Hutchison Telecom And American Express Bank Launch Flexible Mobile Phone Banking Service Based On Advanced GSM Phase 2+ SIM Cards From Schlumberger

HONG KONG, February 4, 1999 -- Schlumberger GSM Phase 2+ SIM cards are providing the foundation for one of Asia's most flexible on-line mobile banking applications. The new service, the first ever of its kind available in Hong Kong, has been developed together with Orange of Hutchison Telecommunications (Hong Kong) Ltd, one of the leading mobile network operators, and their partner, American Express Bank. With the advanced SIM Toolkit technology, Orange subscribers can perform various functions such as checking account balances, transferring money between accounts, and paying credit card bills anywhere around the world.

Subscribers accessing this powerful new service utilise a menu-based interface to guide them through the operations without having to remember special numbers. To provide speedy access to the financial information and transactions, the subscriber's bank account numbers and names can be stored on the SIM card. For increased security of data transfer, an on-card algorithm protects all communication.

"Mobile Phone Banking is consumer friendly and fits the fast-paced lifestyle of Hong Kong people," said Mr Alan Tsang, General Manager of Personal Financial Services, American Express Bank, Hong Kong. "This new service enables customers to access backing services anytime and anyplace they want".

Mobile phone banking applications are becoming increasingly versatile as the power, flexibility and high security levels inherent in smart card-based services become more widely accepted by banks and bank customers alike. Schlumberger and Hutchison Telecom have co-operated closely for four years on many SIM projects; this is the second value-added service based on Phase 2+ SIM cards developed by the two companies following the recent highly successful launch of the operator's "Orange Info" mobile information service last November. The in-depth technical support available from Schlumberger via its Asian-based design and manufacturing centres in Hong Kong has led to the close partnership with the operator, enabling this new service to be developed and delivered within a very short timeframe. Both value-added services currently offered by Hutchison Telecom are based on the Schlumberger Activa range of SIMs.

"The power of Schlumberger Activa SIMs has enabled us to implement a highly flexible service that addresses the rapidly changing needs of our subscribers," comments Stephen Ngan , Director of Sales and Marketing at Hutchison Telecommunications (Hong Kong) Limited. "And our close relationship with the engineers at Schlumberger Asia Technical Centre enabled us to rapidly transform our ideas, and the ideas of our partner, into an efficient, secure and ergonomic service".

"GSM Phase 2+ SIMs allow operators exceptional freedom to define unique services for their subscribers that differentiate their brand in the dynamic GSM marketplace," adds Jean Claude Deturche, Smart Cards Marketing Director for Schlumberger Test & Transactions Asia. "This development heralds a new era in mobile banking that will speed the deployment of personalised productivity and lifestyle tools"


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