Equant to Deliver with UMS Worlds First Multi-Channel Alert System
Announcement posted by Equant 04 May 2005
Equants international reach, integrated platform and consultancy services crucial
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) has been selected by UMS, a leading Nordic unified messaging service provider, to deliver the worlds first multi-channel alert system to national authorities and businesses.
Equant will host UMS platform across Oslo and deliver a global voice network for an integrated alert system allowing entities to inform and evacuate a mass audience rapidly and effectively. Equant will provide worldwide Internet access to UMS Web page supported by a 24-hour helpdesk in London. Also, UMS will use Equant Contact Center, a highly flexible, international, inbound call-management service that allows users to call local phone numbers for information and support in all markets.
UMS selected Equant based on Equants international reach, integrated platform and consultancy services. In particular, Equants hosted platform and voice network meets the highest standards for data security as well as physical infrastructure.
The relationship with Equant is crucial to UMS growth strategy by providing the hosted platform and communication infrastructure that enables us to expand our business internationally, said Kjell Heen, CEO, UMS. With Equants hosting solution, we will be able to deliver the population alert systems on a highly secure and reliable global platform, which is managed both globally and locally by Equant.
We are experiencing an increasing need for public emergency response tools, said Heen. In addition, he predicts a significant growth in the unified messaging market over the next few years.
UMS communications system enables authorities and businesses to send a single message to a mass audience through voice and SMS, or short message service. Using a response function, a large group of people over a specified geographical area can request more information or respond. The authorities have access to an online map, which specifies the geographic area they wish to address. In this way, they can convey their message to thousands of people via multiple channels within minutes.
UMS currently has offices in Oslo and Copenhagen and serves 80-plus customers, including national response units and emergency services. The Swedish electricity corporation Vattenfall uses UMS system in case of a power failure. In Norway, the Red Cross uses UMS system in the event of missing children, avalanches, skiing or climbing accidents. The Directorate of Civil Preparedness and the fire brigade also make use of the warning methods also. In Denmark, the police have just agreed to test the system as part of their early warning system.
This is a strong example of how a niche service company can reach a global audience by partnering with an international communications provider, said John Conlan, managing director, Equant Nordic. This is a clear case of business-enabling where we handle the platform and manage the global infrastructure, so that UMS can focus on developing the functionality and approaching new clients.
About UMS
Unified Messaging Systems (UMS) is a Norwegian software company that develops and distributes communications solutions. Since its establishment in 1997, UMS has pioneered the development of advanced message handling systems and now offers complete solutions for business and industry that are designed to increase efficiency, accessibility and mobility. The company distributes its solutions through its own sales organisations in Norway and Denmark and also has agents in Norway and the rest of the world.
About Equant
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) is a recognised industry leader in global communications services for multinational businesses. Equant combines its network expertise with its expanded services capabilities to provide global, integrated and customised communication services to enable its customers key business processes. Equant serves thousands of the worlds top companies, with the industrys most extensive portfolio of communications services and network solutions, including the market-leading IP VPN used by nearly 1,300 global businesses. Equant, a subsidiary of France Telecom, consistently leads industry surveys in corporate user satisfaction.
Equant will host UMS platform across Oslo and deliver a global voice network for an integrated alert system allowing entities to inform and evacuate a mass audience rapidly and effectively. Equant will provide worldwide Internet access to UMS Web page supported by a 24-hour helpdesk in London. Also, UMS will use Equant Contact Center, a highly flexible, international, inbound call-management service that allows users to call local phone numbers for information and support in all markets.
UMS selected Equant based on Equants international reach, integrated platform and consultancy services. In particular, Equants hosted platform and voice network meets the highest standards for data security as well as physical infrastructure.
The relationship with Equant is crucial to UMS growth strategy by providing the hosted platform and communication infrastructure that enables us to expand our business internationally, said Kjell Heen, CEO, UMS. With Equants hosting solution, we will be able to deliver the population alert systems on a highly secure and reliable global platform, which is managed both globally and locally by Equant.
We are experiencing an increasing need for public emergency response tools, said Heen. In addition, he predicts a significant growth in the unified messaging market over the next few years.
UMS communications system enables authorities and businesses to send a single message to a mass audience through voice and SMS, or short message service. Using a response function, a large group of people over a specified geographical area can request more information or respond. The authorities have access to an online map, which specifies the geographic area they wish to address. In this way, they can convey their message to thousands of people via multiple channels within minutes.
UMS currently has offices in Oslo and Copenhagen and serves 80-plus customers, including national response units and emergency services. The Swedish electricity corporation Vattenfall uses UMS system in case of a power failure. In Norway, the Red Cross uses UMS system in the event of missing children, avalanches, skiing or climbing accidents. The Directorate of Civil Preparedness and the fire brigade also make use of the warning methods also. In Denmark, the police have just agreed to test the system as part of their early warning system.
This is a strong example of how a niche service company can reach a global audience by partnering with an international communications provider, said John Conlan, managing director, Equant Nordic. This is a clear case of business-enabling where we handle the platform and manage the global infrastructure, so that UMS can focus on developing the functionality and approaching new clients.
About UMS
Unified Messaging Systems (UMS) is a Norwegian software company that develops and distributes communications solutions. Since its establishment in 1997, UMS has pioneered the development of advanced message handling systems and now offers complete solutions for business and industry that are designed to increase efficiency, accessibility and mobility. The company distributes its solutions through its own sales organisations in Norway and Denmark and also has agents in Norway and the rest of the world.
About Equant
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) is a recognised industry leader in global communications services for multinational businesses. Equant combines its network expertise with its expanded services capabilities to provide global, integrated and customised communication services to enable its customers key business processes. Equant serves thousands of the worlds top companies, with the industrys most extensive portfolio of communications services and network solutions, including the market-leading IP VPN used by nearly 1,300 global businesses. Equant, a subsidiary of France Telecom, consistently leads industry surveys in corporate user satisfaction.