Marconi (MONI) today announced that Telefonica Telecomunicaciones Publicas SA, the public payphone division of Telefonica Spain, has placed a significant order for the company`s Neptune interactive Web phones.
The agreement, the first commercial deployment of Marconi payphones directly into the Spanish market, follows a successful pilot programme conducted in Madrid during the second half of 2002. Shipments of the new units, which will be manufactured at Marconi Interactive Systems at Chorley, Lancashire, will begin during the first quarter of 2003.
The Web phones are interactive, next-generation public payphones that allow users to send e-mails and text messages and surf the Internet, as well as make telephone calls. They will be installed across Spain in public sites giving end-users access to advanced communications services on a `pay-as-you-use` basis.
Jose Aspas, president, Telefonica Telecomunicaciones Publicas, said: "Our trial programme has confirmed our view that interactive Web phones represent an exciting development for the public payphone industry in Spain. It will consolidate Telefonica`s position to provide the general public with the latest telecommunications developments. The trial results demonstrated that the Marconi terminals are robust and reliable."
Liam Brown, managing director of Marconi Interactive Systems, said: "This agreement is a testament to the work that we have done to introduce networks of next-generation public payphones around the world. Payphone operators are increasingly recognising that our interactive terminals help our customers achieve three business imperatives. Firstly, they bring in new, profitable revenues; secondly, they help provide advanced broadband communications services to end users; and thirdly, they help operators comply with the requirement to provide a comprehensive service provision."
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Marconi plc is a global telecommunications equipment and solutions company headquartered in London. The company`s core business is the provision of innovative and reliable optical networks, broadband routing and switching and broadband access technologies and services. The company`s aim is to help fixed and mobile telecommunications operators worldwide reduce costs and increase revenues.
The company`s customer base includes many of the world`s largest telecommunications operators. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol MONI. Additional information about Marconi can be found at www.marconi.com.
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