Gemplus and Celltick selected by VimpelCom for Value Added Services
Gemplus and Celltick deploy SIM-based cell broadcast
applications for commercial launch of VimpelCom’s “Chameleon” service
Luxembourg and GSM Russia, Tuesday 21 June 2005, Gemplus
International S.A. (Euronext: LU0121706294 - GEM and NASDAQ: GEMP), the world’s
leading provider of smart card based solutions, and Celltick Technologies Ltd.,
the market leader in idle-screen applications and interactive mobile broadcast,
announce their selection by VimpelCom, Russia’s second largest mobile network
operator, for the commercial launch of their new “Chameleon” broadcast
application.
Chameleon sends news headlines direct to the subscriber’s handset, which the
subscriber can then click on for more information. The service is based on
Celltick’s cell broadcast technology, incorporated into a SIM card and a SIM
ToolKit application called BeeInfo.
In the summer of 2004 VimpelCom deployed a pilot with 2000 SIM cards. The first
stage of the deal includes licences for two million users. Victor Markelov,
Products Director at Vimpelcom, said, “Deploying value added services through
the SIM card makes it easy for us to update information and maintain a regular
communication channel with our subscribers. We were pleased with the high
penetration rates of the trial, which showed that the service was easy to use
and relevant to our customers wishes”.
“This is a classic example of the SIM creating value for the operator. VimpelCom
have understood the role that the SIM can play in enhancing the mobile
experience of each subscriber” said Philippe Vallée, Executive Vice President,
Telecom Business Unit, Gemplus. “This is also proof of the value of Gemplus’
SIMXplore programme and how we, by teaming up with leading service providers
such as Celltick, can offer a better service to our clients”.
14 April 2005, VimpelCom’s subscriber base reached 31.2 million. (Source: AC&M).
"We are delighted to partner with VimpelCom in turning its live screens vision
into reality”, says Yossi Wellingstein, Celltick’s CEO. "Our system places
VimpelCom in the forefront of mobile innovation, and gives it a substantial edge
in the mobile service market. Celltick has dedicated many talents and resources
to making this service a success, and we have no doubt that VimpelCom’s
subscribers will be extremely happy with the results".
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 (2005), Frost & Sullivan, Datamonitor). It
has sold over 5 billion smart cards.
With security at its core, and 2400 patents and patent applications 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 2004 was 865 million Euros.
www.gemplus.com
About VimpelCom
VimpelCom is a leading provider of telecommunications services in Russia and
Kazakhstan. The Company operates under the «Beeline» brand in Russia and
‘K-mobile’ and ‘EXCESS’ brands in Kazakhstan. The VimpelCom Group's license
portfolio covers approximately 94% of Russia's population (136 million people),
including the City of Moscow, the Moscow Region and the City of St. Petersburg,
as well as the entire territory of Kazakhstan. VimpelCom was the first Russian
company to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). VimpelCom's
ADSs are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "VIP".
www.beeline.ru
About Celltick
Celltick Technologies is the world leader in idle-screen application and mobile
interactive broadcast. Millions of users around the world already use the
company’s products, which allow mobile operators to deliver value added service
to the mass market simply intuitively. The company is headquartered in London,
has an R&D centre in Israel and offices in China, India and Russia.
www.celltick.com
For more information
Jane Strachey
Gemplus PR
Tel: +33 (0)442364661
jane.strachey@gemplus.com
Helen Baker
Edelman PR
Tel: +44 (0)20 7344 1285
helen.baker@edelman.com
©2005 Gemplus. All rights reserved. Gemplus, the Gemplus logo,
are trademarks and service marks of Gemplus S.A. and are registered in certain
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