STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 24, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Vodafone Sweden has concluded a partnership deal with Actaris, one of the world's leading manufacturers of electricity meters and systems. The two companies have joined forces to provide power companies with a package solution including a new type of electricity meter (with inbuilt SIM-card) which can be read automatically via Vodafone Sweden's mobile network. The move was motivated by new legislation that will require Swedish power companies to read all their electricity meters at least once a month by 2009.
Vodafone Sweden and Actaris have jointly developed a machine-to-machine communication service that enables power companies to read their electricity meters (and gas and water meters) via Vodafone's GSM network - securely and cost-efficiently. This joint package solution will furnish power companies with a whole new type of meter-reader with inbuilt SIM-card, operation and maintenance of communication systems and a central data system that collects and transfers meter data to the power companies' billing systems.
"We are thrilled to be part of a collaboration that displays the tremendous potential of mobile machine-to-machine communication. Our joint turnkey solution will make it possible for power companies to comfortably meet the changes necessitated by the new Swedish meter-reading legislation. Vodafone's GSM network covers the majority of Sweden's population. This means that power companies will not have to invest in new communication systems nor worry about rising costs of operation and maintenance of it," says Geraldine Wilson, Chief Commercial Officer at Vodafone Sweden.
Electricity meters will be read at night time when mobile traffic is lighter. This helps ensure the optimal utilisation of the mobile network and allows larger volumes of meter data to be transferred (via GPRS) rapidly to the power companies' billing systems.
Rob Rickard, regional manager for Actaris, Scandinavia, sees the new AMR package with Vodafone Sweden as a key step in growing AMR business in other countries: ``The potential benefits of this partnership with Vodafone Sweden are very exciting for both companies and we aim to lead the AMR business together for many years."
For more information, please contact: Vodafone Sweden: Goran Brandt, Manager Corporate Solutions, Vodafone Sweden Tel: +46 734 25 26 03, e-mail: goran.brandt@vodafone.com Actaris: Per Kapborg, Commercial Manager Electricity Metering & Systems, Scandinavia E-mail: Pkapborg@actaris.com For more information about Actaris, pleas visit www.actaris.com
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