SmartTrust and ACL Wireless partner to deliver "Wireless Instant Messaging" solution internationally

ACL Wireless Instant Messaging application now available over SmartTrust platform – delivering proven best performance and user take-up rates

(PRWEB) July 6, 2003 -- Following the successful launch of its Wireless Instant Messenger application across 11 operators in APAC and India, ACL Wireless has teamed up with SmartTrust to distribute the solution globally over the SmartTrust platform. The partnership will provide an integrated solution for mobile service providers looking to deploy Wireless Instant Messaging (WIM) services to their subscribers and leverage on the popularity that instant messaging has enjoyed on the Internet.

The WIM solution offered by SmartTrust and ACL enables mobile users to exchange instant text, photos and group messages in real time with friends on PCs or mobile phones, anywhere in the world. ACL WIM, under the service mark myChatline, works with Yahoo!, MSN and ICQ accounts as well as with operator's own WIM communities.

The ACL Wireless Instant Messenger has been successfully tested and accepted over SmartTrusts Wireless Internet Gateway (WIG) and SmartTrust WIB. Delivering ease-of-use and menu-driven navigation, the SmartTrust infrastructure controls the delivery and presentation of data services on the mobile handset, allowing users to browse their SIM menu and select applications or interact with services deployed by their operator. The first commercial launches over the SmartTrust infrastructure show service take-up amongst users to be 100% greater than the same service delivered via standard SMS.

ACL WIM is offered as a hosted multi-channel solution. Complementing the WIG/WIB channel, the application can also be provided over SMS, WAP/GPRS, J2ME and PC Clients.

Instant Messaging is expected to become a huge growth area for mobile operators, leveraging consumer demands for peer-to-peer communication. Therefore, we have partnered with ACL to offer this unique multi-channel service to our operator customers," explains Andrew Dixon, director of VAS marketing at SmartTrust.

"The partnership with ACL for the launch of Wireless Instant Messenger (WIM) reinforces our commitment to providing something new, innovative and valuable to the end-user, as well as something revenue-generating for the operator. Because our solutions allow over-the-air service deployment to entire subscriber bases, regardless of handset type, operators who have used the technology to raise the value of data services have seen rapid rises in ARPU."

Sanjay K Goyal, CEO of ACL Wireless added: "By supporting multiple generations of networks and mobile devices, SmartTrust has been a clear market leader in providing value to the end-user. Our association with SmartTrust is an important breakthrough, as it will enable us to enter the global GSM market. Furthermore, the application is expected to have a high penetration rate as it can be delivered over a variety of technologies and devices."

About SmartTrust
SmartTrust is a leading provider of infrastructure solutions designed to provide mobile subscribers with easy to use and secure personalized services. Using SmartTrusts solutions, mobile operators are able to mange and optimize both handsets and GSM/3G (U)SIM cards to deploy revenue-generating Value Added Services (VAS). Operators that have implemented SmartTrusts solutions have significantly reduced churn and increased ARPU.

More than 85 SmartTrust systems have been deployed with leading operators around the world. Customers include Vodafone UK, Vodafone D2, Telenor, SONOFON, Cosmote, MTN, Cingular Wireless, China Mobile, Airtel/Bharti Cellular, Virgin Mobile, M1 and Satelindo.

The SmartTrust CertifiedTM Partner Program includes all major SIM vendors that have licensed its technology for implementation within their cards. Over 120 million WIB-enabled SIM cards are now in circulation with SIM vendor partnerships covering 95% of the SIM card industry. The company is headquartered in Sweden with a regional presence in Finland, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Malaysia, India, China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the United States. Additional information and news on SmartTrust can be found at www.smarttrust.com

About ACL Wireless:
ACL Wireless Limited is the leading provider of a unique, consumer-centric, wireless instant messaging application to mobile operators across Asia. Founded in early 2000, ACL operates from its wireless research and development center in India with its Asia Pacific sales office in Malaysia. The company presently employs over 60 people.

ACL has successfully marketed its flagship product ACL Wireless Instant Messenger (WIM) to 11 leading mobile operators in Asia, whose combined subscriber base exceeds 16 million. Several other leading operators, with over twenty million subscribers, have evaluated ACL WIM successfully and are considering service offer to their subscribers.

For further information, please contact:
Sameer Yogi
ACL Wireless Ltd
+ 91 11 2643 8813
sameer@acl-wireless.com

Kitty Foo, SmartTrust
Regional Marketing Manager      
T +603 2731 3200
M +6012 205 8849            
kitty.foo@smarttrust.com