News Release - Archive

Ascom expands its global market leadership and will be awarded 'Recognised for Excellence'

Innovative further development of unique QVoice measuring platform and recognition of excellent performance.
Ascom presented the most recent innovation of the unique QVoice mobile measuring platform to its customers at this year's international 'QVoice User Group Conference 2005' in Divonne-les-Bains, France: The operators of mobile phone services themselves can now flexibly configure the QVoice test and optimisation systems for their networks. A key competitive advantage as the users have full control over the way the measuring systems are equipped and used. This innovation means Ascom is extending its leadership in the quality-of-service segment that they have been serving globally for many years. For its outstanding business performance, the Ascom Carrier Products business unit, will be awarded from the EFQM Institute to use the title 'Recognised for Excellence in Europe'.

QVoice is the trusted platform from Ascom to measure and improve the quality of mobile phone networks. Thanks to the new modular construction QVoice offers flexibility that can not be imitated, selection options for tests and optimisation and allows the user to respond without delay to the rapidly changing market environment that is increasingly becoming more varied.

The new QVoice measurement platform is comprised a unique arrangement of system components such as a central measurement and control unit, a number of measurement processes that the user can configure himself and a system of measuring and data interfaces that are independent of the device used.

This innovative arrangement offers the freedom to configure the test systems precisely to your own requirements and therefore to match up costs, performance, hardware selection and processor confi-guration, and adapt them to the ongoing requirements. Thanks to the modular construction it is easy to directly upgrade existing QVoice solutions to the innovative measuring platform.

'Recognised for Excellence'
With this future-oriented innovation for its QVoice measuring platform, Ascom has succeeded in extending its leading global position even further. QVoice is one of the highlights in the Ascom Carrier Products business unit. Over the past ten years QVoice has accompanied the quality measurements on all generations of mobile networks: from analogue networks via GSM and GPRS right up to third generation. Therefore QVoice has become one of the most successful products from Ascom and, as a result of its ongoing further development, the undisputed global market leader in the quality-of-service segment.

Furthermore Ascom Carrier Products will be awarded from the EFQM Institute (European Foundation for Quality Management) in Brussels to use the “Recognised for Excellence in Europe” (R4E) title – recognised for outstanding achievements through continuous and systematic improvements, well established processes and the professional management system. After a tree days intensive EFQM “Excellence Assessment” combined with the ISO9001:2000 “Certification Audit”, Ascom Carrier Products received an extra-ordinary positive evaluation. Only two companies in Switzerland and 71 in whole Europe are holding this ambitious level.

For further information about QVoice, see http://www.qvoice.com/ as well as for a picture of the new platform, see here.

Information about EFQM, see http://www.efqm.org

About Ascom

Ascom is an international solution provider with comprehensive technological know-how. In future the company aims to concentrate on the core areas of Wireless Solutions (high-value, customer-specific on-site communications solutions) and Security Solutions (applications for security, communication, automation and control systems for infrastructure operators, public security institutions and the army). The Special Products Division covers the activities of Network Integration (network solutions for the data/voice convergence market) in Italy and Payphones (specialised products for voice traffic). Discontinued operations primarily comprise Transport Revenue (revenue collection, parking and toll systems) and Network Integration Switzerland, Belgium and Germany. With a wealth of experience in implementing complex projects for discerning customers, Ascom has established itself in important key markets. Offerings range from analysis and consulting to system design and system integration, project management, engineering and implementation, right through to maintenance and support. The company has subsidiaries in 22 countries and a workforce of some 3,500 employees worldwide. Ascom registered shares (ASCN) are listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange in Zurich.

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