IRISH TECHNOLOGY firm Cicero Networks has won a major contract with Multimedia Polska, one of the largest cable operators in Poland, to enable its customers make calls from their mobiles over Wi-Fi networks.

Multimedia Polska has purchased Cicero’s technology to power its MobilFON voice and messaging service. Using standard GSM handsets customers can make calls on a mobile network but when in a hotspot area the calls are sent using voice over IP.

Cicero’s software ensures there is a seamless handover, with no interuption to the call, when the user moves between networks. Multimedia Polska has also implemented Cicero’s P messaging client software on their phones to provide chat and instant messaging capabilities.

Ross Brennan, chief executive of Cicero, said cable operators in particular were keen on implementing its technology which enables them to offer services combining voice, messaging, presence and video. Because the voice element is VoIP, which is usually free or extremely low cost, traditional telcos are less keen on the technology.

Mr Brennan said Cicero was “delighted” with the deal and it was very significant as it was the first time a cable operator had deployed its software in this way.

“Using networks such as Wi-Fi to enhance mobile services delivers significant cost and revenue generating benefits to service providers who don’t own their own cellular footprint,” said Mr Brennan.

Przemyslaw Sypniewski, key project department director in Multimedia Polska, said Cicero’s system was attractive as to use it subscribers did not have to change their current mobile number and provider.

At the end of last year Multimedia Polska had 673,000 subscribers and operates in over 2,000 locations around Poland.