 Gemplus
first to deliver SIM-based branding solution to VIP customers of China Mobile
64K SIM-based STK Application Assists China Mobile in
Brand Promotion Strategy
Luxembourg and China, 28 October 2004 - Gemplus International S.A. (Euronext:
LU0121706294 - GEM and NASDAQ: GEMP), the world's leading provider of smart card
solutions, announces today the first delivery of a SIM-based solution for brand
management to China Mobile's Hunan Division (Hunan MCC). The solution is based
on 64kb SIM cards and GemConnect Online1 and is the first Icon-based solution
designed to reinforce Hunan MCC's brand to the Chinese market. The SIM cards
will be available to VIP subscribers of the "GoTone" service.
The solution enables Hunan MCC's high-end users to view and download VIP
service menus on their mobile phones, replacing the need to carry VIP cards and
VIP service manuals. The user's profile and loyalty points, stored on a 64K SIM
card, allow high-end users to view their icon-based2 subscriber status (Diamond,
Gold or Silver) and use the handset as an identification method for exclusive
services, such as discounts at Hunan MCC business partners and merchants and
access to airport lounges. By selecting 'VIP Services" on the STK menu,
subscribers are able to search and book services conveniently at the click of a
button.
The solution will allow Hunan MCC to provide subscribers with their VIP
status and timely service updates, as well as information on merchants,
exclusive services and discounts via short message service (SMS). Hunan MCC can
also upgrade the subscribers' VIP status as necessary, depending on their ARPU
bracket. In addition, a handset tracking function stored in the SIM informs
Hunan MCC of which handset is in use by the subscriber and sends an alert when
the user changes mobile phone. This means that Hunan MCC is able to improve its
customer service and propose new services.
Through these VIP brand services, Hunan MCC will be able to update their
users more quickly. Based on the users' handset information, Hunan MCC can
deliver a more comprehensive and customized service to subscribers while
increasing its brand visibility and lowering logistics costs.
Hunan MCC Vice Director of Marketing Department, Ou Cheng, said,
"Gemplus' brand management solution will strengthen our communications with
VIP users, who are now able to receive the latest information, in a fast and
convenient way. As a result, Hunan MCC is able to determine users' requirements
faster, and to provide them with more personalized and exclusive services. We
think that it will also benefit our management and brand equity."
"This project is recognition of the role of the SIM as a direct
communication channel between the operator and their end-users. We worked with
Hunan MCC for 3 months to define the requirements of their VIP application and
are pleased to help promote "GoTone" with our brand management
solution, said Alex Maes, General Manager, Telecom Business Unit, Gemplus
Greater China. "Gemplus will continue to provide comprehensive solutions
and professional service to China Mobile and is dedicated to the development of
the wireless market in China".
1 - GemConnect Online is an interoperable dynamic SIM Toolkit solution that
eases and speeds up the deployment of SMS-based services and updating of
existing services
2 - Subject to mobile phones supporting icon displays from the SIM card.
About GoTone
As the core product of China Mobile, GoTone is a brand of digital mobile
phone famed for having the largest number of users worldwide, supporting most
new services and applications developed by China Mobile, including Caller ID,
At-will Paging, SMS, IP Telephony, Mobile Securities, Dual-band Network, VPN,
FNS, Mobile Secretary, Monternet, Mobile Bank, etc. Integrating closely into
daily life and the working environment, GoTone is intended to provide users with
more select features, allowing more communication solutions and greater added
value.
The GoTone VIP Club is the platform through which China Mobile can deliver
differentiated services to GoTone VIP card holders, including diamond, gold and
silver card users. Through this platform, high-end users of China Mobile are
able to enjoy Grade A benefits integrated with A-class web service, A-class
customer service, and A-class extended service, such as 'Operator-assisted
services and roaming services', cross-region services, account manager services
and airport VIP lounge services.
About Gemplus
Gemplus International S.A. (Euronext: LU0121706294 - GEM and NASDAQ: GEMP)
is the world's leading player in the smart card industry in both revenue and
total shipments (source: Gartner-Dataquest (2004), Frost & Sullivan,
Datamonitor.) It has sold over 4 billion smart cards.
With security at its core, and 2400 patents produced by its innovative
R&D team, Gemplus delivers a wide range of portable, personalized solutions
in areas including Identity, Mobile Telecommunications, Public Telephony,
Banking, Retail, Transport, Healthcare, WLAN, Pay-TV, e-government, and access
control.
Gemplus' revenue in 2003 was 749 million Euros.
www.gemplus.com
For more information
Rebecca Lee
Gemplus China PR Manager
Tel: +86 (10) 6410 8001#220
rebecca.lee@gemplus.com
Wang Xiao Qing
Edelman - China
Tel: +86 (10) 8519 1588#279
xiaoqing.wang@edelman.com
©2004 Gemplus. All rights reserved. Gemplus, and the Gemplus
logo are trademarks and service marks of Gemplus S.A. and are registered in
certain countries. All other trademarks and service marks, whether registered or
not in specific countries, are the property of their respective owners.
Some of the statements contained in this release constitute
forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or our
future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties,
and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of
activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future
results, levels of activities, performance, or achievements expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements. Actual events or results may differ
materially. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the
forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results,
levels of activity, performance or achievements. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those estimated by the forward-looking
statements contained in this release include, but are not limited to: trends in
wireless communication and mobile commerce markets; our ability to develop new
technology, and the effects of competing technologies developed and expected
intense competition generally in our main markets; profitability of our
expansion strategy; challenges to or loss of our intellectual property rights;
our ability to establish and maintain strategic relationships in our major
businesses; our ability to develop and take advantage of new software and
services; and the effect of future acquisitions and investments on our share
price. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the
accuracy and completeness of such forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of this
release. We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements
after this date to conform such statements to actual results or to reflect the
occurrence of anticipated results.
|
