New Strategic Relationship Calls for Variety of Future GSM Mobile Phones
NEW YORK, NY, October 21, 2002- As part of an international launch event in New York, Siemens today announced it would provide the CT56 mobile phone to Cingular Wireless - just in time for the 2002 holiday shopping season. The small, lightweight, dual band 850/1900 MHz GSM™ (Global System for Mobile communications) phone features Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS) capability, allowing users to add pre-installed sounds and pictures to their text messages. The fashionable CT56 mobile phone also allows users to make calls using voice dialing or take calls using the phone's speakerphone feature and features polyphonic sound capabilities to deliver truly realistic sound to ring tones.
Cingular Wireless' agreement to carry the CT56 mobile phone marks the beginning of a larger, long-term plan to market a variety of future Siemens' GSM handsets. Cingular will sell the CT56 in its GSM markets. The CT56 mobile phone is designed exclusively for Cingular Wireless customers.
"Our relationship with Cingular Wireless continues to grow and they've been a key partner for us from the moment we debuted our first GSM handset in the United States in 2001," said Bernt Klein, senior vice president and general manager of the Mobile Phones unit, NAFTA region, within Siemens Information and Communication Mobile. "We're able to expand our portfolio of U.S. products due to the support, confidence and long term investment of an operator like Cingular Wireless."
"As the GSM footprint expands across the country, an increasing number of U.S. subscribers will be able to enjoy the services we can provide through Siemens mobile handsets," said Frank Boyer, vice president of procurement, Cingular Wireless. "Our long-term relationship with Siemens is critical to offering our customers the mobile applications that help them get the most out of their work and leisure activities."
Built-in wireless Java™ technology gives users of the CT56 mobile phone access to applications that include games such as Flowboarding with real voice and vibration feedback. The phone's flexible memory management allows users to store their favorite ring tones, games, screen savers, and other applications on the phone and interchangeable CLIPit™ covers provide a fun way for users to personalize the exterior of the phone.
The CT56 mobile phone features GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Class 8 technology for high-speed wireless data access. GPRS also enables fast Internet browsing via a WAP 1.2.1 (Wireless Access Protocol) browser.
Features and Benefits
Along with superior voice quality, the CT56 provides up to 250 hours* of standby
time and up to five hours* of talk time thanks to a Li-Ion 700 mAh battery. Available
accessories for the CT56 include USB data cable, travel charger, Li-Ion battery,
belt clip and headset. Its many useful features include:
GSM Background
Adoption of GSM technology continues to grow significantly. Globally, there are
more than 732 million GSM mobile phone users accounting for approximately 71 percent
of the total mobile phone population worldwide, according to recent statistics provided
to the GSM Association by EMC, one of the foremost sources for global data on the
wireless industry. Siemens is committed to supporting GSM technology, the de facto
global standard for the wireless world.
About Siemens Information and Communication Mobile
The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (IC Mobile) offers the complete
range of mobile solutions including mobile devices, infrastructure and applications.
Devices include mobile phones, wireless modules, mobile organizers and cordless
phones as well as products for wireless home networks. The infrastructure portfolio
includes GSM, GPRS and 3G mobile network technologies from base stations and switching
systems to intelligent networks, e.g. for prepaid services. Mobile Applications
cover end-to-end solutions for Messaging, Location Based Services or Mobile Payment.
For the fiscal year 2001 (September 30), IC Mobile recorded sales of EUR 11.3 billion
and employed 30,730 people worldwide. You can access further information about Siemens
IC Mobile on the Internet at www.my-siemens.com.
About Siemens
Siemens AG (NYSE: SI), headquartered in Munich, is a leading global electronics
and engineering company. It employs some 450,000 people in 193 countries, and reported
worldwide sales of more than $74 billion in fiscal 2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01). The
United States is Siemens' largest market, with nearly 80,000 employees and sales
of $18.9 billion for fiscal 2001. For more information about Siemens in the U.S.,
go to www.usa.siemens.com.
About Cingular Wireless
Cingular Wireless is the second largest wireless carrier in the U.S, and a joint
venture between SBC Communications (NYSE - SBC) and BellSouth (NYSE - BLS). As a
leader in mobile voice and data communications, Cingular serves more than 22 million
voice and data customers across the United States. Cingular provides cellular/PCS
service in 43 of the top 50 markets nationwide. Cingular's Mobitex-based wireless
packet data service operates throughout the United States, covering more than 93
percent of the urban business population located in 492 Metropolitan Statistical
Areas (MSAs) and non-MSAs with a total population of 200 million people. Cingular
offers customers advanced technologies in simple, cost-effective ways that permit
them to tap the creative potential of wireless through their own self-expression.
Details of the company are available at www.cingular.com.
###
Any statements in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties; actual results may differ from the forward-looking statements. Siemens AG undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Siemens is a trademark of Siemens AG. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Note to editors: *Battery performance is approximate. Feature availability depends on network configurations, signal strength, usage patterns, and subscription. Not available in all areas.