Nokia and KONE Team Up: Extend Wireless Technology to Elevators

KONE, one of the world's leading elevator and escalator companies, and Nokia have today announced their collaboration to develop a wireless voice and data technology system for improving the reliability and safety of elevators and escalators. This application, based on GSM technology, will be used globally in KONE escalators and elevators for remote monitoring and emergency telephone communication.

According to KONE's Senior Vice President, Service Business, Michel Chartron, "This new platform significantly upgrades our ability to monitor passenger safety as well as the performance of equipment we maintain in service. For our customers, this translates into the peace of mind that comes with knowing that we are watching out for their best interests."

"Our goal is to offer our customers, such as KONE, wireless solutions that allow them to extend their business processes to control machines through the existing cellular network. These kinds of solutions offer users new significant business opportunities in today's Mobile Internet," said Hannu Huttunen, Vice President, Special Products, Nokia Mobile Phones.

KONE, with net sales in 2000 of EUR 2,602 million, is a leading provider of complete solutions for the installation, modernization and maintenance of elevators and escalators. KONE operates globally with 23,000 employees in over 40 countries. KONE has become the technological leader in its industry through such innovations as the first commercially viable machine-room-less elevator. More than half of net sales, however, come from the maintenance of nearly 500,000 elevators and escalators and over 120,000 automatic building doors under service contract and the modernization of equipment that no longer meets today's safety and performance standards.

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.

Further information:

Nokia Mobile Phones
Communications
Tel. +358 7180 08000
www.nokia.com

KONE Corporation
Annamari Lammassaari, Vice President Communications
Tel +358 204 75 4339
www.kone.com