STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 24, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Mobile telephony can help to make the work of newspaper delivery staff both safer and simpler. Sweden's four major newspaper distributors have signed a joint agreement with Swedish Vodafone for a mobile telecoms service that allows the newspaper distributors' monitoring centres to follow the work of their delivery staff via SMS while it is being done.
Tidningsbararna, Pressens Samdistribution, Vastsvensk Tidningsdistribution and Tidningstjanst have jointly procured this service from Vodafone. Altogether, the agreement covers around 5,000 subscriptions.
The telematics service will allow newspaper delivery staff to send an SMS to the monitoring centre when they begin and end their rounds. The text messages will be received by the monitoring centre's system, which then shows how the delivery work is proceeding. If one of the staff fails to report in and cannot be reached, the monitoring centre can send someone directly to the relevant distribution area or alert the SOS service.
"The security aspect was crucial when our company decided to opt for this solution. But it also generates added value for our delivery staff, since we can use the service to inform them about events within our operations that may affect their work," said Tommy Carlsson, President of Vastsvensk Tidningsdistribution.
Among other things, the service enables the monitoring centre to send information about operational stoppages at the printing presses, delayed newspaper deliveries and other matters that might impact on the work of the delivery staff. In time, the idea is also to allow delivery staff to report back to the centre when there is a shortage of newspapers to deliver to certain subscribers. This will allow the newspapers' own subscription services to remedy the shortcomings and provide adequate information when their customers call to complain.
"The market for tailored communication solutions is growing. Newspaper delivery staff work alone at night, so this service gives them greater security, since they know that the monitoring centre is following their work. It also provides the newspaper distributors with a form of quality assurance for their operations and enhances communication about workflows. This in turn means that they can offer their customers an even better level of service," said Anders Sjoholm, Commercial Director at Corporate & Telematics, Vodafone Sverige AB.
Vodafone:
Vodafone is the world's largest mobile network and is represented in 28 countries on 5 continents. It has more than 200 million mobile telecoms users. Our services enhance the efficiency of companies' operations and make it simpler and more fun for people to communicate. 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.
Read more at www.vodafone.se and www.vodafone.com.
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