Aspiro saves SEK 50-60 m a year as of the fourth quarter

Aspiro saves SEK 50-60 m a year as of the fourth quarter Aspiro's consolidation program, which implies large cost savings for the company, is now completed. A restructuring of the organization and negotiations with the unions have resulted in 57 persons leaving the company. After that, Aspiro consists of 68 employees at six offices. Within three months, 57 persons will leave Aspiro, which will after that consist of 68 employees. The new Aspiro is a more focused and slimmed organization than before, while capacity and competence is more or less maintained. The consolidation program involved an overhaul of the entire organization. All functions; production, sales and administration, have been equally affected. Some offices, though, have been more affected by cut-down on staff than others. The development department in Karlskrona has been able to be reduced since the launch of the new version of technical platform. The new platform simplifies the development work and hence the efficiency within development and delivery with approximately 50 percent. The sales force in Luxembourg has been reduced after Aspiro's strategy of sales via resellers and concentration on key customers. Additionally, Advox' products and services have been sold. No offices will be totally closed down, as earlier communicated. The international presence is viewed upon as too important for Aspiro's sales activities. Aspiro has, however, cut down on a number of office managers and will sublet office space at all its offices. Larger office spaces will be let in Karlskrona, Stockholm and Luxembourg. Today, Aspiro works in focused business areas with own sales- and result responsibilities. Out of Aspiro's staff of 68, 55 employees are working within the business areas and 13 employees are working with central functions such as management, finance, law, information, marketing and internal IT. The business areas are : - Consumer Applications Provides services to operators, 26 employees, whereof three working with development of Aspiro's own portal for mobile services. - Corporate Solutions Provides corporate applications such as Fleet Manager, nine employees. - SMS / Communities Provides SMS traffic to communities, Internet portals and other organizations, four employees. - Mobile TextPhone Provides a mobile phone service for hearing impaired, three employees. - NEW! Technology / Platform Provides platform solutions to e.g. operators, 13 employees. The activities are run at six offices: 27 people in Malmö, 14 in Karlskrona, 13 in Stockholm, nine in Luxembourg, three in San Francisco and two in Oslo. The full effects of the cost saving program on the results will be presented in Aspiro's interim report for the third quarter, which will be published on the 13th of November 2001. Today, at two o'clock pm (CET), Lena Wittbjer, CEO of Aspiro, will hold a telephone press conference. To attend the conference, please dial +46- 8-50050050. (a recording of the conference will be available during the next coming seven days on telephone number +46-8-598 090 00, after that dial 50050050 and then 010917). For more information, please contact: Lena Wittbjer, CEO, Aspiro AB, tel: +46 40 630 03 00 Helena Gynnerstedt, Head of Information, Aspiro AB, tel: +46 40 630 03 18 About Aspiro Aspiro offers mobile telecom operators, portals, companies and organizations a wide range of attractive services designed to meet the individual's need for information, entertainment and communication via mobile media. The company's vision is to create the leading global department store for mobile services. Founded in 1998, Aspiro is today an important player in the global mobile Internet market. Some 130 people currently work for the company, which has offices in Sweden, Luxembourg and USA. Aspiro's business concept, organization and operations are based on many years of experience gained in the mobile telecommunications and IT sectors. For more information about Aspiro, please visit the website at www.aspiro.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/09/17/20010917BIT00370/bit0002.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/09/17/20010917BIT00370/bit0002.pdf