CMG Announces Third-Generation High-Performance SMS Center; AlphaServer-based SMSC Clocks Unrivalled 8,000 Sustained Deliveries Per Second.

Business/Technology Editors

CTIA WIRELESS 2001

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 2001

CMG Wireless Data Solutions announces, with alliance partner Compaq Computer Corporation, initial testing of a third-generation high-performance version of CMG's Short Message Service Center (SMSC), and the latest addition to its portfolio of SMS-center products.

This high-performance SMSC, based on Compaq's AlphaServer(TM) ES45, is designed to achieve a record-breaking performance of over 8,000 deliveries per second (slashing the previous record of 2,500 messages per second set by CMG's high-performance SMSC). Tests at the Compaq Applied Research Laboratory in Annecy were conducted under full store-and-forward conditions and using actual customer profiles. According to Wim Rimmelzwaan, President of CMG Wireless Data Solutions, stringent testing will ensure that the solution will deliver the industry's highest level of scalability and availability in production environment.

Commenting on this latest feat, Compaq's vice president and COO EMEA, Rob Walker, said: "These results are the products of years of close co-operation between CMG Wireless Data Solutions and Compaq. We are now able to provide a powerful solution that enables mobile operators to take advantage of the opportunities in the exploding SMS market."

Analysts state that the future market will be characterized by an overwhelming growth resulting in a massive 100 billion messages per month in 2004. Experience has taught us that these projections traditionally underestimated market demand. The future SMS-market will be characterized by sharp fluctuations in traffic levels because of the influence on the business of new functions like SMS-TV, chatting and infotainment. CMG Wireless Data Solutions provides these functions making it possible for its customers to differentiate themselves with high profile solutions.

In addition to its SMS centers, CMG is developing related products--collectively called the SMSC Product Suite--and industry leading application services to support operators' SMS P. business. The first of these products is a high-performance prepaid-billing system (PBS). PBS is capable of handling peak-volumes and reduces fraud significantly through real-time account checking, while helping operators differentiate their pricing strategies by introducing innovative billing-criteria for uses such as content and usergroups. The second product, a set of high-performance SMS Business Tools provides querying, reporting and OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) functionality essential for effective customer-care and billing, and marketing support.

"As our current customer base is already catering for the solutions mentioned above, we are confident that we took the right decision three generations ago to build SMSC's with unrivalled performance and the best availability, resilience and scalability of the market," concludes Peter Maathuis, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing of CMG Wireless Data Solutions.

About CMG Wireless Data Solutions

CMG Wireless Data Solutions is the leading global supplier of messaging, mobile Internet and Customer Care & Billing solutions for the wireless industry. CMG develops high-end solutions in close co-operation with its partners. To date, more than 150 of these quality solutions have been delivered to over 75 operators world-wide. They are widely recognized to be the best around, combining minimum operator intervention with maximum performance and availability.

The solutions portfolio includes solutions based on the Wireless Service Broker(TM), Mobile E-mail, Short Message Service Center, Cell Broadcast System and EPPIX (Customer Care & Billing System).

CMG Wireless Data Solutions is a division of CMG plc (www.cmg.com), CMG was established in 1964 and currently employs around 13,000 employees. The Group is listed on the London and Amsterdam stock exchanges.