Equant Is First Global Solutions Provider To Launch GPRS Access For VPN Customers
Announcement posted by Equant 15 May 2003
Equants GPRS Access service will interconnect with mobile operators in Belgium, France, the United Kingdom and Russia, with further rollouts planned during 2003
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU), a recognized industry leader in global data and IP services for multinational businesses, is the first global solutions provider to enable customers to securely connect remote or travelling employees to their corporate VPNs via GPRS access.
Equant has launched General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Access as part of its global Data and VPN services portfolio, giving corporations an alternative to fixed remote access. With GPRS Access, travelling employees can connect securely to their networks when a phone line is not available. Because GPRS (2.5G) is packet-based, versus circuit-switched 2G services, it offers improved bandwidth and suitability for mobile data users.
Equants GPRS Access service provides real business benefits, and the key differentiators include:
Easy-to-use end-user interface (Equant Access Companion) available through different devices for always-in-touch capabilities for key staff.
High security and good quality of service through direct interconnections with mobile operators.
Simple implementation, requiring no customer VPN infrastructure changes.
Seamless services across different countries for roaming and non-roaming users.
Speaking at Equants sixth annual Connect customer conference in Barcelona, Arjen Maarleveld, president of Products at Equant, said: Being in touch is a critical part of modern business. Through GPRS Access, our customers can easily access their business systems, even when they are on the move. This enables them to be more responsive in serving their clients, helping to improve customer satisfaction and retention, while differentiating them from their competitors.
Equant is working with leading mobile service providers, including Orange, to create a range of complete business communications services. Equant will leverage its leading position in global IP and data services with Oranges expertise in wirefree communications. Harnessing the potential of the FT Group synergies and Oranges leading position in Europe as one of the largest wirefree providers, both companies will link fixed-line and mobile environments in a coordinated approach that will significantly enhance customer remote access capabilities.
Philippe Bernard, vice president of Orange Business, said: Providing our customers with customer friendly wirefree communication services is key to our growth. We are looking forward to working closely with Equant to provide our business customers with an integrated and advanced mobile data solution to enhance their remote access capabilities. We will first provide this service in Belgium, France and the United Kingdom before looking at rolling it out in our other markets in the near future.
Equants GPRS Access is currently available to multinational corporations using Equants industry-leading VPN solutions. At launch, the service will interconnect with mobile operators in Belgium, France, the United Kingdom and Russia. Equant is planning to extend the service to other major markets throughout 2003. This will further enhance Equants Remote Access portfolio, which provides seamless capabilities such as user interface and security across the different access methods. Equants Remote Access portfolio also includes Equants IP Dial and GSM Dial.
About Equant
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) is a recognized industry leader in global data and IP network and integration services for multinational businesses. The Equant network has unmatched seamless reach, connecting key business centers in 220 countries and territories, with local support in 191 countries. Building on more than 50 years of experience in data communications, Equant serves thousands of the worlds top companies with the industrys most extensive portfolio of managed network services, including the market-leading IP VPN used by 800 global businesses as of May 13, 2003. Equant, a member of the France Telecom Group, was named Best Global Carrier 2002 at the World Communication Awards and consistently leads industry surveys in corporate user satisfaction.
About Orange
Orange and wirefree are trademarks of Orange PCS. The Orange group is one of the worlds largest mobile communications companies, with operations in 20 countries across Europe and beyond. It provides a broad range of personal communications services, including Orange GSM1800 services and other digital cellular telephone services. The Orange brand operates in the UK, France, Switzerland, Romania, Denmark, Slovakia, Thailand, the Ivory Coast, the Dominican Republic, Cameroon, the Netherlands and Botswana. The Orange group also has controlled operations in Belgium (Mobistar) and Madagascar (SMM) and intends to launch an Orange operation in Luxembourg. The Orange group has a joint controlling interest in Egypt (MobiNil) and minority interests in Portugal (Optimus), Austria (Connect Austria), and Mumbai/India (BPL Mobile). As at the end of December 2002, Orange was the largest mobile operator in both the UK with 13.3 million active customers, and France with 19.2 million registered customers. Orange controlled companies have 44.9million customers worldwide. Further information about Orange can be found on the Orange website at www.orange.com.
