This definition is derived from a research report by Durlacher The Mobile Station Application Execution Environment (MExE) is, essentially, the incorporation of a Java virtual machine into the mobile phone. The MExE is a framework on mobile phones for executing operator or service provider specific applications. It enables full application programming. The protocol is integrating location services, sophisticated intelligent customer menus and a variety of interfaces, such as voice recognition. MExE will incorporate WAP, but also provides additional services exceeding the WAP functionality. It is likely that MExE will be built into future third generation, UMTS phones, which will have the processing power to run the Java programs. (UMTS is the 3G de facto standard). UMTS licenses have been granted in some countries such as Japan and the UK already and the rest of Europe in the coming months. For application developers it means that they may have to develop their products for more than one protocol, since many of the above protocols will be in the market at the same time. ®