OSLO, Norway, April 9, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Telenor (Nasdaq:TELN):
Telenor Business Solutions, Cisco, Accenture and Birdstep Technology today, April 9, 2002, launched a unique secure wireless LAN corporate service, directed at companies in the Norwegian marketplace. The solution, based on industry-standard WLAN, allows employees, visitors, customers and business partners to access E-mail and Internet Services from inside corporations through a secure, encrypted login interface. Security is further enhanced by placing the wireless net physically detached from the corporate LAN.
The new solution, called Wireless Zone, was launched in the Norwegian marketplace today through a collaboration consisting of leading Norwegian telecommunications group Telenor, Cisco, Accenture and wireless software provider Birdstep. Wireless Zone is based on experiences obtained by building Europe's largest wireless campus at Telenor's new 7.500-employee headquarters at Fornebu, Oslo. The solution is designed to release a substantial productivity gain for customers by allowing employees and authorized corporate partners to maintain a high-speed wireless data connection on laptop PCs and PDA's while moving freely anywhere on the corporate site, or any partner site.
Aimed at large and mid-sized corporations, the Telenor Business Solutions-lead alliance enters a business market where 90% of the laptop PCs are expected to be WLAN-equipped by 2005 (Gartner Group). Nordic laptop shipments are estimated at just under 1.000.000 in 2002 (IDC) - a fifth of these in Norway.
"The Wireless Zone solution sets a new standard in wireless security and flexibility. This solution will dramatically increase time online by employees, thus enhancing cooperation, communication and efficiency. Based on our experiences with realizing Europe's largest wireless campus at the new Telenor headquarters, this leading alliance has developed a reference WLAN-solution for the Nordic business community," said Morten Lundal, Executive Vice President at Telenor and CEO of Telenor Business Solutions.
By embracing the innovative spirit, competence and technology of partners Accenture, Cisco and Birdstep, Telenor Business Solutions is confident that the new WLAN-solution, based on the internationally recognized standard 802.11b, is unmatched in the Nordic market.
Accenture's office in Norway, which was the first to trial the solution outside Telenor, has started using Wireless Corporation
"We strongly believe that corporations will view wireless networks as a way to significantly increase productivity. Telenor's innovative new WLAN-solution service will provide companies with high-speed secure wireless freedom, extending their ability to cooperate and exchange current information, anytime, anywhere. The value-based compensation used between Telenor and Accenture in this project also shows that innovative business models are used in real life," said Sam Juul, a partner in Accenture's Communication and HighTech operating group in Norway.
"With Wireless Zone Telenor further reinforces its position as a technological innovator in developing new services. Cisco is proud that Telenor has chosen its award winning WLAN-solutions and expertise in this project", said General Manager Kjell-Erik Tenold in Cisco Systems Norway.
"This is an example on how our IP Zone Software can be utilized by a network operator with a large customer base. The solution is also prepared for seamless mobility (Mobile IP) independent of the customer's choice of VPN solution. This allows employees and visitors to maintain secure and continuous communication across Ethernet, Wireless LAN and GPRS when accessing their Intranet," said Terje Andersen, CEO of Birdstep Technology.
About Telenor Business Solutions:
Telenor Business Solutions innovates and simplifies IT- and communications solutions for a Norwegian, Nordic and European business market. We serve organizations in all segments with voice- and data communications, advanced networks solutions, managed IT services and consultancy. Telenor Business Solutions employs 4500 people in 10 countries, serving customers across boarders based on international presence and infrastructure.
About Cisco Systems
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About Birdstep Technology:
Birdstep Technology was founded in Oslo, Norway in 1996 and is traded on the Norwegian OTC market under ticker "BIRD". The company has approximately 80 employees in Oslo and Seattle. Birdstep's small footprint, high performance database technologies combined with its wireless roaming and access software enables companies to build innovative solutions for embedded systems and the Mobile Internet. Birdstep makes your information accessible anytime, anywhere, on any device and on any infrastructure. For more information, visit www.birdstep.com.