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The Tour de France Is Coming to a Cell Phone Near You
URL(s): NMS Communications
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Jul 11, 2002 -- Thousands of mobile cell phone users in France are getting up-to-the-minute Tour de France updates via their cell phones. Cegetel, France's second largest wireless operator, is offering the service through its SFR subsidiary. SFR simultaneously broadcasts brief text updates, which appear on customers' phone screen displays with a phone number to call to hear more detailed event information. After they call in, the mobile service customers have a "conversation" with the voice-activated system to get the race specifics they want. This first-ever service is based on NMS Communications' NMS HearSay system that offers the pre-integrated wireless voice and data technologies for SFR to deploy the service rapidly and efficiently.
Cell broadcasting allows text messages to be simultaneously broadcast to mobile phones and other wireless devices within a designated geographical area. Cell broadcast messages can only convey a limited amount of information, but a voice-access service such as that made possible by NMS HearSay enables the mobile phone users to obtain more detailed information.
As a subsidiary of Cegetel, the second largest telecommunications provider in France, SFR provides wireless phone services to more than 12 million customers throughout the country. Network coverage extends to 98 percent of the population, 94 percent of the road network, and 82 percent of France. In addition to its core mobile services, SFR offers weather forecasts, taxi reservations, a Paris guide, and exchange rate information for callers.
"As one of the top mobile operators in France, Groupe Cegetel's SFR subsidiary understands the importance of cost-effectively offering innovative value-added services to its mobile users to stay competitive. They are exploiting new technologies such as cell broadcast to bring customers closer to important events such as the Tour de France. NMS HearSay is the ideal choice for enhanced voice services such as this," said Brian Demers, vice president and general manager of NMS' Network Solutions business.
About NMS Communications
NMS Communications (NASDAQ: NMSS) designs, delivers, and supports technology-leading systems and system building blocks for innovative voice, video, and data services on wireless and wireline networks. NMS products and services help the world's top communications equipment suppliers, solution developers, and wireless operators bring their applications and services to market faster and at lower costs.
Headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, and with offices around the world, NMS has a rich history of technology innovations that advance the growth of the global communications industry. These achievements include the only voice quality enhancement software pairing noise reduction and compensation to create an optimal listening environment for both parties in a mobile phone conversation, the world's first complete open IP gateway, the first complete open packet media server, and the first complete open solution for voice applications and services. Visit www.nmscommunications.com for more information.
CONTACT: NMS Communications
Anne Nason, 508-271-1444
anne.nason@nmss.com
or
CHEN PR, Inc.
Betsey Rogers, 781-466-8282 x38
brogers@chenpr.com
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