Digifone selects Brand's 'Apollo' for Enhanced GPRS Service

Brand Communications 'Apollo' solution becomes a key element of Digifone's GPRS Service

Huntingdon, UK, 22nd January 2002

Mobile Data Specialists - Brand Communications today announced that Digifone, Irelands most successful network operator, has installed Brand's Apollo 'Anywhere' solution within it's corporate GPRS network. Brand's Apollo 'Anywhere' delivers many advantages to using mobile data over GPRS.

Digifone's new GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) network had been designed to offer faster speeds with an always connected and always online solution. Brand's Apollo 'Anywhere' GPRS Solution was selected to improve Digifone's corporate customers usability and speed of connection when connecting to their intranet or corporate based services.

An Apollo 'Anywhere' server has been deployed within Digifone's network and each Digifone GPRS subscriber is offered the Apollo 'Anywhere' software to access the Digifone Network and an onwards connection to their LAN.

Apollo 'Anywhere' is an innovative mobile data client / server solution from Brand Communications. It speeds up, reduces the cost and offers total reliability for anyone using mobile data over GPRS. It has been designed especially for the needs of the mobile user and requires no change to the corporate application environment. As reliability is paramount in mobile data communications, Brand's unique application recovery protocol automatically recovers any lost or broken call and established the session transparently to the user. This ensures no re-logging on and Brand re-establish the whole session seamlessly and continues to send the information from exactly where it left off.

Apollo 'Anywhere also gives mobile users access to all IP applications, not only email and the internet but also any corporate LAN application such as job scheduling, emergency information and industry specific applications. Apollo 'Anywhere' improves the performance of IP by compressing the data first before applying VPN, which significantly improves throughput. This offers significant savings in time, due to faster throughput.

Session Management (spoofing) is another key feature of Apollo 'Anywhere'. As GPRS is packet based solution, it is important to minimise traffic especially keep-alive and rip traffic. Brand's session management selects only true data packets and improves data transmission and ensures the user only pays for packets containing user data.

Using Brand's Apollo 'Anywhere' you also strength the security of your data, which could be a serious risk when using GPRS. Apollo 'Anywhere' uses a high level of authentication using Blowfish encryption for secure access. It also allows organisations to keep their existing security policies, which may include such security measures as SecurID

'Digifone had always been committed to offering our customer base a state-of- the-art GSM network which guarantees superior service' said Colin Coffey, Product Development Project Manager, Digifone. 'With this new GPRS deployment Digifone will be able to provide the power and speed to make our wireless data services the best in Ireland.'

Martin Kendrick, Brand Communications Managing Director, comments, "We are delighted that Digifone has chosen the Apollo 'Anywhere' solution as part of their ongoing wireless data strategy.' This Digifone contract again underlines the leading value-add position of 'Apollo Anywhere' within the GSM and PTT operator market. Apollo 'Anywhere' is fundamental to the usability of GPRS for mobile data services' adds Martin Kendrick.

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 Digifone

Digifone is a wholly owned subsidiary of mm02 plc. Mm02 employs 15,000 people and has a turnover of STG£3.2 billion for the year ended 31 March 2001. Listed for the first time on the London and New York Stock Exchange on 19 November 2001, mm02 is one of the top 100 businesses in Europe by market capitalisation. Its subsidiary companies consist of Digifone (in Ireland), BT Cellnet (in the UK), Telfort (in the Netherlands), Viag Interkom (in Germany), Manx Telecom (on the Isle of Mann) and Genie (in the UK).

Digifone was launched in 1997 as Ireland's second GSM mobile operator. From a standing start in 1997, Digifone has achieved remarkable success and in the last five years, the company has built its customer base to 1.1 million customers and has grown its market share to 41%. Headquartered in Dublin, Digifone has 1,000 employees in offices in Dublin and Limerick.
For more information, please visit http://www.digifone.com

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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