HiQ expands its test activities in Sweden

HiQ expands its test activities in Sweden

HiQ is expanding its activities involving systems testing for mobile phones as a
result of strong demand and new agreements with key clients. HiQ has been
carrying on test activities for several years in both Lund and Stockholm,
offering complete solutions to leading mobile phone suppliers in the Nordic
region. Today HiQ carries out software testing for around 60 models of mobile
phone in total and the expansion means that in future HiQ will employ nearly 120
consultants within its Swedish test facilities."We are currently seeing the technology in the new mobile terminals increasing
in complexity, which increases the need for effective testing before the
products reach the shops. HiQ is a specialised consultancy company with a sound
background in mobile communications. We have been involved in the development
and testing of communications systems and terminals for over ten years. On the
terminal side we now offer everything from advanced software development in the
actual phones to the testing and development of mobile applications based on
systems such as Symbian. The fact that we are now able to expand our business to
this extent is a good example of the way that our knowledge and expertise is in
demand from leading players in the market,” says Lars Stugemo, President and CEO
of HiQ.

As part of its test activities HiQ is responsible for testing systems in
different models of mobile phone - an area of business that is growing in size. 

“Our outsourced testing operations at HiQ Skåne have developed very well in
recent years and we are experiencing strong demand for our services in both
development and testing. Overall we have seen the market in Skåne grow by around
50 percent a year since we started in 2002, and test activities are a
significant part of our business here,” says Jon Carvell, Managing Director of
HiQ Skåne.

“We work on everything from the design and planning of test processes to the
development of tools and methods for executing the tests themselves - in other
words, we have overall responsibility for the software in our clients' products
working when it goes to market. We help our clients to shorten their lead times,
something that is critical today as technology develops at an ever faster rate.
Being able to test software that is modified very close to production is
essential for our clients, so we give it priority in our business,” Carvell
continues.

Following the expansion HiQ's test facilities will employ around 120
consultants, including around 30 staff paid by the hour who assist HiQ's
experienced consultants with the projects.

“A testing project often includes fairly simple tasks such as documentation or
fairly simple testing - tasks that do not require a consultant with years of
experience. By combining HiQ's experienced consultants with good students from
the technical universities we are better able to meet our clients' requirements
of cost efficiency and flexibility,” says Jon Carvell. 

Nearly 3 years ago HiQ launched a test centre for mobile terminals in Stockholm.
The test centre is used for testing mobile platforms, mobile terminals and
mobile services. Among other things, the HiQ Test Centre in Stockholm is
responsible for testing what are known as smartphones.

“We are expanding our testing operations here in Stockholm, too, thanks to
strong demand for our services - which we are naturally very pleased about.  At
the HiQ Test Centre we are primarily responsible for interoperability testing
and verification of advanced third party applications for a large number of new
phone models,” says Bo Ringdahl, Managing Director of HiQ Stockholm. 

For further information, please contact:
Lars Stugemo, President and CEO, HiQ International, tel.: +46 (0)8 - 588 90 000
Jon Carvell, Managing Director HiQ Skåne, tel.: +46 (0)46 - 286 28 00, +46
(0)768 - 800 700
Bo Ringdahl, Managing Director HiQ Stockholm, tel.: +46 (0)8 - 588 90 000
Annika Billberg, Head of Corporate Communications HiQ, tel.: +46 (0)8-588 90
015, +46 (0)704-200 103

HiQ is an IT and management consultancy that focuses on high-tech solutions in
the fields of communication, software development and simulation. The company is
a leader in these fields and the Nordic region is its domestic market. HiQ
employs more than 900 people at offices in the Nordic Region and Eastern Europe.
HiQ is listed on the Nordic Stock Exchange midcap list. For more information,
please visit www.hiq.se.