3rd Aug 2005 07:00
DAT Group PLC03 August 2005 Embargoed until 07.00 am, 3 August 2005 DAT Group plc DAT LINKS UP WITH SMARTTRUST DAT, Synchronica and SmartTrust to provide the market's most complete OTA (Over-The-Air) Mobile Device Management Solution London, 3 August 2005. - DAT Group plc (DAT), a leading developer of mobiledevice management software, its subsidiary, Synchronica Software - a Europeanmobile synchronization and device management specialist and SmartTrust haveconcluded an OEM agreement that will allow SmartTrust to offer mobile operatorsthe most complete device management software suite on the market with fullsupport for the OMA (Open Mobile Alliance) industry standard.The agreement calls for DAT Group and Synchronica, acquired by DAT in April2005, to provide new device management and synchronization functionality toSmartTrust's growing portfolio of mobile device management solutions. SmartTrustis already the global leader in the mobile device management and over-the-air(OTA) provisioning market with more than 180 mobile networks using its solutionsfor the management of mobile subscribers, their handsets, SIMs and access toservices. The DAT and Synchronica solution will allow SmartTrust to provide OMA-compatibledevice management and OMA-compatible firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updates toSmartTrust's worldwide customer base. Synchronica will make its OMA Device Management (DM) Server available toSmartTrust, enabling it to offer customers the most complete mobile devicemanagement solution on the market. The Synchronica DM server will become anintegral part of new products produced by SmartTrust under the agreement.Supporting the common industry standard OMA DM, which is being introduced by allleading manufacturers, and all the 380 OTA and DM-enabled devices currently onthe market, DAT believes the OMA DM suite represents a highly competitiveproduct. As part of the agreement, DAT will receive an ongoing share of licence revenuesgenerated by SmartTrust from its customers. SmartTrust will also invest USD200,000 annually in the further development of the Synchronica technology. "With our truly complete and integrated offering, DAT, Synchronica andSmartTrust have a key competitive advantage, as mobile operators begin decidinghow to manage the growing complexity of mobile phones and expanding the array ofmobile data services", comments CTO of DAT and managing director at Synchronica,Carsten Brinkschulte. DAT's Interim-CEO Allan Jonnes adds: "This is an excitingdevelopment for DAT. It is our first announcement involving the Synchronicatechnology we acquired in April. The agreement with SmartTrust significantlyextends our reach and addressable market". The companies involved are poised to become market leaders in the increasinglycompetitive market for OTA provisioning and device management technology. TheSynchronica Device Management Server activates, configures and updates devicesand has proven itself in live operation at carrier-grade installations atleading device manufacturers. One unique advantage is the solution's server-sidescripting language "Sydemas", which allows mobile operators to build automated,interactive hotline systems for remote diagnostics and repair- includingover-the-air firmware updates. This dramatically reduces costs for mobileoperators and device manufacturers. SmartTrust's technology is used by over a quarter of the world's GSM users, withmore than 180 SmartTrust systems being commercially deployed with leading mobileoperators worldwide. Paul Cuss, CEO of SmartTrust comments: "No other companyoffers such a comprehensive range of business critical mobile device managementapplications as SmartTrust. From initial device configuration through to thecontinued support and servicing of handsets, SmartTrust allows operators torealize the true value of their network, service and device investments. Thisannouncement is an important development for the company and the addition ofSynchronica's advanced and field-proven technology adds new breadth to ourportfolio." This agreement is another key step for DAT in expanding its global reach;linking up with SmartTrust is of considerable importance given their extensivemarket position, serving some of the world's largest mobile operators from over13 offices worldwide. DAT (through Synchronica) has provided SmartTrust with theplatform it requires to enhance and expand the functionality of its offering toits customers. For further information please visit www.synchronica.com or contact: Nicole Meissner Simon Hudson/ Christian Taylor-WilkinsonDAT Group PLC Tavistock CommunicationsMobile: +49 173 606 91 60 Tel: +44 20 7920 3150Office UK: +44 870 606 5550Office Germany: +49 30 616 75 650 About DAT Group plcDAT Group plc focuses on management solutions for mobile operators, devicemanufacturers, retailers and corporations. The company offers a varied productportfolio ranging from data synchronization (DS) to device management (DM),firmware updates over-the-air (FOTA) and mobile device management (EnterpriseAssistant). DAT has unique expertise in smart devices across all platforms basedon its market-leading over-the-air (OTA) delivery platform. Based in the UK, thecompany also has offices in Germany and the U.S. DAT is a public company listedon the London Stock Exchange. More information about DAT is available atwww.datgroup.com About Synchronica Synchronica focuses on SyncML synchronization and device management solutionsfor mobile operators, device manufacturers, and corporations. The company offersa complete SyncML product portfolio ranging from data synchronization (DS) todevice management (DM) and firmware update over-the-air (FOTA). Synchronica hasa strong track record in the SyncML space, including the launch of the world'sfirst SyncML DM FOTA server with a leading European device manufacturer. TheSynchronica SyncML Gateway provides over-the-air synchronization ofSyncML-enabled mobile phones with corporate Microsoft Exchange servers. Moreinformation about Synchronica is available at www.synchronica.com. About SmartTrust With customers that include Vodafone, O2 UK, Telenor, Sonofon, Cosmote, MTN,T-Mobile, Cingular Wireless, Brasil Telecom GSM, Claro, Bharti Airtel, ERA PTC,SMART Communications, Megafon and Indosat, nearly 200 mobile networks around theworld rely on SmartTrust to better manage subscribers, their handsets and accessto mobile services. The company's SmartCoreTM environment delivers a portfolioof device-aware, subscriber-centric solutions that meet the needs of today'smobile operators. SmartManageTM; delivering a holistic approach to mobile devicemanagement: SmartaLaCarteTM; offering an immediate and configurable platform forthe launch of value-added services independent of technology type: SmartRoamTM;to increase ARPU through dynamic roaming management. SmartTrust solutionsbenefit from the industry's most established OTA platform, while integrationwith an operator's existing business systems allows the management ofsubscribers to be based on detailed knowledge of the subscription, SIM andhandset history.The company is headquartered in Sweden with a regional presence in Finland, UKGermany, Italy, Spain, Malaysia, India, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, Brazil and theUnited States. SmartTrust is privately held and its investors include TheCarlyle Group, Eqvitec Partners, GE Equity and TeliaSonera. More information isavailable at www.smarttrust.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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