Mobitex Wireless Data Division Acquired From Ericsson
Gothenburg, Sweden (ots)
A UK investment group announces that it has today acquired the Mobitex wireless data division of Ericsson. The business, which operates from Gothenburg and has approximately 100 employees, will be known as Mobitex Technology AB.
The strengths of Mobitex technology platform will enable the new owners to establish an independent, highly focused business delivering value to serve existing and new customers in target sectors. Focus for the new owners will be the support and development of existing networks, the continuous improvement of products and services offered and the exploitation of new network opportunities where the benefits of Mobitex technology provide true market differentiation.
As part of the agreement between the companies, Mobitex Technology AB will become an Ericsson Strategic Business Partner, and will also share certain technology patents. Also as part of this agreement Mobitex hardware will continue to be manufactured under contract by Ericsson. In the immediate future the business will continue to operate from Ericsson's premises at Lindholmen, Gothenburg, before relocating to new premises before the end of 2004.
Commenting on the acquisition, Andrew Fitton, who has been appointed Chief Executive of the new company, says, "This is a very exciting development -- I have been associated with Mobitex since 1999 during which time I have seen it become increasingly successful, as the number of users employing the technology worldwide has increased 500%. The Mobitex community has unparalleled experience in wireless data, being independent will enable us to fully leverage this experience, to address markets with compelling offerings and to form new business alliances within the wireless data world. With the focus that independence will bring, I believe that Mobitex will flourish."
About Mobitex Technology AB:
Mobitex Technology AB designs, supplies and supports wireless packet switched data networks using the unique Mobitex technology which is the world leading system for dedicated wireless data. Mobitex has a number of key advantages when compared with traditional cellular technologies -- it provides a highly secure environment, the highest levels of reliability, faster data delivery and extensive seamless coverage. There are now over 30 networks worldwide and around 100 government and emergency services organisations that use Mobitex, as do 400 of the Fortune 1000 companies. Other key sectors for Mobitex are Transport and Machine-to-Machine communication (M2M). The largest Mobitex network is operated by Cingular Wireless and covers the whole of the USA. In Europe the UK national network operated by Transcomm has recently been acquired by BT plc. Please visit our website at www.mobitex.com.
About the owners:
Mobitex Technology AB is backed by UK investors and supported by Handelsbanken, the Swedish banking group. Amongst its major shareholders are Andrew C Fitton, the former Chief Executive of the UK Mobitex network operator Transcomm plc, also the former President of the worldwide Mobitex Association, and Russell Backhouse, the former Finance Director of Transcomm plc.
Contact:
Ingrid Wallgren
Mobitex Technology AB
Phone: +46/317/47-6440
E-Mail: ingrid.wallgren@ericsson.com
Internet: http://www.mobitex.com