May 4, 2005 - Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) has been selected by UMS, a leading Nordic unified messaging service provider, to deliver the world's first multi-channel alert system to national authorities and businesses.
Equant will host UMS' platform across Oslo and deliver a global voice network for an integrated alert system allowing entities to inform and evacuate a mass audience rapidly and effectively. Equant will provide worldwide Internet access to UMS' Web page supported by a 24-hour helpdesk in London. Also, UMS will use Equant Contact Center, a highly flexible, international, inbound call-management service that allows users to call local phone numbers for information and support in all markets.
UMS selected Equant based on Equant's international reach, integrated platform and consultancy services. In particular, Equant's hosted platform and voice network meets the highest standards for data security as well as physical infrastructure.
"The relationship with Equant is crucial to UMS' growth strategy by providing the hosted platform and communication infrastructure that enables us to expand our business internationally," said Kjell Heen, CEO, UMS. "With Equant's hosting solution, we will be able to deliver the population alert systems on a highly secure and reliable global platform, which is managed both globally and locally by Equant.
"We are experiencing an increasing need for public emergency response tools," said Heen. In addition, he predicts a significant growth in the unified messaging market over the next few years.
UMS' communications system enables authorities and businesses to send a single message to a mass audience through voice and SMS, or short message service. Using a response function, a large group of people over a specified geographical area can request more information or respond. The authorities have access to an online map, which specifies the geographic area they wish to address. In this way, they can convey their message to thousands of people via multiple channels within minutes.
UMS currently has offices in Oslo and Copenhagen and serves 80-plus customers, including national response units and emergency services. The Swedish electricity corporation Vattenfall uses UMS' system in case of a power failure. In Norway, the Red Cross uses UMS' system in the event of missing children, avalanches, skiing or climbing accidents. The Directorate of Civil Preparedness and the fire brigade also make use of the warning methods. In Denmark, the police have just agreed to test the system as part of their early warning system.
"This is a strong example of how a niche service company can reach a global audience by partnering with an international communications provider," said John Conlan, managing director, Equant Nordic. "This is a clear case of business-enabling where we handle the platform and manage the global infrastructure, so that UMS can focus on developing the functionality and approaching new clients."
About UMS
Unified Messaging Systems (UMS) is a Norwegian software company that develops and distributes communications solutions. Since its establishment in 1997, UMS has pioneered the development of advanced message handling systems and now offers complete solutions for business and industry that are designed to increase efficiency, accessibility and mobility. The company distributes its solutions through its own sales organizations in Norway and Denmark and also has agents in Norway and the rest of the world.
About Equant
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) is a recognized industry leader in global communications services for multinational businesses. Equant combines its network expertise with its expanded services capabilities to provide global, integrated and customized communication services to enable its customers' key business processes. Equant serves thousands of the world's top companies, with the industry's most extensive portfolio of communications services and network solutions, including the market-leading IP VPN used by nearly 1,300 global businesses. Equant, a subsidiary of France Telecom, consistently leads industry surveys in corporate user satisfaction.
This release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements related to Equant that involve risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that these statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future results or events. Readers are referred to the documents filed by Equant with the SEC, specifically the most recent filing on SEC Form 20-F, which identifies important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including, among other things, risks relating to our history of operating losses, the unpredictability of growth in our industry, the fact that the interests of France Telecom, our largest shareholder, may differ from the interests of our other shareholders, changing technology, uncertain and changing regulatory restrictions, currency fluctuations, dependence on suppliers, network security issues, intense competition in our industry, and volatility of our stock price. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to Equant on the date hereof, and Equant assumes no obligation to update such statements.
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