Europolitan invests in GPRS for mobile information services

Europolitan invests in GPRS for mobile information services Europolitan has decided to build a complete GPRS network. This is an important step in developing new areas of use for mobile information services. GPRS is also a milestone in the evolution of third generation mobile systems and mobile multi-media services. In the long term, GPRS will give Europolitan customers access to completely new services. The main advantage to the customers is that it enables them to be permanently connected to the Internet or to a company intranet, for example. This is made possible by the fact that GPRS sends packet data. Europolitan's agreement with Nokia specifies that deliveries of the system will start at the end of 1999 and a full upgrade of Europolitan's entire network should have been completed some time next year. Europolitan's decision to invest in GPRS is part of the company's clear-cut strategy of promoting technological development. This in turn will enable Europolitan to offer its customers the best and most useful mobile services. "Europolitan chose GPRS technology as a natural step in our development of wireless data services. We hope that this decision will encourage telephone manufactures to speed up their development work so that our customers are soon able to take full advantage of this technology. The alternative would have been to leave the manufacturers to their own devices and simply await this development, an approach we believe would only delay the process. It is essential that both operators and telephone manufacturers should promote this development simultaneously," says Magnus Forsbrand, Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Europolitan AB. Today, Europolitan is spearheading the development of high-speed data (HSCSD) via the mobile network and recently launched Europolitan Data 43k. In doing so, it became the world's first operator to offer speeds of up to 43 kbit/s. GPRS is another step in the company's policy to remain at the forefront of technological development. "With GPRS we have taken another step towards fulfilling our vision - a future in which all personal telecommunication is mobile," says Tomas Isaksson, President and CEO at Europolitan. Europolitan AB is a Swedish GSM operator that prioritizes service and quality. The company, which has its head office in Karlskrona, is a leading developer of technically advanced services for GSM 900/1800. The Europolitan Group also includes Europolitan Stores AB and the parent company, Europolitan Holdings, which is listed on the stock exchange. The Group employs around 900 people. More information on Internet www.europolitan.se. For more information please contact: Mikael Kluge, Vice President, Marketing, Europolitan AB, Tel: +46 708 33 12 05, e-mail: mikael.kluge@europolitan.se Magnus Forsbrand, Vice President, Engineering and Operations, Europolitan AB, Tel: +46 708 33 10 41, e-mail: magnus.forsbrand@europolitan.se ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/11/02/19991102BIT00120/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/11/02/19991102BIT00120/bit0002.pdf