LUND, Sweden, May 29, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- The leading mobile operator in Italy, TIM and Anoto collaborate to launch digital pen and paper-based services on the Italian market. Initially, innovative services enabling handwritten text to be sent directly from paper as a graphical e-mail, fax or SMS to a PC or a mobile phone will be launched. A commercial market test will start second half 2002.
During the launch phase of the services, innovations will be introduced revolutionising data transmissions on the mobile network and making more complex applications increasingly easy and more accessible.
"We see enormous potential in the Anoto concept. This collaboration offers an opportunity for us to provide customers with cutting edge, easy-to-use new applications and solutions. The Anoto functionality enables highly innovative solutions and at the same time an interface that is ordinary paper and pen, which is simple and intuitive to use. The Anoto functionality enables us to continuously develop and launch new paper-based value added services for all mobile phone users," said Mauro Sentinelli, TIM Managing Director.
"Partnering with TIM means, not only that we are partnering with the leading operator in Italy but also that we will be offering Anoto enabled services on one of the biggest and most important mobile markets in Europe. As a market leader TIM will allow millions of Italian users to experience the functionality and simplicity of paper-based services. TIM is also strategically important for us as a partner since TIM's interest, aggressive expansion plans and innovation speed confirms its leadership in the mobile market," said Christer Fahraeus, President of Anoto.
TIM clients will be able to send e-mails, SMS, faxes and notes directly from their digital paper: the technology developed by Anoto makes it possible to capture written text on a special page using a digital pen and sending it directly to the recipient through the mobile phone. TIM is the leading mobile operator in Italy, with 24,1 Million Lines and 39,7 worldwide enabling expansion of a significant number of paper-based services.For more information, please contact:
Christer Fahraeus Federico Fabretti Charlotte Laveson CEO Telecom Italia Director IR and PR Anoto AB Ufficio Stampa Mobile Anoto AB +46-733 45 12 05 +39-6 39882499 +46-733 47 86 20
Telecom Italia Mobile TIM operates in the domestic market, in Europe and Latin America and is the leading European operator for the number of lines. As of March 31, 2002 TIM counted 24.1 million lines in Italy alone. Taking into account the European and Latin American lines, TIM Group, has reached a total target of 39.7 million lines.
Anoto Group AB is a Swedish hi-tech company with unique solutions for transmission of handwritten text from paper to digital media, scanning of printed text and intelligent camera surveillance. All products are based on digital camera technology and image processing in real time. The Anoto Group today has three brand names: Anoto(R) - a comprehensive solution entailing paper, pen and server technologies, allowing us to connect all types of writing paper with the digital world, C-Pen(R) - a scanning pen that can store, interpret and transfer printed text, and WeSpottm - a hardware and software platform for intelligent camera surveillance. The Anoto Group has approximately 300 employees, offices in Lund (head office), Stockholm, Boston, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Major shareholders are Ericsson, Capital Group and the founder Christer Fahraeus. The Anoto share is traded on the O-list, Attract 40 of Stockholmsborsen (Stockholm Stock Exchange) under the ticker ANOT. For more information: www.anotogroup.com
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