Empresas y finanzas

modu Starts a Significant Co-Operation with Telecom Italia, the Largest Telecommunication Operator in Italy



    modu today announced that it has recently formed a co-operation
    with Telecom Italia related to modu´s unique mobile portfolio.

    modu has developed a personalized mobile phone concept that allows
    customers to use a slimmed down, standalone mobile phone (the modu)
    that can be enclosed in an endless variety of modu jackets and modu
    mates to reflect the customer´s mood, personality, tastes and need for
    functionality.

    The modu jackets and modu mates will allow unlimited variations:
    they could have the appearance of a standard phone (slider, clam,
    etc), but may assume new guises as other brands (fashion, sport,
    lifestyle) join the modu revolution and design modu jackets and modu
    mates of their own, in addition to the products modu itself will be
    manufacturing.

    The modu concept frees consumers from the constraints of static,
    inflexible and outdated handsets, redefining the market and opening it
    up to new entrants from outside the mobile world. The modu approach -
    a world first - is aimed at giving consumers greater choice and
    flexibility in the way they buy mobile phones, as well as making
    personal communications more personal, varied and fun.

    For operators, the benefits are numerous: modu´s business model
    means operators now have an additional opportunity to engage in a
    positive dialogue with their subscribers by offering them a wider and
    more appealing choice of handset models and styles; they can also
    create and build new communities and segments among their subscriber
    base, leading to increased usage, additional handsets, greater loyalty
    and reduced churn.

    modu has announced that a wide range of mobile products, including
    a range of modu jackets, are scheduled to be commercially available
    later this year.

    Dov Moran, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of modu, said:
    "This co-operation with Telecom Italia is a milestone for modu, and is
    among the first of a number of such deals we are negotiating with
    prominent mobile network operators as the modu revolution takes off.

    "We have found in our discussions with operators that they are
    keen to embrace exciting new concepts. As soon as they see what modu
    has to offer, they want to partner with us because we represent a
    solution to a problem that has been challenging them for some time:
    how to refresh and revitalize the subscriber experience. modu helps
    them do that in a meaningful way.

    "modu is all about making new connections, and the co-operation
    with Telecom Italia helps us achieve that goal. We are delighted that
    Telecom Italia shares our passion and our vision. It has been a
    pleasure working with the Telecom Italia management team to align our
    respective strategies around this co-operation, and we look forward to
    this bearing fruit over the coming months."

    According to Leo Tranquilli, VP Handsets of Telecom Italia, modu´s
    product concept is in line with Telecom Italia´s innovation trends, in
    that it enables the success of innovative services through the
    enrichment of the customer experience. Telecom Italia´s innovation
    leverages on the launch of very innovative and specialized products,
    which improve the overall experience of the customer, increase VAS
    ARPU and high-value customers´ loyalty.

    Paolo Paganucci, VP Scouting & Benchmarking of Telecom Italia,
    adds: "The industry abounds with success stories in which a specific
    application (for example e-mail, GPS navigation, music on the move,
    etc.) is identified with the vertical device. On the other hand,
    operators´ and customers´ dreams of the "Swiss army knife" handset is
    currently a letdown from the perspective of the customer experience
    especially on innovative services.

    The collaboration with modu goes in the direction of overcoming
    this dichotomy, thanks to a new paradigm which gives the possibility
    to change the customer experience of the service without changing the
    device. The customer will be able to choose the preferred ergonomics
    and functionality that best suits his needs in any particular moment
    and context."

    The cooperation with Telecom Italia is the first in a line of
    deals modu is negotiating with leading global mobile network operators
    (MNOs) in other countries to ensure that the modu platform achieves
    widespread penetration and user uptake once products are available in
    the fourth quarter of 2008.

    NOTES TO EDITORS

    About modu

    www.modumobile.com

    modu was established by Dov Moran and several of his colleagues
    from msystems, a company he founded and sold to SanDisk in 2006 for
    $1.6B. modu´s vision is to bring a fundamental change to the dynamics
    of the mobile phone industry. The company is dedicated to developing
    products, technologies, a wide ecosystem and business relationships
    that will help realize that ambition. modu will have its official
    launch at the Mobile World Congress, being held in Barcelona, Spain in
    February 2008.

    modu gives users the freedom to choose a new phone as often as
    they like, meeting their changing needs, preferences and style- easily
    and affordably. At the heart of the modu ecosystem is modu - a tiny
    and sophisticated mobile phone. modu can be slipped into a wide
    variety of modu jackets - stylish phone enclosures that enable users
    to create a new look or design and provide added functionality. modu
    can also slip into modu mates- consumer electronic devices that are
    modu-enabled - allowing users to create an entirely new communication
    experience.