STOCKHOLM, Sweden, June 17, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Vodafone and Anoto win first prize at this year's Bluetooth Congress Award in Amsterdam Vodafone in Sweden and Anoto have been awarded first prize at the Bluetooth Congress Award in Amsterdam. The companies won the prize for the Vodafone Notera service which was launched in Sweden in April, and which enables hand-written texts and drawings to be sent digitally via mobile phone as e-mail, SMS or fax.
The jury explained its decision by stating that the service clearly shows how bluetooth solutions generate unique income opportunities for mobile operators around the world while also helping bluetooth become the standard for all future mobile terminals.
"Vodafone Notera is a mobile service of use to everyone using pen, paper, mobile phones or computers today, and there are also significant development opportunities for the future. It is, of course, also encouraging that the service has now gained international recognition," said Jon Risfelt, President and CEO of Vodafone in Sweden.
"The Bluetooth Congress Award serves as confirmation that we are on the right track and that mobile operators can offer an innovative, user- friendly service in their mobile data networks. The launch in Sweden is an important breakthrough for us, and the introduction of paper-based services in collaboration with a global operator such as Vodafone in Sweden will help ensure that Anoto functionality is made widely available to the public," said Christer Fahreus, Anoto's President and CEO.
Sony Ericsson has launched the first digital pen with Anoto functionality, Chatpen(TM) CHA-30, while 3M and Esselte sell digital paper with Anoto functionality in Sweden.
For more information, please contact: Johan Holmgren, Director of Public Relations, Vodafone Sverige AB Tel. +46 708 33 14 00, e-mail: johan.holmgren@vodafone.se Charlotte Laveson, Head of Public Relations, Anoto AB Tel. +46 733 47 86 20, e-mail: charlotte.laveson@anoto.com
Bluetooth Congress is an annual conference arranged by IBC, a part of the Informa Telecom Group.
Vodafone is represented in Sweden by Europolitan Holdings AB and its subsidiaries, Vodafone Sverige AB and Vodafone Stores AB. Europolitan Holdings AB is listed on Attract 40 on the Stockholm Stock Exchange's O list. The majority shareholder is Vodafone Group Plc, which owns 71 per cent of the shares, while private shareholders, investment companies and pension funds own the remaining 29 per cent. Vodafone is the world's largest mobile network and is represented in 28 countries on 5 continents. It has more than 229 million mobile telecoms users. Our services enhance the efficiency of companies' operations and make it simpler and more fun for people to communicate. Read more at www.vodafone.se and www.vodafone.com.
Anoto Group AB is a Swedish high-tech company with unique solutions for transferring hand-written content from paper to digital media, scanning printed text and smart camera surveillance. All products and services are based on digital camera technology and real-time image processing. The Anoto Group currently has three brands: Anoto(R) - a turnkey solution based on paper-, pen- and server-technology that makes writing-paper compatible with the digital world; C-Pen(R) - a scanner-pen that can store, translate and transfer printed text, and WeSpot(TM) - a hardware and software platform for smart camera surveillance. The Anoto Group has just over 300 employees at offices in Lund (head office), Stockholm, Boston, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Its principal owners include Ericsson, Capital Group and its founder, Christer Fahreus. The Anoto Group's shares are listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange's O-list, Attract 40, as ANOT. For more information, please contact: www.anotogroup.com.
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