Maestro Wireless Solutions, a well known and highly flexible provider of wireless solutions and industrial integration services and Telenor Connexion, the leading connectivity provider for business and life critical applications, today announced a joint strategic partnership to answer to M2M market needs.

Under this new agreement, Telenor Connexion will provide embedded connectivity solutions to Maestro Wireless Solutions’ comprehensive portfolio of wireless industrial modems and integration services for the machine-to-machine (M2M) markets.

– In today’s fast-paced M2M world, technology confidence is paramount while reducing time-to-market is the concrete challenge. Through Telenor Connexion’s world-class connectivity solutions, significant coverage area and easily integrated systems, Maestro Wireless Solutions will significantly enhance its extensive portfolio and services adapted to those needs, says Bertrand Goubault, General Manager at Maestro Wireless Solutions.

– We are delighted over the partnership. Together we can offer complete and highly reliable wireless solutions with a global reach. Like us, Maestro Wireless Solutions applies more than 10 years experience and know how of M2M communication. Their team is entirely focused on the evolution of the M2M market and wireless technologies worldwide. In addition, with operations in Asia, Europe and the United States their footprint matches ours, says Thomas Strandin, VP of Sales APAC at Telenor Connexion.

Maestro Wireless Solutions has a network of local distributors and partners through Europe, US and Asia. As of today, over 350 000 Maestro modems have been deployed in more than 40 countries worldwide. 

Telenor Connexion recently opened offices in both Japan and the US and will soon open an office in Malaysia.

For more information, please contact:
Andy Yee, Marketing Executive, Maestro Wireless Solutions
andy.yee@maestro-wireless.com, +852 2964 3235

Kristina Grandin, PR and Communications, Telenor Connexion
kristina.grandin@telenor.com, +46 734 25 26 21

About Maestro Wireless Solutions
Maestro Wireless Solutions is a subsidiary of the Fargo Telecom Group in Hong Kong. It offers a comprehensive portfolio of wireless solutions and integration services for the M2M and industrial markets. Applying over 15 years know-how in wireless communications, specializing in GSM/GPRS and GPS technologies, the company provides effective and highly reliable wireless solutions, ranging from off-the-shelf, generic easy to use devices, to specific and optimized OEM integration. Based in Hong Kong, Maestro Wireless Solutions has worldwide reach through its network of local distributors and partners and has deployed in excess of 350K modems in over 40 countries. For more information please visit www.maestro-wireless.com.

Cinterion Wireless Modules, the global leader in cellular machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, and Telenor Connexion today announced their collaboration on an M2M tracking and tracing platform for Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd. (HCM) construction and mining machinery. The customised solution combines Cinterion’s reliable HC25 module, a Telenor Connexion SIM card and global wireless service to enable advanced fleet management support such as geo-fencing, positioning, remote eMaintenance, extended warranty support and more.

To date, the new HCM solution has been implemented in more than 20,000 machines, for connectivity in 50 countries including Japan and Korea, with a large number of several hundred thousand additional units planned for the near future.

– Cinterion’s HC25 module offers 2G and 3G functionality along with full type approval and carrier certifications for unparalleled global functionality, said Norbert Muhrer, CEO at Cinterion Wireless Modules.

– Telenor Connexion’s many years of experience delivering customer-centric solutions and Cinterion’s high quality, reliable and future-proofed products are the ideal complement for enterprises that want to invest in smart technology that improves productivity while cutting costs. Our collaboration ensures customers receive world class wireless technology and local market support along with a swift and well managed roll out of services, Norbert Muhrer continued.

In March 2009, Cinterion and Telenor Connexion announced a renewed partnership and commitment to work collaboratively to establish industry standards and best practices as well as to stimulate the development of M2M solutions worldwide. The HCM implementation demonstrates the power of the partnership to quickly develop and deliver a reliable, high quality and cost-efficient solution and to expand international M2M implementations.

– Expanding our existing relationship with HCM, the world leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, is strategically important for Telenor Connexion and a significant contract for us. The HCM deal and our partnership with Cinterion strengthen our position as the leading global M2M provider and illustrate how our previous efforts within asset management have opened up opportunities in the important Asian market. We’re very excited about future opportunities with both Cinterion and HCM, said Per Simonsen, CEO, Telenor Connexion.

– Our relationship with Telenor Connexion along with Cinterion allows us to take advantage of their global scale and footprint, long and proven track record of M2M managed connectivity solutions and mission critical experience managing large scale roll-outs. This reliable and well managed M2M solution will allow us to continue to respond to our customers’ needs throughout the world by providing them with the value-added products and services they have come to expect from HCM, said Fujio Matsuda, service department manager at HCM Construction Machinery.

