ASCN Ascom and KPN Sign Strategic Alliance Ascom
Post# of 94145
Ascom Wireless Solutions and Royal KPN N.V. have announced a strategic alliance to create joint offerings for mission-critical communication solutions based on cellular network technology to the healthcare segment.
The healthcare sector increasingly recognizes the strategic importance of ICT as a cornerstone for transformation. There is a lot of potential to drive improved and more cost-effective healthcare. Mobility, reliability and integration are key trends. At the same time, care becomes more and more patient-centered.
“We see a clear demand for a new patient focused mobile healthcare concept that makes communication more safe and efficient, facilitates mobility and the different work flows”, says Claes Ödman, General Manager, Ascom Wireless Solutions and continues:
“KPN and Ascom have agreed to join forces in order to create a joint offering for mission-critical communication in healthcare using cellular network technology. We embrace this technology and want to deliver safe and reliable solutions. That is the reason for working with operators that offer mission critical networks. KPN is our strategic partner in the Dutch market”.
Together, KPN and Ascom will provide a complete offer for the healthcare sector, including total integration from devices and applications to implementation and maintenance services.
Monique Philippens, Managing Director of the Healthcare vertical of KPN says:
“In the Dutch healthcare sector, there is a growing demand for increased productivity and cost-efficiency, in order to keep the Dutch healthcare affordable and available for everyone. At the same time mobile technology offers the possibilities for more innovative solutions. That is why we work with best in class partners like Ascom to achieve these end customers’ goals.
By joining forces, Ascom and KPN will create a stronger offer for the healthcare industry. For KPN, the alliance represents an exciting possibility in a professional segment with higher value-added services for Healthcare customers. Already back in 2008, KPN established a dedicated healthcare vertical with a staff of 150 employees. This division provides a range of services, including connectivity for voice and data, integration services, hosting, consultancy and a cloud based service, tailor-made for the healthcare industry. Through the alliance with Ascom the offer has been significantly strengthened.
Ascom has allocated a significant amount of resources from its user interaction team for research and development. The R&D department constantly works to increase user involvement in product development. Functionality and usability is consolidated at several stages of the development. End-customers and partners will be involved more early as a way to boost the development process.
For a number of years, the healthcare industry has been ambivalent to the use of cellular technology. Many hospitals have had total bans on the use of cell phones. This is now more or less a thing of the past. At the same time, smart devices are making rapid advances in the professional domain. In the light of these developments, the alliance is a natural way forward for both Ascom and KPN.
ABOUT KPN
KPN http://www.kpn.com/zakelijk/cloud/kpn-zorg.htm is the leading telecommunications and ICT service provider in The Netherlands, offering wireline & wireless telephony, internet (fixed & mobile) and television to consumers, next to end-to-end telecommunications and ICT services to business customers. KPN is market leader in workspace-management in the Benelux region and manages over 2,2 million workspaces. In Germany and Belgium KPN has a multiple brand strategy and has taken a 3rd position with E-Plus and Base. In 2008 KPN introduced her healthcare vertical, offering her healthcare customers dedicated services, which meet the needs of this segment. KPN Healthcare wants to participate actively to make sure that the best healthcare is available for everyone. That’s why we offer ICT solutions which make sure that there’s more time for the best healthcare possible and more comfort will be available for consumers.
ABOUT ASCOM WIRELESS SOLUTIONS
Ascom Wireless Solutions (www.ascom.com/ws) is a leading provider of on-site wireless communications for key segments such as hospitals, elderly care, independent living, manufacturing industries, secure establishments, retail and hotels. More than 75,000 systems are installed at major companies all over the world. The company offers a broad range of voice and professional messaging solutions, creating value for customers by supporting and optimizing their Mission-Critical processes. The solutions are based on VoWiFi, IP-DECT, nurse call and paging technologies, smartly integrated into existing enterprise systems. The company has subsidiaries in 11 countries and 1,200 employees worldwide. Founded in 1955 and based in G?teborg, Sweden, Ascom Wireless Solutions is part of the Ascom Group, listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange.
Ascom Wireless Solutions
Wendy Bor
Business Development Manager
Tel: +31-6-295-86-488
Email: Wendy.Bor@ascom-ws.com
or
Tom McKearney
Marketing Communications
Tel : +46-31-55-95-36
E-mail: tommckearney@ascom.com
Royal KPN N.V
Corporate Communications
Media relations
Tel : +31-70-446-63-00
Fax: +31-70-446-63-10
Email: press@kpn.com
For more information visit www.ascom.com/ws