Followap to Commercially Launch Mobile Instant Messaging (MIM) Services for Omnitel Vodafone


 
New York, NY. – May 21, 2002 – Followap™, the leading provider of end-to-end mobile messaging and presence solutions for mobile operators, and Omnitel Vodafone, one of the largest mobile carriers in the world and part of the Vodafone group, today announced that Omnitel has launched Followap’s Mobile Instant Messaging (MIM) solutions to offer their subscribers cutting-edge mobile messaging services.

Followap’s product iFollow™ is now installed in Omnitel’s network, extending their messaging capabilities to a full-featured MIM system that will attract new subscribers and boost revenues.
Customized and branded by Omnitel Vodafone, iFollow enables more than 18 million Omnitel subscribers to form wireless communities, locate and communicate with their friends by using mobile phones, PCs, PDAs and other wireless and internet-based devices.”

The launch of these services by Omnitel Vodafone is another important endorsement of Followap’s MIM technology.” said Tommy Volsen, COO of Followap. “The messaging market is expected to grow significantly over the next few years, and we will continue to work closely with Omnitel Vodafone to provide their subscribers with the most advanced technologies and services available in the market”.

About Followap
Followap is a leading provider of advanced, end-to-end, mobile messaging and presence solutions, encompassing distributed server platforms and a wide range of messaging clients and applications. Followap’s flagship platform, iFollow, was selected by the Vodafone Group as the Mobile Instant Messaging platform for Vodafone operators. Followap is committed to enabling Mobile Operators to offer advanced messaging services by continuously introducing innovative, carrier-grade messaging and Presence products. 

About Omnitel Vodafone
Omnitel Vodafone, the private mobile telephone operator, has been present in the Italian market since December 1995. From the outset, Omnitel stood out for its innovative approach, which made it a driving force for change in the Italian telecommunications sector, both from a commercial point of view and with regard to the communications services on offer.

Omnitel placed the customer at the centre of every activity and initiative, developing a new Customer Relationship Management Model, based on themes linked to innovation, development and progress.

Having become part of the Vodafone Group, the world’s biggest mobile telecommunications group, as of April 2000 Omnitel now boasts about 18 million subscribers, 8 operational call centres spread around the country. The GSM network covers 97% of Italy, representing 99.4% of the population, as does the GPRS network, which was completed at the end of 2000. Omnitel currently has international roaming agreements with 163 countries.