Mobistar signs m2m partnership with Touring for...

Strong international growth of m2m cards - more mobile communication between
                     machines than between people expected

13 January  2010 -  Mobistar  signed  a  contract  for  machine-to-machine (m2m)
applications  with Touring  for the  "Safe Drive"  project. From  now on, in the
event  of theft, accident  or breakdown, drivers  can get in touch automatically
with emergency services within a few seconds throughout the whole of Europe. The
call  is  fully  automated  (in  the  event  of  serious  impact), or via simple
operation by the driver in the vehicle (in the event of breakdown). In case of a
serious  accident, passengers will receive medical assistance quicker, while the
vehicle  will be located automatically in the event of an accident in an unknown
area.  M2m  technology  consequently  significantly  increases  the  safety  and
mobility of citizens.

Technically,  the Safe-Drive service  consists of an  application in the vehicle
with a microphone, speaker and two keys - one of which is for urgent calls (SOS)
and  the  other  for  technical  assistance  in  the  event  of  a breakdown. It
furthermore  includes a GSM and GPS antenna, and a detection system connected to
the  chassis. An external server  receives the signals sent  out by the SIM card
and passes these on to the screens and telephones of the tele-operators.

'Safe Drive' is just one example of machine-to-machine (m2m) technology. As part
of  this technology, SIM cards,  installed in equipment other  than a GSM or PC,
communicate with one another, with or without human intervention. With over 50%
market share, Mobistar is the market leader in m2m applications in Belgium.

Mobistar  has  witnessed  strong  growth  of  m2m  cards  since  last  year. The
International  Centre for  m2m of  France Telecom  in Brussels predicts that the
number of calls between machines will soon exceed the number between people.

Its uses are becoming ever more extensive:
-           telematics: pay-as-you-drive, kilometre tax, 'tracking & tracing' of
vehicles  and  trucks,  container  management,  security  against  theft  in the
construction   sector,   breakdown   management  in  lifts,  SIM  cards  in  GPS
applications, etc.;
-           smart  metering:  intelligent  meters  for  efficient  energy use by
companies and private individuals;
-           healthcare: distance  monitoring of  chronically ill  patients (e.g.
Alzheimer, diabetes)
-          mobile payments.


Mobistar  (EURONEXT BRUSSELS: MOBB)  is one of  the main actors  in the world of
telecommunications  in Belgium and Luxembourg, active in mobile telephony, fixed
telephony, ADSL and on other markets with a strong growth potential. The company
develops  innovative products and services for  the residential and the business
market.  Mobistar is listed  on the Brussels  Stock Exchange and  is part of the
France Télécom group.



For more information, please contact :
Patti Verdoodt -press service: [phone] - e-mail:
[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>


http://corporate.mobistar.be/press
Christophe Lemaître - Investor Relations: [phone] - e-mail:
[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>




For the full PDF version, please click here below:


[HUG#1373213]





    Communiqué de presse en PDF: 

http://hugin.info/134974/R/1373213/336420.pdf
    Persbericht in PDF: 

http://hugin.info/134974/R/1373213/336421.pdf
    Press release in PDF: 

http://hugin.info/134974/R/1373213/336419.pdf