Evolving Systems Comments on the GSMA Embedded SIM Initiative and Its Impact on Conventional SIM Cards

ENGLEWOOD, CO--(Marketwired - Jul 21, 2015) - Evolving Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVOL), a leader in activation, enablement and management of services for connected mobile devices, today released management comments regarding the GSMA's Embedded SIM project.

Evolving Systems is the industry leader in activating SIM cards, and many of its customers are looking to the Company for advice on the GSMA Embedded SIM initiative. The Company believes its DSA solution will play a critical role in bridging carriers to the new standard.

Evolving Systems strongly endorses the Embedded SIM initiative led by the GSMA. The Company believes the initiative will make it easier for subscribers to gain access to wireless services and will give subscribers more choices in selecting service providers.

"The death of the SIM card, to paraphrase Samuel Clemens, has been greatly exaggerated," said Thad Dupper, Chairman and CEO. "There are currently billions of devices in use that require conventional removable SIMs, and these devices are expected to remain in service for the foreseeable future. Consequently, carriers will need systems that will support both standards -- the Embedded SIM and Removable SIM. Evolving Systems' Dynamic SIM Allocation™ (DSA) solution provides this capability."

With the current Removable SIM cards, a network operator needs to manage and assign key pieces of data: the id for the phone (IMEI), the id for the SIM (ICCID), the id for the subscription in the network (IMSI) and the phone number (MISISDN). Today, Evolving Systems' DSA solution helps carriers do that cost-effectively.

Should the new GSMA Embedded SIM proposal become a standard -- something Evolving Systems believes will occur, although the timing is uncertain -- the fundamental process for activating service will be an extension of what the DSA solution does today. It will require network operators to manage and assign phone numbers, IMSIs and other data and identifiers to Embedded SIMs and potentially to update that data at a later date. The DSA solution will be Embedded-SIM-ready and offer carriers the ability to support the GSMA Embedded SIM standard for smart phones, consistent with how the DSA solution supports Removable SIM cards today.

In addition, the DSA solution will help carriers adopt the Embedded SIM standard sooner, with less cost and effort. One of the key features of DSA is that it allows carriers to standardize on a single SIM card profile.

"Having discussed the topic with several DSA customers, they have shared with us their belief that by eliminating multiple SIM profiles for prepaid, postpaid and connected devices, and standardizing on a single SIM profile, they will be better prepared for eventual implementation of the proposed Embedded SIM standard," said Dupper.

"DSA has already helped many of our customers dramatically reduce the number of SIM types they support," Dupper added. "Our first production DSA customer went from over a thousand SIM types to standardizing on a single SIM type. And one of our most recent DSA customers, a very large operator with over 200 million subscribers, is planning to use DSA to reduce their current inventory of 69 SIM types to a single DSA SIM. They see DSA as a critical step in preparing for the Embedded SIM."

Another key feature of DSA is allowing a subscriber to choose, during the activation experience, a number and the most suitable payment plan for their needs. Subscriber choice is already at the core of the DSA product, whether it involves a Removable or Embedded SIM, and extending this to choice of network is a logical progression.

In summary, Dupper said, "We applaud the work GSMA is undertaking with the Embedded SIM initiative. We believe programs that give subscribers more choices and make activating and providing wireless service simpler will benefit the overall industry. Change is coming and we believe those who adopt and adapt will be well positioned to lead the market, and in the case of Embedded SIMs we believe DSA can be of immense value to those who choose to lead."

About Evolving Systems®
Evolving Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVOL) is a provider of software and services to 60 network operators in over 40 countries worldwide. The Company's product portfolio includes market-leading activation products that address subscriber service activation, SIM card activation, mobile broadband activation as well as the activation of services for connected devices. Founded in 1985, the Company has headquarters in Englewood, CO, with offices in the United Kingdom; India; and Malaysia. For more information please visit www.evolving.com or follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EvolvingSystems

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States' Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, based on current expectations, estimates and projections that are subject to risk. Specifically, statements about the impact and ability of the solution described in this press release to handle future needs of customers are forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and Evolving Systems may not undertake to update these forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially because of many factors, such as internal budgeting changes of customers, the impact of competition and the general state of the telecommunications industry. For a more extensive discussion of Evolving Systems' business, please refer to the Company's Form 10-K filed with the U.S. SEC, as well as subsequently filed Forms 10-Q, 8-K and press releases and the Company's websites.