Offering mobile device support services add to company’s one-stop approach to meet business customers’ needs
CHATSWORTH, CA (February 11, 2003) — MobilePlanet, a leading multi-channel direct reseller of mobile computing and wireless products has acquired Ubiquio, a mobile computing services provider that deploys, supports and manages fleets of mobile or wireless devices for businesses throughout North America. With this acquisition, MobilePlanet significantly expands its existing mobile deployment and management services and extends its leadership role with enterprises that choose to invest in mobile and wireless technology.
Ubiquio is well known in the mobile industry as one of the first providers to focus exclusively on mobile computing support services. The company has deployed nearly 10,000 devices in its three years of operation, and supports over 3,000 mission-critical devices for nearly 50 customers. Ubiquio helped pioneer the concept of prepaid mobile support services, and was the first provider to offer hosted solutions for remote software distribution and asset management of deployed mobile devices. Ubiquio has been working with MobilePlanet for nearly two years, when they jointly introduced mobile support “incident packs” in the MobilePlanet catalog. By acquiring Ubiquio, MobilePlanet is even better positioned to meet the rapidly growing demand for mobile and wireless services.
Businesses looking to roll-out a mobile computing project to their workforce increasingly outsource services such as device selection, vendor selection and pricing. Once purchased, they need to configure, maintain, repair, support and manage every device. Having a vast selection of products to choose from, plus value-added mobile device services in-house allow MobilePlanet to offer businesses products, customized deployment and support solutions at competitive prices, helping lower a company’s total cost of ownership. From mobile device consultation and fulfillment; to mobile help desk support; to device management such as inventory maintenance, remote software distribution, exchange/replacement programs, asset management and more, MobilePlanet is a one-stop resource for rolling out any mobile computing project.
“In keeping with our corporate growth strategy, this acquisition complements our company’s business,”said Philippe Pastor, Chairman & CEO of MobilePlanet. “These services are a strategically significant addition to our existing B2B offering and position us well to further strengthen our value proposition to our existing customer base and in the ability to successfully pursue new markets.”
Further, Pastor mentions, “We believe businesses need a full-scale mobile device support service that they can rely on. Our new services, combined with our product expertise, exceptional customer and technical service and wide-selection of competitively-priced products are extremely valuable elements that businesses look at when rolling out a mobile computing project, effectively and efficiently. We’re excited about being able to offer these services to our customers on a more direct level.”
About MobilePlanet
As the leading multi-channel direct reseller of mobile computing and wireless products and services and a complete resource for businesses and mobile professionals, MobilePlanet offers name-brand products through its award-winning Web site, www.mobileplanet.com, European Web site, www.mobileplanet.fr and its catalog by calling 1-800-675-2638. In addition, as a company expressly targeted to the mobile computing industry, MobilePlanet’s team of product and solution experts work directly with businesses and mobile professionals to help create efficient and cost-effective solutions for their mobile computing needs.
MobilePlanet is a member of Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR, www.pprgroup.com), a Paris, France-based, publicly-traded international leading specialized distributor with sales of $24 billion in 2001.
MobilePlanet is a registered trademark of MobilePlanet, Inc.