Telia Aquires Mobile Portal Halebop

Business Wire, August 31, 2001

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 31, 2001

Telia aquires mobile portal Halebop and streamlines its mobile portal operations in the Nordic countries. The Halebop portal today has a customer base with over 800,000 registered users.

Telia is streamlining its operations and maintenance of its mobile portals in the Nordic countries by creating a joint technical platform. "Considerable synergy effects will be made with the joint technical platform," says Kenneth Karlberg Senior Executive Vice President of Telia Group and head of the Telia Mobile Business area.

Telia aquires Halebop from Drutt Corporation via a transfer of owner shares. Telia has until now had an owner share of 40% in Drutt Corporation of which 15% is now transferred to Drutt Corporation. Telia remains as a minority owner in Drutt Corporation with 25%. "Telia is strongly focusing on the Nordic market and will by this get access to Halebop's considerable customer base," Kenneth Karlberg continues.

Halebop consists of a Swedish company, Halebop AB with five employees and a Norwegian company, Halebop AS with three employees. The businesses will continue as separate legal units under the Halebop trademark. Kent Jonsson, today head of Sales & Marketing at Speedy Tomato, has been appointed acting head of Halebop.

"We are proud of what Halebop has accomplished and to hand it over to Telia. Drutt Corporation will now focus on the core business, i e to develop and deliver mobile technology solutions to network operators and larger companies of which Telia and Halebop will continue to be important customers," says Roland Svensson, CEO, Drutt Corporation.

About Halebop

Halebop is an independent mobile portal, providing end users with mobile services offered by partners wishing to reach a mobile audience. The trademark is owned by Telia. On the end user side Halebop aims to be the starting point and home for mobile services. On the partner side Halebop offers the best distribution platform and competence for mobile services. Halebop's services work independent of mobile operator, and independent of device and access technology. Halebop is a result of several years of co-operation between Telia AB and Oracle Corp. At www.halebop.com you will find a large spectrum of advanced mobile services, and the services are available to everyone.

About Telia

Telia is the leading Nordic communications company challenging technology to liberate you in life and business. In 2000, Telia's sales totalled SEK 54,064 million and the number of employees was 29,868. Telia is quoted on the A-list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange.

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