NeuStar Launches ICQ Mobile Instant Messaging Solution with Partner Communications Ltd.
LONDON, Aug. 28 - NeuStar, Inc. (NYSE:NSR) today announced that it has mobilised ICQ's Instant Messaging solution in Israel for Partner Communications Ltd. This partnership capitalizes on the popularity of the ICQ IM service to offer Partner Communications Ltd. a competitive advantage in the mobile market, enabling ICQ members to message each other through their mobile phones.
NeuStar is able to offer this solution to Partner Communications Ltd. after reaching agreement with ICQ to mobilise its Instant Messaging service for mobile operators worldwide.
Allen Scott, general manager at NeuStar Next Generation Messaging, said, "Our deal with ICQ is an important step in the global rollout of new mobile IM services. Operators wanting to launch any IM service, including an ICQ Instant Messaging service for the mobile phone, can deal directly with us."
Iris Beck, vice president, marketing and content at Partner Communications Ltd., said, "We chose to work with NeuStar not only because of its reputation as being one of the most successful mobile IM companies in the world, but also due to its unique relationship with ICQ. This provided us with the means to mobilise ICQ's popular service for our customers by dealing with only one company - saving time and enabling us to launch quickly and efficiently in Israel."
Orey Gilliam, CEO of ICQ, said: "The mobile instant messaging opportunity is an important one for ICQ, which has close to 24 million active users worldwide. It is vital for us that we work with companies that have relevant experience and expertise."
Partner Communications Ltd soft-launched the ICQ Mobile Instant Messaging service during May 2007.
About NeuStar, Inc. and NeuStar Next Generation Messaging (NGM)
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 (NGM) Services by acquiring Followap Inc., a leading global provider of instant messaging, presence and interconnect services.
Powering leading IMS networks such as Nortel and working in close partnership with handset manufacturers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs), NeuStar's NGM Services enable subscribers to stay connected through real-time, presence-enabled next generation services. Today, an increasing number of leading mobile operators including Vodafone Group, Turkcell, Hutchison 3, Wind, Vimpelcom, Swisscom and Mobinil are NeuStar customers, and have a combined user base numbering in the hundreds of millions of subscribers.
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 19 languages at www.icq.com. ICQ, created in 1996 by the Israel-based company Mirabilis, is now wholly owned by AOL LLC.
About Partner Communications
Partner Communications Company Ltd. ("Partner") is a leading Israeli mobile communications operator providing GSM / GPRS / UMTS / HSDPA services and wire free applications under the orange(TM) brand. The Company provides quality service and a range of features to 2.703 million subscribers in Israel (as of March 31, 2007). The Company launched its 3G service in 2004. Partner's ADSs are quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market(TM) and the London Stock Exchange. Its shares are also traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (Nasdaq and TASE: PTNR; LSE: PCCD).
Partner is a subsidiary of Hutchison Telecommunications International Limited ("Hutchison Telecom"), a leading global provider of telecommunications services. Hutchison Telecom currently offers mobile and fixed line telecommunications services in Hong Kong, and operates mobile telecommunications services in Macau, Israel, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Vietnam and Indonesia.
It was the first provider of 3G mobile services in Hong Kong and Israel, and operates brands including "Hutch," "3" and "orange." Hutchison Telecom, a subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa Limited, is a listed company with American Depositary Shares quoted on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "HTX" and shares listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong under the stock code "2332". For more information, see www.htil.com.
Source: NeuStar, Inc.
CONTACT:
Marc Abshire,
+1-571-434-5151,
marc.abshire@NeuStar.biz, of NeuStar, Inc.
http://www.icq.com/
