Thousands of retail customers in Denmark rely on Nokia's bulletproof network security technology when performing electronic transactions

IKANO Finans A/S, a leading supplier of profiled financial services in Denmark, has chosen the Nokia IP440 network security appliance as the platform to enable safe electronic payments through encrypted Internet connections for thousands of customers in more than 38 Danish retail stores.

IKANO Finans offers consumer oriented financial services throughout Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany and the UK. Denmark is the first market where the IKANO group has enhanced their network security infrastructure with Nokia's innovative technology, which provides efficient protection of the content delivered over public networks from security attacks. With the solution, customers gain easy access to encrypted connections for electronic transactions via the Internet.

"When paying electronically with credit cards, retail customers demand bullet-proof solutions with highest degree of security. IKANO Finans' goal was to improve our network security infrastructure so that it enables trustworthy electronic transactions to customers all over Denmark, whether they are using traditional data connections or the Internet", explains Mr Stefan Bach, IT director of IKANO Finans A/S.

"Thanks to its flexibility and swift implementation, we saw Nokia's solution as an obvious choice to meet the needs of IKANO Finans. In addition, it was also recommended to us by an impartial Internet consultancy. Within 24 hours, Nokia's solution was connected to 38 SILVAN retail stores. In the long run, operating costs are reduced significantly by using the virtual private network enabled by Nokia's technology instead of traditional data connections", says Mr Bach.

The unique Nokia IP440 application platform is a significant enhancement to the network security infrastructure of IKANO Finans. The Nokia IP440 delivers Internet access including virtual private networks and network security applications, such as firewall, in an economical, easy-to-use, high-performance package. Meeting service provider and enterprise requirements for reliability, scalability and flexibility, the IP440 combines its industry-standard Intel platform with a high-speed IP routing and packet-forwarding operating system that ensures superior performance.

"The Nokia IP440 offers uncompromising security which mission-critical applications require", says Jukka Jyranoja, Regional Director Nordic, Nokia Internet Communications. "As a result, the network remains operational 24 hours a day and customers don't experience difficulties when paying electronically via credit card."

According to Mr. Bach: "Secure transactions are vital to all retail customers today. They require easy-to-use, safe solutions with maximum speed. These features are underlined and enhanced in Nokia's offering. In addition, virtual private network technology is an efficient communications platform for IKANO employees and our external business associates all over the world. In my opinion, virtual private network is the best way to securely extend your business' network as the need for instant global data communication increases."

About IKANO Finans A/S

IKANO Finans A/S has supplied larger Danish retail businesses with profiled financial services for more than 20 years. IKANO's financial services are offered both in retail stores as well as on the websites of numerous Danish retail chains, where customers can apply for financial services as well as shop online. Besides profiled financial services, IKANO Finans A/S wide range of services includes leasing for business clients, loyalty programs, retail analysis and credit card payment terminals. Today, IKANO provides financial services for more than 120,000 customers in retail chains such as SILVAN, IKEA, H&M, BAUHAUS and El-Giganten.

About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet, Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.

About Nokia Internet Communications
Nokia Internet Communications, headquartered in Mountain View, CA, provides world-class Network Security, Virtual Private Network, Network Acceleration and Wireless Software solutions that ensure the security and reliability of corporate enterprise and managed service provider networks. Nokia is committed to enhancing the end user experience by bringing a new level of security and reliability to the network, enabling an Internet transaction that is personal and trusted -- each and every time. For more information, please visit www.nokia.com/internet/emea

Further information:

Stefan Bach, IT director, IKANO Finans Denmark
Phone: +45 43 55 66 24 or e-mail: sba@finans.ikano.dk

Nokia Internet Communications Europe
Tel. +358 40 830 1108 and +44 7788 145460

www.nokia.com