SeaMobile Enterprises Announces Agreement with Holland America Line; Wireless Network Installation Aboard Holland America Line's Luxury Ships Largest Contract to Date for Fast Growing SeaMobile.SEATTLE -- SeaMobile Enterprises, the dominant global service provider of at-sea communications, connectivity and content services, announced today it has signed an agreement with Holland America Line Holland America was founded in 1873 as the Dutch-America Steamship Company, a shipping and Passenger line. Because it was headquartered in Rotterdam and provided service to the Americas, it became known as Holland America Line (HAL). , the leader in the cruise industry's premium cruise segment. SeaMobile will provide wireless cellular phone and PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) A handheld computer for managing contacts, appointments and tasks. It typically includes a name and address database, calendar, to-do list and note taker, which are the functions in a personal information manager (see PIM). services for Holland America Line's guests throughout the world. Installations of wireless broadband High-speed wireless transmission of data. What is "high" speed is always a changing number. Wireless systems are typically slower than land-based, wireline networks. In the past, wireless broadband started at 250 Kbps, whereas land-based broadband was generally considered to start at T1 communications equipment will begin on board Holland America's entire fleet of 13 ships later this year. The SeaMobile communications service will allow guests and staff of Holland America's ships to use their own cellular phones and wireless PDAs while at sea. SeaMobile's proprietary technology is a sophisticated IP/software-based solution that works with any type of wireless phone (GSM, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) The first high-speed digital data service provided by cellular carriers that used the GSM technology. GPRS added a packet-switched channel to GSM, which uses dedicated, circuit-switched channels for voice conversations. or CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) A method for transmitting simultaneous signals over a shared portion of the spectrum. The foremost application of CDMA is the digital cellular phone technology from QUALCOMM that operates in the 800 MHz band and 1.9 GHz PCS band. ) used by the guest when accessing the SeaMobile network. This allows virtually anyone aboard any vessel at sea to use voice and data services available through their wireless home carrier, just as they would on land. Worldwide roaming agreements established by SeaMobile provide transparent connectivity for wireless services. Charges for calls and data services will then appear on the user's wireless bill from their home carrier. "We are pleased to be chosen by Holland America Line as their communications partner and view this as an important milestone for SeaMobile," said Bill Marks, chief executive officer of SeaMobile Enterprises. "Holland America is known for offering premier services at a great value to its guests. Being chosen by Holland America Line further validates the leadership position that SeaMobile has earned very quickly in this industry. To be selected as a Holland America partner speaks of their confidence in SeaMobile to provide seamless communication services to their guests at an affordable rate. We will more than meet their expectations." Maritime Telecommunications Network A telecommunications network is a of telecommunications links and nodes arranged so that messages may be passed from one part of the network to another over multiple links and through various nodes. (MTN MTN A short-form for Medium Term Note. MTN Medium term notes issued by corporations, much like shorter-term commercial paper. MTN See medium-term note (MTN). ), a SeaMobile company, already provides satellite connectivity and manages the Internet cafes on board Holland America's ships. These simple-to-use, high-quality services are expected to complement a host of premier services aboard Holland America Line ships. Holland America Line is consistently among the highest-rated cruise lines, and was recently awarded the Best Overall Cruise Value by World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society in Ocean & Cruise News for the 14th consecutive year. "Over the course of our company's history, our cruise line has carried more than 10 million passengers across the world," said Stein Kruse, president and chief executive officer of Holland America. "This is a result of our commitment to providing the best comfort and amenities for guests aboard our 13 luxury ships. We chose SeaMobile Enterprises to provide simple-to-use, superb communication services for our ships, because we know how important it is for our guests to have the ability to stay connected with family, friends, and business associates while at sea." About SeaMobile Enterprises SeaMobile Enterprises is the dominant global service provider of at-sea communications, connectivity and content services. Our global VSAT (Very Small Aperture satellite Terminal) A small earth station for satellite transmission that handles up to 56 Kbits/sec of digital transmission. VSATs that handle the T1 data rate (up to 1.544 Mbits/sec) are called "TSATs. satellite communications network is delivered by the industry leader, Maritime Telecommunications Network, a SeaMobile company. Combined with our superior technology and customer support, we provide always-on connectivity to deliver a vast array of services for businesses, government entities and consumers. Services include mobile phone service, wireless service for PDAs and laptops, access to printed versions of more than 200 hometown daily newspapers, live television, Internet cafes and much more. SeaMobile Enterprises offers solutions for cruise lines, ferries, yachts, container ships, offshore platforms, and the government and military. The company has offices in Seattle, Miramar, Fla., London and Paris. For more information, visit www.seamobile.com and www.mtnsat.com. About Holland America Line (a division of Carnival Corp. and plc (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : CCL 1. CCL - Coral Common LISP. 2. CCL - Computer Control Language. English-like query language based on COLINGO, for IBM 1401 and IBM 1410. and CUK CUK Conservatoires UK ) With the introduction of the 1,918-passenger ms Noordam in early 2006, Holland America Line's fleet grows to 13 ships, offering nearly 500 cruises from more than 25 home ports. Itineraries range from two to 108 days and visit all seven continents, including new Australia/New Zealand and Asia sailings, a world cruise and popular sailings to several ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Mexico and Europe. The ms Noordam also will offer Caribbean sailings in the winter from new homeport New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . Holland America Line's $225 million, fleetwide Signature of Excellence enhancements feature new programs and amenities including the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine -- a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts will provide cooking demonstrations and classes -- Explorations Cafe powered by the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times, teens-only activity areas, and all new cabin amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush-top Mariner's Dream Beds. Signature of Excellence enhancements will be completed on 10 ships at the start of 2006 and all 13 ships by the fall of 2006. For more information, consult a travel agent, call 877-SAIL-HAL (877-724-5425) or visit www.hollandamerica.com. "Safe Harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. " Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995. A number of the matters and subject areas discussed in this press release that are not historical or current facts deal with potential future circumstances and developments, including our future expectations concerning the operations of SeaMobile. The discussion of such matters and subject areas is qualified by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations generally and also may materially differ from SeaMobile's actual future experience involving any one or more of such matters and subject areas. SeaMobile has attempted to identify, in context, certain of the factors that they currently believe may cause actual future experience and results to differ from SeaMobile's current expectations regarding the relevant matter or subject area. This press release speaks only as of its date, and SeaMobile disclaims any duty to update the information herein. |
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