Press releases

April 30, 2003

SMARTNER TO ACQUIRE COMMTAG, CREATING EUROPEAN MARKET LEADER IN MOBILE EMAIL AND OFFICE SOLUTIONS

Combines ‘push’ and ‘pull’ technologies to deliver seamless access to all corporate PIM applications

Smartner Information Systems today announced it has made a recommended offer to acquire the UK-based wireless software company Commtag Ltd. This all share transaction creates the new pan-European market leader for mobile office solutions and will considerably accelerate the availability of business mobility solutions throughout the European marketplace.

"The competence in always-on mobile email brought by Commtag is an essential part of Smartner’s future solution offering. In particular Commtag’s award-winning Duality product, which is based on 'push' technology, will boost Smartner’s position as a forerunner of mobile office solutions," said Smartner CEO Robert Rasmus. "With this acquisition, we are committed to delivering enterprise customers the best mobile office solutions in the market with the most attractive total cost of ownership."

Smartner Information Systems, based in Helsinki, Finland, has developed a world leading mobile office solution for hosted environments. The Smartner solution - Office Extender - enables operators and service providers to offer enterprise customers new services including easy and secure access to corporate email and calendaring, whilst also providing enterprise customers with a clear and rapid return on investment. The solution, already deployed by a number of European operators such as Swisscom Mobile and Vodafone Ireland, enables real-time access to office systems with practically any mobile device available. Combined with Duality Always-On Mail®, winner of the GSM Association Award 2003 for Best Corporate Wireless Application, it creates a breadth of solution unrivalled in the marketplace today. In addition, the mobile email products will continue to be available through Commtag’s valuable channel partner network.

"As the mobile data market in Europe matures and operators and enterprises alike understand the scale and scope of the possibilities true mobility opens up, so we’ll see consolidation in the market as vendors combine to address the growing service provider and corporate market," said Geoffrey Baird, CEO of Commtag. "This acquisition creates a clear, pan-European market leader in the mobile data space. Commtag has developed a unique position in the marketplace with its Duality solution and adding this to Smartner’s portfolio provides an unrivalled product line to our partners and corporate customers alike."

The acquisition is being made as an all share transaction. The two entities will immediately begin to operate as a combined company and will be called Smartner Information Systems Ltd. Smartner CEO Robert Rasmus continues as CEO of the new company. Smartner’s investors Eqvitec Partners, IT Provider and Sitra as well as Commtag’s investor Amadeus Capital continue backing the new company, ensuring a solid financial future for the business. Financial details were not disclosed.

About Commtag
Commtag Ltd, based in Cambridge UK, is a wireless technology company specialising in enabling-technology for always-on wireless applications and services. Commtag was founded in June 2000 with funding from Amadeus Capital Partners and private investors. Commtag is an associate member of the Bluetooth SIG and a founder member of Cambridge 3G.

Commtag's unplug+play wireless platform technology enables the rapid development and deployment of applications that allow users of smart mobile devices to exchange information in real-time, in a secure and easy to manage environment. Duality is the first in a series of Commtag products built on the unplug+play platform, delivering the world's first always-on mail for mobile executives.

For more information about Commtag, please visit www.commtag.com