Comverse Provides Mobile Data Apps Platform To Hlj Mobile Communications - Company Business and Marketing

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, Jan 8, 2001

Comverse Network Systems, a division of Comverse Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CMVT), and the world's leading supplier of software and systems enabling network-based enhanced services, has announced that it has signed a contract with Heilongjiang Mobile Communications Co. Ltd. (HLJ MCC) to provide the company with a comprehensive mobile data applications platform.

Under the terms of the agreement, Comverse will provide short messaging service, Cell Broadcasting and an expansion of HLJ MCC's present voicemail platform. Comverse will also provide HLJ MCC's mobile subscribers new value-added services including text messages, mobile banking, location-based information services, stock transactions, weather information and flight scheduling.

"Comverse is the leader in the field of enhanced services, and this contract signifies our endorsement of Comverse's technology and services as well as the beginning of a new era of cooperation," said Xue Yequ, General Manager of HLJ MCC. "In light of China's upcoming WTO membership, we are especially pleased to be able to leverage Comverse's global experience in delivering enhanced services and its dedication to providing the best mobile Internet services."

With a customer base of 2.2 million, HLJ MCC is the one of the largest provincial mobile operators in China. HLJ MCC is a subsidiary of the China Mobile Communications Group (CMCG), the largest mobile operator in China and one of the largest mobile operators in the world.

"We are delighted that HLJ MCC has chosen Comverse's technology and solutions for its mobile data applications," said Itsik Danziger, President of Comverse. "This agreement with HLJ affirms our commitment to provide service providers with competitive differentiation to its customers in rapidly-expanding markets."

With a subscriber base of 2.2 million, HLJ MCC is one of the largest mobile operators in China. It provides mobile voice, data, and IP telephony and multimedia services. Additionally, HLJ MCC has recently been given authority to provide international networking services.

CMCG developed from the Mobile Communications Bureau (MCB) of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT), which managed the state-owned mobile communications service business in China. As part of the process of economic reform and development of market economy, MPT was restructured to become the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) in late 1998. The MCB was spun off as CMCG.

Comverse Network Systems is the world's leading provider of software and systems enabling enhanced services for wireless and wireline communications service providers with over 350 communications customers in more than 100 countries. Comverse Network Systems' software and systems enable a wide range of multimedia enhanced services, which generate revenue, provide competitive differentiation, and increase customer acquisition and retention. The services include: call answering; Internet-based unified messaging (voice, fax, and email in a single mailbox); mailbox-to-mailbox messaging; device-independent, policy-driven mobile Internet platforms, including a router-based mobile Internet gateway; wireless data and Internet-based information services; voice-controlled web portal and other natural-speech recognition-based services; prepaid wireless services; interactive voice response; virtual phone/fax; one-touch call return; personal number service; call screening/caller introduction; Internet call waiting; and other personal communications services.

Comverse Technology, Inc., headquartered in Woodbury, New York, designs, develops, manufactures and markets computer and telecommunications systems and software for communications and information processing applications. In addition to its Network Systems Division, Comverse's operations include: Comverse Infosys, which provides: multiple channel, multimedia digital recording, logging, and quality monitoring systems marketed to call centers, financial institutions and other organizations, and multiple channel, multimedia digital monitoring systems marketed to law enforcement and intelligence agencies; and Ulticom, which is a leading provider of network signaling software for wireless, wireline, and Internet communication services. Comverse Technology is an S&P 500 and NASDAQ-100 Index company.