(October 31, 2002) - In a new strategic relationship, Siemens will provide the CT56 mobile phone to Cingular Wireless, just in time for the holiday shopping season. The small, lightweight, dual band 850/1900 MHz GSM phone features EMS capability, allowing users to add pre-installed sounds and pictures to their text messages. The CT56 allows users to make calls using voice dialing or take calls using the phone's speakerphone, and features polyphonic sound capabilities for ring tones.

Cingular Wireless' agreement to carry the CT56 mobile phone marks the beginning of a larger, long-term plan to market a variety of future Siemens' GSM handsets.

Built-in wireless Java technology gives users of the CT56 mobile phone access to applications that include games with real voice and vibration feedback. The phone's flexible memory management allows users to store ring tones, games, screen savers, and other applications. The CT56 mobile phone features GPRS Class 8 technology for high-speed wireless data access. GPRS also enables fast Internet browsing via a WAP 1.2.1 browser.

Globally, there are more than 732 million GSM mobile phone users accounting for about 71 percent of the total mobile phone population worldwide, according to recent statistics provided to the GSM Association by EMC.