ICQ and NeuStar to Deliver Interconnection for Mobile Instant Messaging
BARCELONA, Spain, February 12 -
MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS -- NeuStar, Inc. (NYSE: NSR) today announced that it is working with leading Instant Messaging (IM) provider ICQ to bring increased levels of interconnection to mobile Instant Messaging users.
Mobile network operators that wish to provide their mobile IM communities with access to ICQ's 28 million IM users worldwide will now be able to connect their mobile IM users to ICQ's users through NeuStar's market-leading Interconnect services, as well as via NeuStar's industry-leading Mobile Messaging Gateway (MMG) services.
Allen Scott, general manager of NeuStar Next Generation Messaging (NGM),
said: "NeuStar's vision is of a world in which anyone can communicate through Instant Messaging regardless of geography, network, or technology. This development with ICQ brings this vision a step closer. Our aim is to interconnect communities and to make messaging with 'anyone, anywhere' simple and intuitive. Providing operator communities with access to users of ICQ Instant Messaging service is a big step to bringing true interconnection to mobile IM."
Ofer Oved, vice president of ICQ, said: "ICQ is delighted to be offering its user base the opportunity to message with mobile operator communities.
NeuStar's experience in mobile IM, combined with their understanding of the mobile environment and what works within it, makes them an ideal partner to implement ICQ's mobile vision -- that is, to treat the users as a dynamic community and to provide them with a complete, seamless, and simple IM solution."
About NeuStar, Inc. and NeuStar Next Generation Messaging
NeuStar, Inc. (NYSE: NSR) is a provider of clearinghouse and directory services to the global communications and Internet industry. In November 2006, NeuStar created its Next Generation Messaging Services by acquiring Followap Inc., a leading global provider of instant messaging, presence and interconnect services.
Mobile network operators around the world trust NeuStar to enable real-time communications using presence information. NeuStar has enabled mobile instant messaging solutions for operators that have more than 300 million subscribers in total, and NeuStar's customers include many of the leading operators from across the globe.
NeuStar, Inc. is headquartered in the United States, with subsidiary offices in Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.neustar.biz and www.neustar.biz/ngm.
About ICQ
ICQ is a leading instant messaging service provider with a global online communications community. The company's robust instant messaging software, enhanced communications features and dynamic community are available in 29 languages free of charge at www.icq.com. ICQ, created in 1996 by the Israel-based company, Mirabilis, is now wholly owned by AOL LLC.
Web site: www.neustar.biz
http://www.neustar.biz/ngm
http://www.icq.com
Source: NeuStar, Inc.
Marc Abshire of NeuStar, Inc., +1-571-434-5151, marc.abshire@neustar.biz