Sema Group Selected by ATOC for Pound 24 Million Deal With Pocket PC Solution for UK Train Operating Companies

Business Wire, Oct 12, 2000

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 12, 2000

Sema (Nasdaq: SEMA) and the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) have agreed to a new contract to replace and maintain ATOC's paper reference books with new Windows powered Pocket PCs. The Pocket PCs will eventually contain all timetables and fares for the UK rail industry; information that was previously distributed in seven manuals of approximately 12,000 pages.

Sema Group was selected due to its in-depth knowledge of managing information of this complexity and structure, information which is critical to the continued operation of a train operating company. It is also another tangible demonstration of Sema Group's delivery of highly innovative technical solutions in line with its global strategy for the transport sector.

The Pocket PCs, which each weigh only 225gms, will be available to all mobile staff such as train conductors, in one of the largest deals to date for Microsoft's new Windows powered Pocket PC in Europe. Several thousand of these units will be in service in spring 2001.

Bernard Dunn, Chairman of the Rail Settlement Plan said: "With this innovative use of new technology, rail staff will no longer need to carry large, heavy manuals in order to give information to passengers. Furthermore, passengers would have on-train access to fare and timetable information that is both accurate and up-to-date."

David Tait, Managing Director of Transport for Sema Group explained: "By providing this innovative solution, Sema Group is consolidating its close relationship with the rail industry by continued delivery of highly innovative technical solutions. This agreement demonstrates our significant edge over our competitors and illustrates our ability to develop services that deliver real value to our customers in this sector."

Annemarie Duffy, Wireless & Mobility Marketing Manager, Microsoft UK said: "Sema Group's proposal for ATOC is an example of how corporate customers are enabling business solutions on mobile devices to achieve greater efficiencies and improve customer service. Pocket PCs' tight integration with Microsoft Office and BackOffice(R) family applications coupled with the versatility of the platform, make them the ideal tools to extend Sema Group's customised transportation application into the hands of customer service personnel."

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About ATOC

The Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) is the official voice of the passenger rail industry - representing train companies to the Government and other opinion formers on transport policy issues. ATOC manages many joint activities for train operators including revenue allocation and settlement, impartial retailing, the National Rail Enquiry Service, Railcard marketing, staff travel arrangements, international products and travel agent licensing.

About Sema Group

Sema Group (London Stock Exchange: SEM, Nasdaq: SEMA, Paris Bourse: 14151) is one of the world's leading IT and business service companies with over 21,000 staff currently working across 160 sites worldwide. The Group's 1999 turnover was (pound)1.41 billion, showing a 20 percent increase compared with 1998. Turnover has more than doubled over the past five years. Sema Group works across all the main sectors of the economy, especially in telecoms, which is now its largest market following the merger with LHS Group Inc. in July 2000.

About the Pocket PC

Windows-powered Pocket PCs offer customers the best way to connect to their most essential information while away from their desk, yet are flexible enough to satisfy the personal demands of today's busy mobile lifestyle. Pocket PCs were designed to be a secure extension to the enterprise, with core security processes and technologies. They include power-on password protection and support for SSL and PCT, 40- and 128-bit encryption, CryptoAPI 1.0 and Windows 2000 challenge/response authentication.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.

Microsoft and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.