London, UK — 19 March 2001 Return to press releases

Mobileway officially launches in UK, offering simple solution to technical and pricing issues in SMS text message market. Mobileway, the 'global facilitator of data and money flows in the wireless space between mobile network operators, corporations and content providers everywhere', officially launches in the UK today, offering a simple solution to the multiple technical and pricing issues currently hampering delivery of SMS text messages across national network boundaries. Charles Damen, general manager of Mobileway's UK office and responsible for the company's global portal business, said: "Our business makes mobile customer communication easier than ever before.   For the first time, businesses in the UK have a 'one-stop' service provider of reliable, cost-effective, interactive SMS text communication without geographical barriers - solutions that can be rapidly and easily deployed." Until recently, any company wanting to reach customers using the SMS text channel across mobile network borders faced the daunting obstacle of technically integrating and negotiating contracts with hundreds of network operators - all with different pricing and legal policies.  To resolve this, Mobileway's strategy from day one has been to establish direct connections with as many major network operators as possible. Currently Mobileway has agreements with more than sixty network operators, reaching eighty-five percent of worldwide GSM users.  This global reach includes the Far East and Asia-Pacific, plus the entire USA on both CDMA / TDMA and paging networks.  The company already offers complete European coverage, including those networks in France and Spain that are closed to incoming SMS traffic. As SMS traffic has increased exponentially, these networks will remain closed until roaming agreements have been agreed.  Many networks are now adding a supplementary charge to SMS messages sent outside their boundaries and this adds significantly to the cost of sending messages in volume.  Mobileway's direct connections into operator's SMS Centres effectively bypasses this, reducing the cost of high-volume SMS traffic. Charles Damen, added: "Operators are choosing to partner with us for three primary reasons: we deliver new revenue streams from both 'push' and 'pull' SMS, plus innovative new value-added services; we actively prevent 'spamming' through strict content-provider policies; we complement their existing value-added services, bringing trusted global content provider brands such as Yahoo! and Nike." Mobileway's strategy of direct integration with network operators allows it to offer several advantages others cannot match. These include capacity for high-volume one and two-way traffic, rapid and guaranteed message delivery, plus the capability to enable advanced services such as 'reverse-billing' and m-commerce. "Many companies are looking at how they can generate new revenue streams from mobile information provision.  Generally, receiving SMS has so far been free to the mobile user.  However, many are actually willing to pay for personalised, valuable information, presenting new revenue opportunities for all parties involved in the process of providing and delivering that information.  Our multiple solutions for payment, including this kind of 'reverse-billing' to subscribers, facilitate this," says Damen. Incorporated in the USA with operational headquarters in Paris, France, Mobileway has been trading successfully since January 2000.  It was established with private equity finance and venture capital funding.  Mobileway already employs more than 100 staff and has offices in London, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Sydney, Stockholm, San Francisco, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The company is initially targeting its services at major Internet portals, financial institutions, large corporations, media owners and other information or 'content' providers.  The company's customers already include Yahoo!, Nike and major European airlines.  Keynote Systems and Mobileway are enabling website performance alerts by SMS to corporate webmasters in Europe and beyond.  The company has also partnered with fusionOne in the USA to provide calendar and contacts synchronisation between mobile devices and desktop PCs. As well as offering SMS text messaging services, Mobileway provides a complete solution for a range of additional 'value-added' services such as ringtones via its joint venture with Digiplug for music downloads, and logo and pictogram downloads on major brands of handsets such as Nokia, Sagem, Philips and Motorola. About Mobileway Inc USA Mobileway, a global company with presence in Asia, Europe and the US is a leading facilitator of data & money flows in the wireless space.  The company's network hub and value-added wireless services are designed to enable network operators and e-businesses to bring exciting, customised and secure services to mobile consumers.  Mobileway offers wireless data services such as ringtones, logos, text messages and m-commerce solutions.  These make it possible for consumers to experience personalised content, securely conduct m-commerce payment transactions anywhere.  Mobileway brings to network operators and e-businesses new forms of wireless interactivity and revenue-generating services.  Mobileway is a North American company with operational headquarters in Paris, France.