Instant and mobile messaging developer and service provider, 1rstWAP, and Logica, the world leader in Mobile Messaging, today announced a new partnership, to provide branded mobile community messaging facilities to network operators, consumers and corporate clients, including event organizers, media companies and other organizations. 1rstWAP already provides these services to mobile operators, and has just signed a deal to provide China Unicom’s 35 million subscribers with community messaging capabilities.

An important initiative for both 1rstWAP and Logica, this move sees 1rstWAP services become a more intrinsic part of Logica’s recently launched Global Interconnect Network, a groundbreaking solution that changes the face of SMS communication. Logica’s Global Interconnect Network increases the global reach of an operator’s SMS services, and vastly simplifies inter-operator SMS charging, which is an ideal synergy for 1rstWAP’s community messaging services which have the ability to work globally and operate across mobile and web-based technologies. 1rstWAP’s community messaging services can be launched very quickly and with no up-front capital outlay.

Together with 1rstWAP, Logica will be providing new services over mobile phones, PDAs and PCs such as instant messaging, chat, news alerts and email. New online communities can be established very quickly and easily in minutes, and can be fully customized to the community owner’s brand. This is useful for example when a company wants to set up a community messaging facility for separate products it sells, or in a sporting event like the World Cup, where communities for each country, or even player can be established. Content for the communities can be added very simply and broadcast to all members of the community by email, SMS or instant messaging, according to the users’ content and delivery preferences.

Users become members of such communities when mobile by SMS or at the desk, by logging on to a dedicated web site. Once registered they can send emails or messages to mobile devices from the site, or use their mobile device to engage in instant messaging discussions and keep up to date with news concerning the communities of which they are members. Members of these communities can be ‘always on’ and participate whether they are mobile with SMS or WAP, or sitting at the PC.

“Using Logica’s Global Interconnect Network for applications services is an obvious extension of our recognized leadership in the mobile messaging sphere,” commented Gerry McKenna, CEO of Logica Mobile Networks. “This partnership with 1rstWAP is an important one as it demonstrates that our advanced solutions have many potential applications and can help mobile operators and service providers derive increased revenue from their platforms.”

“The applications of the 1rstWAP platform in heterogeneous network environments will be tremendously boosted by the active support of Logica, an industry force with over 200 telecom customers,” said 1rstWAP CEO Josef Fuchs, commenting on the synergy between Logica and 1rstWAP.

“1rstWAP white-labeled applications can be widely leveraged by Logica’s clients and partners to quickly generate new revenue streams for them,” he added.

At the 3GSM World Congress, in Cannes on 19-22 February 2002, parts of the 1rstWAP platform will be demonstrated at the Logica stand, B20.

About 1rstWAP

With offices in Vienna and Jakarta, 1rstWAP has developed a robust global instant and mobile messaging platform. The company, founded in 1999, is a wireless ASP providing an integrated communication platform and branded portals in four languages which bring together the internet and mobile worlds for consumers with PCs, mobile phones and PDAs.

Popular 1rstWAP applications include instant message and SMS email notifications, SMS reply to PC, Community Building, Multi-mode News and Alert delivery and Multimedia Messaging. 1rstWAP operates its own grid of eight SMSCs, and its coverage in over 130 countries through 500 telecom operators is truly global. Customers include Mobilkom Liechtenstein, Indosat, Telkomsel, MobilTel, Unicom, MCM and several media companies.

About Logica

Logica (LOG.L) is a leading global solutions company providing management and IT consultancy, systems integration, products, services and support. Logica’s clients operate across diverse markets including telecoms, financial services, energy and utilities, industry, distribution and transport and the public sector. The company has over 11,500 staff in 34 countries worldwide. Founded in 1969, Logica is listed on the London Stock Exchange where it is part of the FTSE100 index of the largest UK listed companies. More information can be found at www.logica.com.

For more information about this press release or for images and artwork, please contact public_relations@1rstwap.com


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