Wireless communication for washing machines improves customer service

Electrolux and Europolitan form working partnership Wireless communication for washing machines improves customer service Appliances that communicate by mobile phone - impossible? No, says Europolitan, who can get an Electrolux washing machine to report its status to service staff by mounting a GSM module on it. Enabling machines to communicate with people in this way via the mobile network has many areas of use. Electrolux is spearheading this development and recently became the first company to sign an agreement with Europolitan to supervise and maintain restaurant kitchens and washing facilities quickly and efficiently. "As a supplier of wireless mobile communication services, we are involved in developing exciting new GSM services that make life easier for field staff, for example," says Mikael Kluge, Vice President, Marketing at Europolitan. By placing a GSM module - a mobile phone without the screen or keys - in an Electrolux washing machine or large-scale kitchen appliances, for example, information about energy consumption and operating time can be sent to a computer terminal. This information is processed and then sent on to the appropriate person via mobile phone. Electrolux Professional sells and leases large-scale kitchen equipment including a certain service level. As you read this, there are GSM solutions functioning for supervising kitchens, freezers, refrigerators and washing machines. Additional installations will be deployed in the autumn. The solution has been produced in Sweden in association with specialist company Unwire, which develops and supplies the product. Europolitan and Unwire have been working together with mobile information solutions such as positioning services for some time. "As the equipment communicates its own status, we no longer to send service technicians for unnecessary routine inspections, and the customers do not have to check their equipment for signs of servicing," says Åke Ekblom, Marketing Manger at Electrolux Professional. "This means we can quality-assure our services and our customers know that their equipment will always function." "The potential is huge," says Michael Wallón, Managing Director of Unwire. "Allowing machines to communicate with each other via the GSM network will revolutionise the activities of service companies that offer everything from alarm services to the maintenance of soft drinks dispensers." Illustrations, free for publishing, are available at http://press.europolitan.se. Europolitan AB is a Swedish GSM operator that prioritises service and quality. The company's head office is in Karlskrona, Sweden. Europolitan is a leader in the field of technically advanced services for GSM 900/1800. The Europolitan Group, which also includes the stock market listed Parent Company Europolitan Holdings AB and Europolitan AB's sister companies Europolitan Stores AB and Doberman AB, employs around 900 people. For more information, please visit 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 Michael Wallón, Managing Director, Unwire tel: +46 708 50 00 05, e-mail: mikael@unwire.se Åke Ekblom, Marketing Manager, Electrolux Professional tel. +46 8 738 61 73, e-mail: ake.ekblom@notes.elektrolux.se ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/01/12/20000112BIT00400/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/01/12/20000112BIT00400/bit0002.pdf