Sybase 365, a subsidiary of Sybase, Inc. (NYSE:SY), the global leader in mobile messaging interoperability and the delivery of mobile content, today announced further growth within the African mobile market, consolidating its position as the number one provider of international SMS across the continent.
Sybase 365 continues to grow its Person-to-Person messaging business by signing group agreements with the largest mobile operators in the region. These include the 14 Celtel International operators in Africa, enabling their more than 25 million subscribers to send and receive SMS text messages from most countries around the world. Group agreements have also recently been signed with major conglomerates based in Africa and with other new customers including Globacom Nigeria, Mattel Mauritania, Telma Madagascar and Rwandatel Rwanda. Sybase 365 is now connected to 97 of the 117 mobile operators in the region, and globally to more than 700 operators.
Through these operator partnerships more than 180 million subscribers across Africa will now have access to international SMS connectivity with the rest of the world, a figure that has increased from about 100 million at the same time last year. The number of mobile operators now working with Sybase 365 helps address a long-standing challenge for many African operators, namely the ability to support SMS inter-working with other global networks, where two-way bi-lateral roaming agreements for the exchange of messaging are not in place.
Sybase 365 now globally processes over 8 billion messages per month and the increase in its activity in Africa is evidenced by a 65 percent year-over-year growth in messages terminated into African operators.
"Working with these operators illustrates our commitment to the rapidly growing African market. Such agreements also contribute to extending Sybase 365's global reach," said Howard Stevens, vice president of Sybase 365, EMEA. "Earlier this year, we appointed a country manager based in Johannesburg, to further service the Africa region."
For more information, visit Sybase 365 at the GSM 3G AfricaCom Show (November 21-22, 2007) in Cape Town, South Africa, Stand B17.
About Sybase 365
Sybase 365, a subsidiary of Sybase, Inc. (NYSE:SY), leads the world in the global delivery and settlement of mobile messaging interoperability, and the management and distribution of mobile content. Processing more than 8 billion messages per month, Sybase 365 reaches more than 700 mobile operators around the world. For more information, visit: www.sybase.com/365.
Sybase and Sybase 365 are trademarks of Sybase, Inc. All other company and product names mentioned may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
Special Note: Statements concerning Sybase 365's future prospects, products and business relationships are forward-looking statements that involve a number of uncertainties and risks and cannot be guaranteed. Factors that could ultimately affect such statements are detailed from time to time in the Sybase, Inc. consolidated Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to its annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q (copies of which can be viewed on the Company's web site).