For more information, please contact:

Karin Karlung, PR and Communication, Telenor Connexion
karin.karlung@telenor.com, +46 734 417 415

Marlene Häggström, Global Partner Manager, Telenor Connexion
Marlene.Haggstrom@telenor.com, +46 734417661

Nadine Steinmetz, Cinterion Wireless Modules GmbH
nadine.steinmetz@cinterion.com, +49 89 21029 9216

Ellen Lynch, LPI Communications for CWM
ellen@lpicommunications.com, +1 415 225 2240

About Telenor Connexion
Telenor Connexion is a leading global provider of managed M2M connectivity solutions. Machine-to-machine (M2M) communication is a rapidly expanding market. Companies in industries as diverse as automotive, security, utilities and fleet management are implementing M2M solutions to achieve productivity gains, cost management, environmental improvement and to expand customer services. With more than 10 years of experience Telenor Connexion is an experienced and reliable partner. We are dedicated to our customers’ business and understand their needs. Telenor Connexion has provided international, cost-effective M2M communication solutions to a number of global customers such as Volvo, Daimler and Securitas Direct.
According to leading industry analyst Berg Insight Telenor is “the most advanced mobile operator in the area of M2M” and also “the dominant provider of wireless M2M connectivity”.
Telenor Connexion is wholly owned by Telenor Group, the world’s sixth largest mobile operator. Telenor Group is an international provider of high quality tele, data and media communication services with mobile operations in 13 markets across the Nordic region, Central and Eastern Europe and in Asia.

About Cinterion Wireless Modules
Cinterion Wireless Modules is the worldwide leading supplier of cellular machine-to-machine (M2M) communication modules and combines unparalleled M2M engineering expertise and localized worldwide customer support with a strong portfolio of high-quality GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS and HSPA products. Cinterion is a reliable partner and valued by many vertical market customers for its award-winning modules which enable machines, equipment and vehicles to communicate over wireless networks helping enterprises dramatically cut costs and increase productivity and efficiency. Cinterion products are carrier and FTA approved and used for industries including remote maintenance and control; metering; payment systems; industrial PDAs; routers and gateways; security systems; health care; automotive and eToll; tracking and tracing; environmental monitoring and more. The firm’s global headquarters are in Munich, Germany with sales and support offices in local markets around the world. For more information, please visit: www.cinterion.com

– Telenor Connexion provides its existing, and future, customers with a sophisticated and extremely reliable platform. Our global connectivity solutions are used for our customers’ critical services such as eCall and remote health monitoring. Our new platform is solely built for, and dedicated to, reliable global M2M data traffic, says Per Simonsen, CEO, Telenor Connexion.

According to the analyst firm Berg Insight, the number of mobile M2M connections will grow at a compound annual growth rate of over 25% to reach 187 million connections by 2014. The majority of this growth will come from areas within automotive, utility and health sectors where applications are often business, or even life, critical. The reliability of connectivity is imperative for services such as eCall, where vehicles automatically alert local emergency operators in case of an accident. Remote health monitoring and alarm solutions are other examples depending on reliable and real-time wireless data connectivity. Solutions for monitoring and managing remote equipment such as wind mills, water pumps and industrial machinery are equally depending connectivity to secure optimized operations. The connectivity of these devices needs to be built on secure platforms with reliable and redundant technology in order to operate in a secure and stabile way over many years.

– The request for secure and reliable M2M connectivity solutions puts entirely new demands on mobile operators that intend to be a part of this development. As a leading provider of embedded connectivity, we are proud to progress the technological development with this new platform and the services attached. This is the result of over 10 years of experience and close collaboration with customers such as Securitas, Volvo and Daimler, says Per Simonsen.

Telenor Connexion customers have real-time access to monitor operational status and manage all their devices via an online Service Portal or an API solution directly integrated into the customers’ monitoring or operations systems. In addition to that, the customers’ solutions are monitored 24/7/365 by dedicated technical support expertise with tailored routines and processes to secure business critical applications. The platform is fully redundant and providing access to +400 mobile networks around the world.

In addition to the new technical platform, Telenor Connexion has developed a chip-based eSIM solution to be integrated in industrial environments such as machines and vehicles to further secure and enhance connectivity.

– Embedded connectivity solutions are fundamentally different from traditional mobile operators’ services and we take an end-to-end approach. By separating the M2M business with a dedicated organisation, technology and processes we can provide the next generation services and meet the new demands coming from embedded connectivity in critical applications and products, Per Simonsen concludes.

