The News

Sonatel Mobiles Launches USSD Browsing from Cellicium

19/10/2006

USSD ‘Magik portal’ attracts strong mass market customer uptake immediately after launch

3G Africa, CAPE TOWN, South Africa and PARIS, France - October 19, 2006 – Cellicium™, an Esmertec™ company, today announced the successful implementation and adoption of its leading USSD  Browsing solution by Sonatel Mobiles, Senegal’s mobile telecommunications service provider.  Marketed under the name ‘Magik portal’, USSD Browsing has attracted usage in September 2006 of over 7 million sessions by Sonatel Mobiles’ one million subscribers, only one month after the launch of the service.

“Our strong customer uptake of services can best be explained by USSD Browsing’s easy access and user-friendly navigation,” commented Sonatel Mobiles’ Products and Services Manager Laurent-Marie Kiba.  “This has significantly increased user traffic of our Value Added Services (VAS) and created strong mobile user stickiness, distinguishing Sonatel Mobiles from its competitors.”

By dialing a simple, easy-to-remember code (#121#), subscribers enter the USSD ‘Magic Portal’ and are invited to explore a wide-variety of services, including ‘Please Call Me’, email access over USSD, news, infotainment, logo/ringtone downloads, etc.  While access to the browsing menu is free for all Sonatel Mobiles’ customers, both prepaid and subscription-based, users are charged minimal fees for certain value-added content such as logos and ringtones, generating additional revenue for the operator.  During Ramadan, subscribers can also benefit from free information on prayer hours.

“We are truly pleased with the success of Magik Portal,” said Sébastien Desquilbet, VP Product Line Management of Esmertec’s Mobile Operator Segment and CEO of Cellicium.  “The high usage of the interactive data portal by the mass market proves that mobile phone users in Senegal, as well as in the rest of the world, are ready to use their mobile handset for more than just voice and SMS services.  Sonatel Mobiles has done an excellent job of developing an advanced USSD menu with useful services like Cellicium’s Email over USSD application, tailored to the end consumers’ needs.”

As with all of Cellicium’s USSD solutions, the USSD ‘Magik Portal’ is accessible from virtually all handsets without requiring any end-user upgrades or configurations.

To learn more about USSD Browsing, visit Cellicium at Booth C10 at the 3G Africa event from 19 to 20 October at CAPE TOWN, South Africa.

About Cellicium
Cellicium, a wholly owned subsidiary of Esmertec, is recognized for its proven experience in providing major wireless operators with powerful USSD Browsing services.  Cellicium delivers a carrier-grade USSD Browsing solution that enables value-added and self-care services to the mass market, while opening a new channel for marketing.  With a strong commitment to innovation and quality service, Cellicium's open and flexible products bring operators the reactivity and expertise needed to ensure success.  Cellicium's customers are mobile operators servicing millions of subscribers around the globe.  Cellicium’s products are Esmertec’s Mobile Operator segment’s core product line. www.cellicium.com

About Esmertec
Esmertec is a focused provider of software and services to communications device manufacturers and mobile telecom operators.  The company provides software platforms that enable the deployment of content and applications in devices and over servers.  Customers include mobile telecom operators and manufacturers of mobile handsets, set-top boxes and interactive televisions.  Esmertec's software and service capabilities excel with its reliability as well as fast and local execution.  Founded in 1999, Esmertec is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland with subsidiaries in China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the USA, and offices in Taiwan and the UK.  Esmertec is listed since 2005 on the SWX Swiss Exchange (ESMN). 

Media Contact:
Esmertec AG and Cellicium SA
Leng Stricker-Wong
Phone +41 44 823 8918
lstricker@esmertec.com

Cellicium is a trademark of Cellicium S.A. Esmertec is a trademark of Esmertec AG.