Brand Continues it's Success in the Utilities Markets

Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water Plc places contract with Brand Communications for Mobile Data Solution

Huntingdon, UK, 12th September 2001

Mobile Data Specialists - Brand Communications today announced that Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water had decided to equip it's mobile workforce with Brand's Apollo solution.

Bournemouth Water chose Brand's award winning Apollo software so it could seamlessly extend it's LAN environment to the mobile worker by using the unique combination of session management (spoofing), resilient call recovery, security and compression. By using the Apollo solution it will increase the number of tasks undertaken daily by its mobile workforces, enhance customer response and service, and reduce operational costs.

Rita Carter, Project Manager at Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water explains "It's a unique solution for asset inspectors and repair and maintenance teams to work faster, smarter and more effectively, and a business driver for Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water to meet its strategic goals."

Martin Kendrick, MD of Brand Communications, adds "This contract is important for the utility industry as it clearly shows just how easy mobile data can be, as long as it is approached using open standards and strong partnerships. Brand are delighted to be associated with such a prestigious project.

The contract is being run as a pilot initially will full roll out due to take place in Q1 2002 to all Bournemouth Waters' mobile staff.

About Brand Communications

Brand Communications is a global leader in mobile data and remote access solutions. We develop, manufacture and market a range of leading mobile, remote office and site-to-site access solutions for all environments including ISDN, PSTN, Fixed Lines, Satellite, GSM and GPRS.

Apollo has helped to significantly grow the number of active GSM data users worldwide and has delivered tangible paybacks to many networks and their users. Apollo continues to deliver such rich benefits to HSCSD, GPRS and 3G networks. More information can be found at http://www.brandcomms.com

About Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water

Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water Plc is a statutory public water supplier serving nearly 200,000 businesses and homes on the south coast of England. It supplies about 156 megalitres of water a day on average through 2750km of distribution mains. The company's history dates back over 135 years. The original companies were not privatised in 1989 having always been independent but converted to public limited company status in September 1992 and merged to form present company in 1994.

Bournemouth Water is investing nearly £50 million in improvements to its assets between 2000 and 2005; £72 million was spent from 1990 - 1999. It has a low level if total leakage at about 14%, which is close to the economic break-even level and one of the lowest in the UK. Total leakage includes water lost from customers own pipework which represents one third of all losses. The chartermark for excellence in public service was awarded to the utility in 2000. Only 8 of the 26 water companies have earned this distinction.
For more information, please visit http://www.bwhwater.co.uk

For further information on Brand Communications Ltd, contact:

Miss Katie Sarah Ruff
Brand Communications Limited
Trinity House
Ermine Business Park
Huntingdon
Cambs, PE29 6XY

Tel: +44 (0)1480 442100   Email: katier@brandcomms.com
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