Helio, an internet service provider (ISP), which was established as a joint venture of SK Telecom and Earthlink in 2005 and began to provide nation-wide services in the United State in 2006, has recently changed its Wireless Data Portal (WDP) system from Unix to open source-based Red Hat Enterprise Linux and JBoss. Herewith, it is expected that there are 'epochal' effects of cost reduction, and that as a result, SK Telecom, the developer, obtains the expanded sphere of platform technology.

Helio, a MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) that leases networks from MNO (mobile network operator), has provided nation-wide mobile communication and contents services both in Korean and English. It is still premature to talk about success, but it has been showing a substantial amount of growth, based on know-how about wireless data business like SKT's 'Nate'.

For this wireless data business, SKT has established and operated WDP (Wireless Data Portal) with Helio from the start. In the early days of service, WDP 1.0, which was Unix-based system, introduced BPM (Business Process Management). However, the existing system was not enough to reflect demands drawn from American business environments, maintenance and repair, and cost reduction issues.

The decision to develop open source-based WDP 2.0 was due to (1) a small scale of Helio¡¯s operating costs for commercial software, (2) American market's tendency that rapidly reinvigorates the introduction of open software, (3) additional contracts with CP (Content Provider) to provide American style services.

According to Lee Joon-Won, a manager of the Department of Solution Development at the SKT Service and Technology Institute, "we decided to establish new WDP 2.0 system in consideration of new Helio's demands drawn from technology/maket environments and trends in the United States." He explained, "in the United States, open source has been widely applied to various fields. There was discussion on the change to open source in Helio's engineering team. SKT also estimated that we could expand our choice of business by developing new platforms. By this judgment, we began a joint development with Helio."

Establishment of ¡®Wireless Data Portal System¡¯ to Provide WAP Service
Helio's WDP system is the core system environment for wireless data service. Helio has many servers for its services. WDP, which is located at the center of these servers, plays an important role in the management of all wireless data, such as contents, commodities, WAP menu, device, and subscribers. That is to say, it is the core platform for data commodities, account and customer systems.

Helio has absorbed the idea of open source platform application, which has been activated and widely used in the United States, for WDP 2.0 project. Unix, SunOne, WebLogic, Commercial BPM Solution, all which was WDP 1.0 system-based, have been changed to open source based platforms, such as JBoss and jBPM, accompanied by download servers, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Web Application/Core Application/Contents download servers.

Helio also needed more various forms of contents sourcing and service offers for market. WDP 2.0 is developed to be able for users to contact with a few major CPs by providing various contents ingestion and additional management functions.

Trial and Error, But......
SKT has taken the leadership in the development of WDP 2.0, in cooperation with domestic companies, which developed WDP 1.0 with SKT. Neomtech (www.neomttech.com) developed the portal system and Feelingk (www.feelingk.com) took charge of the download server, made remote progress on the basis of development servers in Korea, and worked hard to provide technical supports in the United States.

However, their challenges to commercial open source platform were the first attempt, and especially for the case of jBPM, they suffered from the lack of references and specialists in Korea. Manager Lee said, "in fact, we received help form American specialists, Red Hat, and Dow Technology. There were many trial and error, such as the delay of due dates to accomplish some functions, due to the slow process of receiving information through related communities."

He also added, "we chose without hesitation jBPM and JBoss among many commercial BPM solutions because they are well-matched to each other. JBoss specialists in Helio also secured the stability and efficiency of jBPM and JBoss. Anyway, it is significant that this project is the first case in Korea, and that SKT set the first foot on the open source platform."

Unprecedented Effects of Cost Reduction
The project, which began in the end of 2006 and opened in September, 2007, has been operated for two months.

For the project, Helio performed its system migration task on a large scale, and has been satisfied with the result. It was so a big project that even after four month testing period and launching, some minor errors, like bug problems, have been generated. However, there have been no errors drawn from platforms and systems.

Moreover, it has brought about unprecedented effects of cost reduction. Comparing to the existing systems, 80% of introduction and operation costs has been reduced. Comparing to Unix-based systems, 65% of HW costs has been cut down. 90% of purchase and maintenance costs for commercial SW has been curtailed. These sets of comparison include both development and test servers, and actual purchase prices.

In addition, it is expected that there are cost reduction effects in the field of service operation. 50% of service operation costs would be reduced, because convenient functions for registration/admission, which Helio demanded for simple registration and admission process compatible with small size of CP, were added to WDP 2.0.

Open Source is Unavoidable!
Upon this opportunity with the project, Helio comes to get very positive recognition for open source-based systems. From the perspective of SKT, it is expected that there would be additional selectable options that raise investment efficiency, as the first commercial case for open source platform has been successful.

Manager Lee said, "SKT can utilize this platform as a model for low price to push into China and Southeast Asia markets. In case of supplying new markets with wireless platform, it is possible to recycle. We have become confident through the knowhow that we have leant from the project."