For more information, please contact:
Karin Karlung, PR and Communication, Telenor Connexion
karin.karlung@telenor.com, +46 734 417 415

Telenor Connexion welcomes GSMA’s initiative for the development of life saving technology, eCall.

GSMA, the global mobile communications industry union, has signed a memorandum of understanding to secure the deployment the life saving service eCall in cars across Europe.

- We see this as a step in the right direction. This is a rapidly growing market with the potential to save thousands of lives every year. We have been working closely with the car industry for more than ten years, developing and refining various telematics solutions including eCall solutions, says Per Simonsen, CEO, Telenor Connexion

The deployment of eCall among car manufacturers has been slower than expected for many reasons, partly due to a complex value-chain covering many different players and lack of standardisation. This is now about to change.

- We see a significant increased interest from car manufacturers to develop the next generation of connected services, where eCall is one of many services that will bring new value to the car itself. Services like infotainment, remote diagnostics, concierge services, location-based services are all depending upon connectivity, says Dan Mårtensson, VP Automotive Sales.

Some 14,5 million cars were sold in the European market 2008, indicating the size of this new emerging market. This brings totally new challenges for the mobile operators.

- Understanding of the automotive industry is critical in deploying large-scale telematics connectivity solutions on a global basis. Together with the car manufactures we are developing solutions for the specific requirements within the automotive industry, says Per Simonsen

For instance, the Telenor Connexion surface-mounted eSIM solution is designed for integration in industrial environments securing cost-efficient integration in production processes as well as long-term, reliable connectivity services on a global basis.

Please visit the GSMA web page for more information regarding the signing of the memorandum of understanding:

http://www.gsmworld.com/newsroom/press-releases/2009/3863.htm

For more information, please contact:

Karin Karlung, PR and Communication, Telenor Connexion

karin.karlung@telenor.com, +46 734 417 415

M2M technologies are also used to monitor assets such as pipelines, valves and storage tanks in the process industry. This provides the opportunity to gain better control and optimise production.

Beecham Research (2008) predicts that the usage of M2M technology in the industrial sector will grow substantially over the coming years due to a highly competitive environment and a continuous need to streamline processes, minimise downtime and reduce environmental effects.

Telenor Connexion has experience of integration of customized wireless communication solutions in many industrial segments, ranging from water pumps and valves to robotics.

Telenor Connexion today announced it has started roll-out of Gemalto M2M SIM offer, also known as eSIM.

The dedicated eSIM, based on Telenor Connexion’s and Swedish Strålfors patented eSIM-solution, is tailored to the specific needs of the M2M (machine-to-machine) market and customized for integrated communications in industrialised environments such as vehicles and machines.

- Customers using the eSIM will benefit from three main important aspects when moving into large-scale M2M/telematics solutions: improved SIM reliability in harsh environments, improved assembly efficiency for industrial large-scale production and finally design efficiency through its smaller footprint. All together, the eSIM will be vital in our customer’s business since it improves product quality, reliability and cuts costs – all necessities for a successful M2M/telematics deployment, says Fredrik Salvesen, Director of Service Delivery/COO at Telenor Connexion.

Over the past two years the two companies have been working on various implementations of the eSIM that meet the needs of the M2M market, in fields such as the automotive industry, vending machines and industrial metering.

- This deployment demonstrates that the efforts Gemalto has put forth in the field of M2M for the past two years are now bearing fruit. Both Telenor and Gemalto have been pioneers in this market and share the same vision to advance M2M products and solutions, adds Jean-François Schreiber, SVP Telecom Solutions and Services at Gemalto.

The eSIM, which comes in the form of a ruggedized electronic component, is directly integrated within the M2M communicating module at manufacturing stage. This eliminates manual operation, such as insertion and configuration, and significantly reduces the related costs. The secure personalization process handled by Strålfors with Gemalto’s support is performed either before or after the card has been incorporated into the module, affording M2M players greater flexibility in managing subscriptions. In addition, since the card is welded inside the module, it cannot be stolen nor misused.

For more information, please contact:

Kristina Grandin, PR & Communication, Telenor Connexion
E-mail: kristina.grandin@telenor.com, tel. +46 734 25 26 21

About Gemalto
Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security with 2008 annual revenues of €1.68 billion, and 10,000 employees operating out of 75 offices, research and service centers in 40 countries.
Gemalto is at the heart of our evolving digital society. The freedom to communicate, travel, shop, bank, entertain, and work—anytime, anywhere—has become an integral part of what people want and expect, in ways that are convenient, enjoyable and secure.
Gemalto delivers on the growing demands of billions of people worldwide for mobile connectivity, identity and data protection, credit card safety, health and transportation services, e-government and national security. We do this by supplying to governments, wireless operators, banks and enterprises a wide range of secure personal devices, such as subscriber identification modules (SIM) in mobile phones, smart banking cards, electronic passports, and USB tokens for online identity protection. To complete the solution we also provide software, systems and services to help our customers achieve their goals.
As the use of Gemalto’s software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years.

For more information please visit www.gemalto.com.

ORBCOMM Inc. (Nasdaq: ORBC), a global satellite data communications company focused on providing machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions and Telenor Connexion, a leading global connectivity provider, today announced an agreement that will enable ORBCOMM to offer an innovative satellite/GSM-based M2M solution.

The unique combination of satellite and GSM technology provides customers with a low-cost, flexible and reliable connected service. The service will be available to some of the world’s most demanding users. Customers benefiting from the solution are found in both fixed site and mobile applications.

- The agreement with ORBCOMM is a step forward in Telenor Connexion’s goal to supply customers throughout the world with connectivity tailored to their specific business needs. Both companies benefit from complimenting each other’s expertise in M2M enabling us to offer a valuable service for customers in need of global solutions, says Per Simonsen, CEO of Telenor Connexion.

- The joint product offering is expected to give M2M customers considerable operating advantages, including increased safety, higher productivity, greater availability, and better control of remote assets. Telenor Connexion’s partnering with ORBCOMM further validates our position as the leading satellite network for M2M applications, says Marc Eisenberg, CEO of ORBCOMM.

For more information, please contact:

Lucas Binder, VP Business Development and Investor Relations, ORBCOMM Inc.
Email: binder.lucas@orbcomm.com, tel. +1 703 433 6505

Kristina Grandin, PR & Communication, Telenor Connexion
E-mail: kristina.grandin@telenor.com, tel. +46 734 25 26 21

About Orbcomm Inc.
ORBCOMM is a leading global satellite data communications company, focused on Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications. Its customers include Caterpillar Inc., Doosan Infracore America, General Electric, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Komatsu Ltd., and Volvo Construction Equipment among other industry leaders. By means of a global network of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites and accompanying ground infrastructure, ORBCOMM’s low-cost and reliable two-way data communications products and services track, monitor and control mobile and fixed assets in four core markets: commercial transportation; heavy equipment; industrial fixed assets; and marine/homeland security. The Company’s products are installed on trucks, containers, marine vessels, locomotives, backhoes, pipelines, oil wells, utility meters, storage tanks and other assets. ORBCOMM is headquartered in Fort Lee, New Jersey and has a network control center in Dulles, Virginia. For more information, visit www.orbcomm.com

Cinterion Wireless Modules and Telenor Connexion have collaborated for several years. By signing the agreement the parties are now formalizing and deepening their cooperation. Apart from joint service solutions the agreement includes joint marketing and sales activities. In addition the two companies will combine resources to improve quality assurance and international viability of the systems with a view to offer market and business solutions on a global basis.

- Telenor Connexion’s many years of experience and focus on customer centric solutions will be of great advantage to us. The company is one of the world’s leading providers of M2M connectivity solutions and yet a small and flexible operator with very high ambitions. By combining our two strong brands we have the opportunity to build the market and broaden our solutions. In addition, the cooperation ensures a faster roll out of our services, says Norbert Muhrer, CEO at Cinterion Wireless Modules.

- Cinterion Wireless Modules is a global leader in M2M communication and a reliable partner. We will benefit from their long track record of high quality products and comprehensive industry know-how. Together with Cinterion we will be able to deliver high quality M2M services in selected segments and markets, says Per Simonsen, CEO at Telenor Connexion.

The agreement between the two market leaders will result in an increased interest in M2M communication solutions worldwide as well as the development of best practice.

For more information, please contact:
Norbert Muhrer, CEO, Cinterion Wireless Modules
norbert.muhrer@cinterion.com, +49 89 27029 9100

Per Simonsen, CEO, Telenor Connexion
per.simonsen@telenor.com, +46 733 40 08 90

About Cinterion Wireless Modules
Cinterion Wireless Modules is the global leader in cellular machine to machine (M2M) communication. We are a reliable partner with a long track record of high quality products and comprehensive industry know-how.

With the broadest product portfolio from GSM to HSPA we deliver reliable communication for fields like automotive, metering, e-health, e-payment, industrial computing, remote maintenance & control and envrironmental monitoring. Our high quality products are fully type approved an backed by a strong roadmap.

In addition a true global customer support organization offers supports in all phases of the integration process to speed up time to market. For more information please visit www.cinterion.com.