Roaming expert Comfone launches MMS eXchange service

Comfone's partner, MATERNA, supports with its expertise in mobile messaging software provision

Bern, Switzerland, 10 November 2004 – Swiss company Comfone, a leading provider of global mobile value-added roaming services, today announced the launch of two services, the first allowing mobile providers to exchange MMS (Multimedia Message Service) information, and the second offering a complete MMS hub solution.

The services uniquely draw on the joint competencies of Comfone and MATERNA, partners in offering the comprehensive multimedia messaging interworking solution. The companies' collaboration brings together Comfone's expertise in international mobile roaming with MATERNAs experience in providing, implementing and operating MMSCs (Multimedia Messaging Service Centre) for mobile operators throughout the world.

The MMS eXchange service, Comfone MMSX, facilitates the bilateral interchange of MMS between mobile operators, including access, relay, bulk file production, online reporting and financial clearing. The comprehensive MMS eXchange service, part of Comfone's data service portfolio and based on Comfone's proven GRX infrastructure with reach to over 130 mobile operators worldwide, provides IP access, DNS and routing for the transport of MMS. MMS interworking is enabled between different mobile operators with its Relation Management, Mobile Number Portability check, Transcoding and further options. Bulk file production and financial clearing of MMS are offered in addition.

Denis Gheysen, Comfone's Executive Vice President Marketing and Sales, commented, "MMS will become a major source of revenue for service providers, increasing ARPU (average revenue per user) and allowing customer retention. But building up a network of bilateral interworking relationships between mobile operators is time consuming and costly. Comfone's solution reduces the complexities involved in rolling out a new network. Comfone MMSX enables mobile network provider's operational costs to be reduced and the setting up of network relations speeded up."

The enhanced hub solution for MMS provides worldwide coverage for MMS termination and interworking through only one agreement with Comfone and one connection to Comfone's central platform.

“The combined offer of MATERNA and Comfone gives us a unique market position”, said Stefan Kruppa, Senior Product Marketing Manager of MATERNA. “This is the only offer in the market using a full MMSC. The service takes advantage of its proven Mobile Number Portability (MNP), store and forward and content conversion technology, which guarantees a high rate of successful delivered messages and interoperability between the different MMSCs of the mobile network provider.”

About Comfone
Comfone supplies mobile operators services that are needed for the worldwide interconnection of mobile networks, so called 'roaming'. Founded in 1997 with the goal to provide efficient solutions in the field of international roaming, Comfone's service portfolio is currently unique in the world. Comfone is the first Roaming Broker and the only operator of an international roaming platform. With head offices based in Berne, Switzerland, Comfone is 75% owned by four management members who are actively involved in the company. Comfone comprises of 70 employees, consisting of 13 nationalities who speak a total of 16 languages. Further services include; Signalling Solutions (SS7), Data, Financial, SMS and MMS Interworking Clearing, Roaming Management, and data services (GRX and MMSX) for GPRS and MMS.

About Materna Information & Communications
A leading information and communications software company, Materna employs some 1,100 employees worldwide, achieving in 2003 a turnover of €142 million. In its Information business unit, Materna integrates IT solutions for process optimisation in business and government. Further business units comprise Customer Service & Support, IT Service Management, Business Portals, Content Management, and e-Government, while its Communications business unit offers Mobile Solutions and Unified Messaging products. This includes value-added mobile services such as SMS, MMS, WAP and mobile Java applications, which are currently distributed under the brand-name Anny Way. The Anny Way Academy is active in practical training and consulting services.