Followap Selected for 3 Scandinavia’s Instant Messaging Service; Delivering End-to-End Service to Provide 3 Scandinavia Customers with Mobile Instant Messaging

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–July 4, 2006–Followap, the leading provider of Instant Messaging and Presence solutions, today announced that it is has been selected to power the mobile Instant Messaging service to 3 Scandinavia’s network

Followap will provide 3 with end-to-end support for 3’s MSN Messenger using Followap’s iFollow MMG (Mobile Messaging Gateway), as well as an array of pre-loaded and downloadable clients for 3G mobile phones.

“3’s choice of technology partner proves Followap’s ability and commitment to helping operators provide innovative services to subscribers. The mobile IM platform will open up mobile and internet communities and further demonstrates how the worlds of mobile, media and communications are converging rapidly.”


Johan Othelius, 3 Nordic Marketing Director said: “This latest step is part of our continued effort to offer our customers a choice of value added instant messaging services. Our customers have expressed an interest in using MSN on their mobile phones, and we wanted to meet their needs. Followap was chosen for its expertise in delivering specialised mobile instant messaging solutions.”

The service initially includes a gateway and an advanced rich instant messenger preloaded mobile software client which provides a PC-like IM experience and will be available on a variety of mobile phones. The client allows subscribers to communicate with PC users while on the move, and see the presence status of their MSN Messenger contacts.

Simon Brown, Followap’s VP Sales and Customer Operations commented: “3’s choice of technology partner proves Followap’s ability and commitment to helping operators provide innovative services to subscribers. The mobile IM platform will open up mobile and internet communities and further demonstrates how the worlds of mobile, media and communications are converging rapidly.”

About Followap

Followap is the leading provider of Instant Messaging and Presence solutions to the telecommunications industry. Pioneering this field, Followap’s customer base consists today of over 20 network operators, many of them tier-one operators, with a combined user base of over 200 million users. Followap’s products enable operators to establish advanced, interoperable presence-enhanced services, whilst also creating the infrastructure for next-generation networks. Followap supports and contributes to industry standardization efforts in forums including OMA, IETF, and the GSM Association. For additional information please visit Followap’s web site at www.followap.com.

About 3 Group

A division of Hutchison Whampoa, the 3 Group together with Hutchison Telecommunications International, is the leading global player in the 3G arena, holding licences in 10 markets with total population coverage of approximately 175 million. In less than three years, the 3 Group has built an entirely new network, achieving probably the fastest rollout of a radio network in the entire telecom industry. Marketed globally under the 3 brand, the group is also the first operator in the world to provide dual-mode 3G services.

To date, commercial 3G services has been launched in Italy, the UK, Australia, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Hong Kong, Israel and the Republic of Ireland. For more information about 3, please visit www.three.com

In Scandinavia, 3 is a joint venture between Hutchison-Whampoa (60%) and Investor AB (40%). 3 is the leading 3G operator in Sweden and in Denmark. The company also holds a license for Norway. For more information on 3 Scandinavia, please visit www.tre.se