Agreement with SmartTrust
DAT Group PLC
03 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 mobile
device management software, its subsidiary, Synchronica Software - a European
mobile synchronization and device management specialist and SmartTrust have
concluded an OEM agreement that will allow SmartTrust to offer mobile operators
the most complete device management software suite on the market with full
support for the OMA (Open Mobile Alliance) industry standard.
The agreement calls for DAT Group and Synchronica, acquired by DAT in April
2005, to provide new device management and synchronization functionality to
SmartTrust's growing portfolio of mobile device management solutions. SmartTrust
is already the global leader in the mobile device management and over-the-air
(OTA) provisioning market with more than 180 mobile networks using its solutions
for the management of mobile subscribers, their handsets, SIMs and access to
services.
The DAT and Synchronica solution will allow SmartTrust to provide OMA-compatible
device management and OMA-compatible firmware over-the-air (FOTA) updates to
SmartTrust's worldwide customer base.
Synchronica will make its OMA Device Management (DM) Server available to
SmartTrust, enabling it to offer customers the most complete mobile device
management solution on the market. The Synchronica DM server will become an
integral part of new products produced by SmartTrust under the agreement.
Supporting the common industry standard OMA DM, which is being introduced by all
leading manufacturers, and all the 380 OTA and DM-enabled devices currently on
the market, DAT believes the OMA DM suite represents a highly competitive
product.
As part of the agreement, DAT will receive an ongoing share of licence revenues
generated by SmartTrust from its customers. SmartTrust will also invest USD
200,000 annually in the further development of the Synchronica technology.
'With our truly complete and integrated offering, DAT, Synchronica and
SmartTrust have a key competitive advantage, as mobile operators begin deciding
how to manage the growing complexity of mobile phones and expanding the array of
mobile data services', comments CTO of DAT and managing director at Synchronica,
Carsten Brinkschulte. DAT's Interim-CEO Allan Jonnes adds: 'This is an exciting
development for DAT. It is our first announcement involving the Synchronica
technology we acquired in April. The agreement with SmartTrust significantly
extends our reach and addressable market'.
The companies involved are poised to become market leaders in the increasingly
competitive market for OTA provisioning and device management technology. The
Synchronica Device Management Server activates, configures and updates devices
and has proven itself in live operation at carrier-grade installations at
leading device manufacturers. One unique advantage is the solution's server-side
scripting language 'Sydemas', which allows mobile operators to build automated,
interactive hotline systems for remote diagnostics and repair- including
over-the-air firmware updates. This dramatically reduces costs for mobile
operators and device manufacturers.
SmartTrust's technology is used by over a quarter of the world's GSM users, with
more than 180 SmartTrust systems being commercially deployed with leading mobile
operators worldwide. Paul Cuss, CEO of SmartTrust comments: 'No other company
offers such a comprehensive range of business critical mobile device management
applications as SmartTrust. From initial device configuration through to the
continued support and servicing of handsets, SmartTrust allows operators to
realize the true value of their network, service and device investments. This
announcement is an important development for the company and the addition of
Synchronica's advanced and field-proven technology adds new breadth to our
portfolio.'
This agreement is another key step for DAT in expanding its global reach;
linking up with SmartTrust is of considerable importance given their extensive
market position, serving some of the world's largest mobile operators from over
13 offices worldwide. DAT (through Synchronica) has provided SmartTrust with the
platform it requires to enhance and expand the functionality of its offering to
its customers.
For further information please visit www.synchronica.com or contact:
Nicole Meissner Simon Hudson/ Christian Taylor-Wilkinson
DAT Group PLC Tavistock Communications
Mobile: +49 173 606 91 60 Tel: +44 20 7920 3150
Office UK: +44 870 606 5550
Office Germany: +49 30 616 75 650
About DAT Group plc
DAT Group plc focuses on management solutions for mobile operators, device
manufacturers, retailers and corporations. The company offers a varied product
portfolio ranging from data synchronization (DS) to device management (DM),
firmware updates over-the-air (FOTA) and mobile device management (Enterprise
Assistant). DAT has unique expertise in smart devices across all platforms based
on its market-leading over-the-air (OTA) delivery platform. Based in the UK, the
company also has offices in Germany and the U.S. DAT is a public company listed
on the London Stock Exchange. More information about DAT is available at
www.datgroup.com
About Synchronica
Synchronica focuses on SyncML synchronization and device management solutions
for mobile operators, device manufacturers, and corporations. The company offers
a complete SyncML product portfolio ranging from data synchronization (DS) to
device management (DM) and firmware update over-the-air (FOTA). Synchronica has
a strong track record in the SyncML space, including the launch of the world's
first SyncML DM FOTA server with a leading European device manufacturer. The
Synchronica SyncML Gateway provides over-the-air synchronization of
SyncML-enabled mobile phones with corporate Microsoft Exchange servers. More
information 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 the
world rely on SmartTrust to better manage subscribers, their handsets and access
to mobile services. The company's SmartCoreTM environment delivers a portfolio
of device-aware, subscriber-centric solutions that meet the needs of today's
mobile operators. SmartManageTM; delivering a holistic approach to mobile device
management: SmartaLaCarteTM; offering an immediate and configurable platform for
the launch of value-added services independent of technology type: SmartRoamTM;
to increase ARPU through dynamic roaming management. SmartTrust solutions
benefit from the industry's most established OTA platform, while integration
with an operator's existing business systems allows the management of
subscribers to be based on detailed knowledge of the subscription, SIM and
handset history.
The company is headquartered in Sweden with a regional presence in Finland, UK
Germany, Italy, Spain, Malaysia, India, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, Brazil and the
United States. SmartTrust is privately held and its investors include The
Carlyle Group, Eqvitec Partners, GE Equity and TeliaSonera. More information is
available at www.smarttrust.com.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange