World première for sending hand-written messages by mobile phone

4/17/2002 6:04 AM EST

Vodafone in Sweden will be the first operator in the world to offer its
customers the possibility of sending hand-written texts or sketches
digitally via mobile phones as e-mail, SMS or faxes. The service is
called Vodafone Notera and will be launched 22 April in association with
Anoto, Sony Ericsson, Esselte and 3M.

Memos, letters, directions, phone numbers, declarations of love, indeed
anything that people generally scribble down on paper, can now be sent
digitally as e-mail, SMS or fax using the Vodafone Notera service.

"We are delighted to be able to launch Anoto's fantastic invention.
Vodafone Notera is a pure GPRS service with tremendous potential, since
it brings a whole new dimension to wireless communication. Basically,
anyone who currently uses pen, paper and mobile phones or computers can
use this service. There are also major development possibilities for the
future," says Jon Risfelt, President and CEO of Vodafone in Sweden.

Pen and paper remain one of our most important tools in formulating
ideas and thoughts. Using Vodafone Notera, Sony Ericsson's digital
Chatpen and digital paper, it will be simple - not to mention fun - to
share your thoughts and ideas with others anywhere, any time.

You simply use the digital pen to sketch or write on regular paper with
a special pattern of dots. The pen uses the pattern to scan what you
have written. All you have to do then is fill in the e-mail address,
telephone or fax number on the paper, tick the box and the message will
be sent to the correct address via your mobile phone.

Vodafone will initially be launching four basic Vodafone Notera services
linked to Chatpen and the digital paper with Anoto functionality: Notera
SMS, Notera E-mail, Notera Fax and Notera Notes, services that will
allow users to send their hand-written messages via these channels and
also store the messages in their own computers.

Requirements for using the Vodafone Notera services:
· A Vodafone subscription. Vodafone is the only operator
currently offering these services. For Vodafone customers, Vodafone
Notera is available as a supplementary service.
· A Sony Ericsson Chatpen. This is a digital pen with Anoto
functionality that you use to write with and transfer the information to
your mobile phone.
· A Sony Ericsson mobile phone with Bluetooth function. The phone
receives the information from Chatpen and sends it on. The mobile phone
models that support this technology are T68i, T68, T39 and R520.
· Paper with Anoto functionality, i.e. paper with the special
pattern of dots. It comes in 2 different designs: Post-It format (for e-
mail and graphic SMS) and notebook format (for e-mail and fax).

Subscriptions, Chatpens and digital paper will be available at all
Vodafone stores. The services and products will be sold both in package
form and separately. Digital paper with Anoto functionality will also be
sold at a number of stores in Sweden that ate part of the Svanströms
office supplies chain.

Prices for Vodafone Notera services (including VAT):
Start-up package with Chatpen, charger and paper Approx. SEK
2,900
Start-up package including SonyEricsson T68i (price
depending on subscription form) SEK 5,900 -
6,600
Connection fee for Vodafone Notera (connection
free of charge until 31 May) SEK 120
Monthly fee SEK 49
Service fee for each SMS, fax or e-mail sent SEK 2.45
Volume fee (traffic fee):
E-mail or fax SEK 0.05/kb
Graphic SMS to Vodafone customers SEK 1.25 each
Graphic SMS to other operators' customers SEK 3.70 each

Price examples (recommended price, service fee +
volume fee) to send:
Short fax or short e-mail (Post-It, 10kb) SEK 2.95 each
Fax or e-mail, approx. A5 (15 kb) SEK 3.20 each
Graphic SMS to Vodafone customers SEK 3.70 each

Press photos are available for publication free of charge and can be
downloaded from www.anotofunctionality.com

Fore more information, please contact:
Johan Holmgren, Director Public Relations
Tel.: + 46 708 33 14 00, e-post:  
Nils Carlsson, Head of Product Marketing Management
Tel.: +46 709 43 18, e-mail:  



Vodafone is the world's largest mobile network and is represented in 28
countries on 5 continents. It has more than 200 million mobile telecom
users. Our services enhance the efficiency of companies' operations and
make it simpler and more fun for people to communicate. Vodafone is
represented in Sweden by Europolitan Holdings AB and its subsidiaries,
Vodafone Sverige AB and Vodafone Stores AB. Europolitan Holdings AB is
listed on Attract 40 on the Stockholm Stock Exchange's O list. The
majority shareholder is Vodafone Group Plc, which owns 71 per cent of
the shares, while private shareholders, investment companies and pension
funds own the remaining 29 per cent. Read more at www.vodafone.se and
www.vodafone.com.