NMS and LogicaCMG Launch Hosted Ringback Tone Service with Finnish Telecoms Operator Elisa
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LONDON, February 6 -- NMS Communications (NASDAQ: NMSS) and LogicaCMG (LSE: LOG) today announced the launch of the hosted ringback tone service for Finnish telecom operator Elisa, a partner operator of the Vodafone Group. Elisa's 'Tunnari' ringback tone service is based on NMS's MyCaller(TM) personalised mobile entertainment platform, and LogicaCMG's global delivery, systems integration and support capabilities. The combined solution by LogicaCMG and NMS is hosted using LogicaCMG's own data centers, enabling Elisa to reduce the cost and time to market for ringback tone services, whilst gaining the ability to quickly scale the service to meet growing demand.
Ringback tones complement other popular mobile applications such as ringtones and wallpapers, which let users personalise their mobile experience. Ringback tone services allow mobile users to replace the usual ring that callers normally hear, with music and other audio clips chosen by the subscriber. Industry analyst firm Ovum estimates the worldwide market for ringback tones will reach US$2.7 billion by 2009.
"Mobile subscribers today are looking for services that are not only entertaining but that let them express their personalities," said Mikko Uosukainen, project manager at Elisa. "As part of LogicaCMG's hosted offering, NMS's MyCaller is allowing us to respond and tap into a new revenue stream with existing customers while attracting new subscribers as well. And we are able to do so in a cost-effective way that will allow us to keep pace with what we expect will be a tremendously rapid increase in demand for this exciting and fun service."
"Working with LogicaCMG, we were able to provide a very low set up cost for Elisa to enter the ringback services market, and we established a 'pay as you grow' model so Elisa can accommodate new subscribers as they sign up," said Brian Demers, vice president of mobile applications for NMS. "The Elisa example represents a smart way for any small-to-mid-size operator to take part in the burgeoning ringback market without having to worry about capital expenditures."
Han Weegink, director marketing and communications at LogicaCMG global telecoms, said: "The market for ringback tones is full of opportunities for operators worldwide. Using NMS technology and our experience of working with 300 of the world's mobile operators across 130 countries, the hosted solution for ringback tones that we are providing to Elisa reduces the network burden of introducing new services to customers. We also provide guaranteed service level agreements, thereby minimising the financial risks, enabling Elisa to fully explore these new revenue streams."
The market-proven ringback solution from NMS and LogicaCMG is easy to implement for operators and helps to retain existing subscribers. Other companies currently offering MyCaller ringback tones to their customers include Vodafone Hungary, Swisscom Mobile, Vodafone Portugal, Vodafone Greece and Vodafone Netherlands. Notes to Editors:
About LogicaCMG
LogicaCMG is a major international force in IT services and wireless telecoms. It provides management and IT consultancy, systems integration and outsourcing services to clients across diverse markets including telecoms, financial services, energy and utilities, industry, distribution and transport and the public sector. The company employs around 30,000 staff in offices across 36 countries and has more than 40 years of experience in IT services. Headquartered in Europe, LogicaCMG is listed on both the London and Amsterdam stock exchanges (LSE: LOG; Euronext: LOG). More information is available from logicacmg.com
About NMS Communications
NMS Communications (NASDAQ:NMSS) is a leading provider of technologies and solutions for mobile applications and infrastructure. NMS develops products that enable new mobile voice, data and video applications and improve the performance and quality of wireless networks, helping our customers grow their revenues and profits. Visit www.nmscommunications.com and nmscommunications.com/MyCaller for more information.
About Elisa
Elisa Corporation is a provider of overall telecommunication services, which offers versatile voice and data services, connections to the Internet and content services, telephony solutions, customized communication and ICT solutions, international communication solutions and network operator services. Elisa's revenue for 2004 amounted to EUR 1.36 billion, and by the end of that year the company employed 5,376 people. At the end of 2004, Elisa's networks hosted a total of 1.22 million fixed subscriptions. The number of broadband subscriptions is soaring, amounting to 222,307 in the year-end. There were 1.38 million mobile phone subscriptions in Elisa's network at the end of 2004. Listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange, Elisa has approximately 300,000 shareholders comprising domestic and international institutional investors plus Finnish households. More information is available from www.elisa.com
NMS Communications and MyCaller are trademarks of NMS Communications Corporation. All other product or corporate references may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
