Tira Wireless," said Erickson. "Fundamentally, mobile services are essential to our lives, no matter where we live in the world. We are now using our mobile phones for more than just a voice call or a text message; we are looking for new ways to entertain ourselves and to communicate with each other. Tira Wireless' industry leading publishing business and J2ME technologies put it at the root of the evolution of this mobile culture."
Tira Wireless is addressing the rapidly expanding market for downloadable wireless Java applications in North America and Europe with its Tira Studios brand of Java™ 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME™) applications and related J2ME technologies. "Chris is an integral component of Tira's aggressive growth plans. Leveraging his broad network and respected visionary leadership within the wireless community, he will help Tira build on its market leading role in J2ME application publishing," said Davis.
Before 724 Solutions, Erickson spent several years as a corporate/commercial technology lawyer with Fasken Campbell Godfrey, one of Canada's largest law firms. An entrepreneur at heart, he was also the founder of Cygnus Computer Associates, a software engineering firm that specializes in designing and developing client-server applications customers such as Bell Canada, EDS Corporate, Nortel and Hewlett-Packard.
Erickson is a professional engineer and is qualified to practice law in Ontario. He holds a BASc in Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo, and an LL.B. from the University of Toronto Law School.
About Tira Wireless
Tira Wireless is a full-service publisher of a portfolio of trusted Wireless Java applications supporting the diverse needs of today's mobile subscribers. Tira Wireless publishes mobile games and applications under the consumer brand, Tira Studios (www.tirastudios.com). Tira Wireless offers mobile operators, publishers and developers a "full-service" publishing model that ensures the delivery of trusted wireless Java applications to mobile subscribers. Tira's offering includes its stringent Mobile Assure (www.mobileassure.com) certification program; Java Universal Mobile Porting (JUMP) technology; and, Java Jumpstart, a turnkey hosted provisioning solution. Tira Wireless is a privately held company funded by Brightspark Ventures of Toronto and Flagship Ventures of Cambridge. For more information visit www.tirawireless.com.
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