Equant has launched General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Access as part of its global Data and VPN services portfolio, giving corporations an alternative to fixed remote access. With GPRS Access, travelling employees can connect securely to their networks when a phone line is not available. Because GPRS (2.5G) is packet-based, versus circuit-switched 2G services, it offers improved bandwidth and suitability for mobile data users.
Equants GPRS Access service provides real business benefits, and the key differentiators include:
Easy-to-use end-user interface (Equant Access Companion) available through different devices for always-in-touch capabilities for key staff.
High security and good quality of service through direct interconnections with mobile operators.
Simple implementation, requiring no customer VPN infrastructure changes.
Seamless services across different countries for roaming and non-roaming users.
Speaking at Equants sixth annual Connect customer conference in Barcelona, Arjen Maarleveld, president of Products at Equant, said: Being in touch is a critical part of modern business. Through GPRS Access, our customers can easily access their business systems, even when they are on the move. This enables them to be more responsive in serving their clients, helping to improve customer satisfaction and retention, while differentiating them from their competitors.
Equant is working with leading mobile service providers, including Orange, to create a range of complete business communications services. Equant will leverage its leading position in global IP and data services with Oranges expertise in wirefree communications. Harnessing the potential of the FT Group synergies and Oranges leading position in Europe as one of the largest wirefree providers, both companies will link fixed-line and mobile environments in a coordinated approach that will significantly enhance customer remote access capabilities.
Philippe Bernard, vice president of Orange Business, said: Providing our customers with customer friendly wirefree communication services is key to our growth. We are looking forward to working closely with Equant to provide our business customers with an integrated and advanced mobile data solution to enhance their remote access capabilities. We will first provide this service in Belgium, France and the United Kingdom before looking at rolling it out in our other markets in the near future.
Equants GPRS Access is currently available to multinational corporations using Equants industry-leading VPN solutions. At launch, the service will interconnect with mobile operators in Belgium, France, the United Kingdom and Russia. Equant is planning to extend the service to other major markets throughout 2003. This will further enhance Equants Remote Access portfolio, which provides seamless capabilities such as user interface and security across the different access methods. Equants Remote Access portfolio also includes Equants IP Dial and GSM Dial.
About Equant
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) is a recognized industry leader in global data and IP network and integration services for multinational businesses. The Equant network has unmatched seamless reach, connecting key business centers in 220 countries and territories, with local support in 191 countries. Building on more than 50 years of experience in data communications, Equant serves thousands of the worlds top companies with the industrys most extensive portfolio of managed network services, including the market-leading IP VPN used by 800 global businesses as of May 13, 2003. Equant, a member of the France Telecom Group, was named Best Global Carrier 2002 at the World Communication Awards and consistently leads industry surveys in corporate user satisfaction.
About Orange
Orange and wirefree are trademarks of Orange PCS. The Orange group is one of the worlds largest mobile communications companies, with operations in 20 countries across Europe and beyond. It provides a broad range of personal communications services, including Orange GSM1800 services and other digital cellular telephone services. The Orange brand operates in the UK, France, Switzerland, Romania, Denmark, Slovakia, Thailand, the Ivory Coast, the Dominican Republic, Cameroon, the Netherlands and Botswana. The Orange group also has controlled operations in Belgium (Mobistar) and Madagascar (SMM) and intends to launch an Orange operation in Luxembourg. The Orange group has a joint controlling interest in Egypt (MobiNil) and minority interests in Portugal (Optimus), Austria (Connect Austria), and Mumbai/India (BPL Mobile). As at the end of December 2002, Orange was the largest mobile operator in both the UK with 13.3 million active customers, and France with 19.2 million registered customers. Orange controlled companies have 44.9million customers worldwide. Further information about Orange can be found on the Orange website at www.orange.com.