Nieuwegein, The Netherlands, 5 December 2002 - CMG Wireless Data Solutions, the global leader in competitive edge messaging solutions, has signed a Short Message Service Centre (SMSC) agreement with Cellcom, Israel's largest mobile operator. Cellcom will deploy CMG's multi-mode, high-performance SMSC in early 2003 to offer its pre- and post-paid subscribers complete functionality in text messaging.
David Shwarzman, Director of Advanced Network Services department in Cellcom Israel Ltd, said that the amount of messages in Cellcom, had already reached 50 million per month and is still growing. Cellcom believes that co-operation with CMG in the area of SMS and other wireless data services will better position Cellcom in the competitive environment that characterises the Israeli cellular market.
Jasper Weijman, Managing Director Central Europe & Middle East at CMG Wireless Data Solutions, said, "Israel is an important market for us and signing a deal with Cellcom, the largest mobile operator in Israel, is a significant step for us in strengthening our regional presence. We are delighted with the partnership and look forward to supporting Cellcom's growth over the coming years."
Cellcom is the only operator in Israel that combines North American technology (TDMA) and European technology (GSM/GPRS). CMG is able to support every global standard and technology, in addition to supplying interoperability, pre-paid billing, query and reporting, and other value-added functionality.
CMG serves approximately 68% of all European GSM subscribers and supports half of all short messages in the world, and is striving to increase its market presence. CMG is not only offering messaging and gateway systems, but is providing customers with extensive knowledge of the SMS and value-added services market. Additionally, CMG's customers can benefit from the company's expertise gained from working with the largest and most successful operators in Europe and the rest of the world.
The SMSC is a central store and forward facility that accepts, buffers, processes and distributes all short messages within a mobile network. It is a critical device - for the success of every SMS operation. CMG was the first vendor in the world to deliver a high-performance SMSC, a single platform far exceeding industry performances.
The benefits of CMG's SMSC for its customers stems from its unrivalled speed, capacity and stability under real-network conditions whilst maintaining full store and forward capabilities.
About Cellcom
Cellcom Israel Ltd, is Israel's largest mobile operator, established in 1994. Shareholders: Bell South International, Safra Group, Discount Investments Corp.
Cellcom holds 42% share of the Israeli cellular market, with more than 2.4 million customers.
Cellcom operates TDMA and GSM/GPRS digital networks, 360 points of sale in 100 communities. Cellcom employs over 3,500 employees. Revenue in 2001: NIS 4.7 billion.
In the coming years, Cellcom will continue to lead the Israeli cellular market through continuous expansion of its customer base, improving quality of customer service, development of a variety of advanced content and data services, expansion of activities in the cellular portal arena, and deployment 2.5G and 3G infrastructure.
Cellcom will maintain focus on profitability as a growth leverage, service quality and investment in human resources.
Email: ofrapr@cellcom.co.il
Web: www.cellcom.co.il
About CMG
CMG plc is a global Information and Communications Technology group with leading positions in the provision of Mobile Business, Advanced Security, Business Process Outsourcing and Advanced Payroll solutions. It is at the core of its customers' critical activities, combining industry knowledge, technical expertise and practical innovation. CMG is proud of its open culture where communication, co-operation and fairness are seen as the basis for mutually rewarding relationships. This unique ethos is complemented by a commitment to delivering excellence and a full service offering ranging from management consultancy, systems development and integration to the outsourced management of targeted business processes. A complementary and equally critical strength of CMG is its global leadership in wireless messaging and mobile Internet built on the delivery of high performance, high reliability short message service centres (SMSC) to mobile operators.
Established in 1964, CMG employs over 13,000 people and supports customers with its worldwide presence in more than 20 countries.
CMG plc is listed on both the London and Amsterdam stock exchanges.
For more information, please contact:
Femmy de Rijk
Director Communications CMG Wireless Data Solutions
Phone: +31 30 210 3333
Fax: +31 30 210 3431
Email: press.telecom@cmg.com
Web: www.cmg.com/wds