Tigo in Colombia launches access to Facebook for all its subscribers using Gemalto's Facebook for SIM mobile application

Business Wire via ITWeb,

Amsterdam, 21 Mar 2013

Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, announces that Tigo is the first mobile network operator in Colombia to offer mobile access to Facebook, regardless of the type of mobile handset, using its innovative Facebook for SIM solution.

Gemalto's embedded software application provides interactive, 24/7 access to Facebook from any type of handset, offering a cost-effective alternative for Tigo's 6.3 million subscribers. Tigo's users and potential customers will be able to enjoy the service, even without a data plan.

This innovative SIM with Gemalto's software application provides Tigo customers with an effortless and intuitive use of core Facebook features, such as wall posts and messages, friend requests, status updates and more. To get started, users simply power on their devices and receive a pop-up message informing them about the service. With a simple click, they are prompted to sign on to an existing Facebook account directly from their SIM menu.

"Tigo continues to be at the forefront of innovation offering compelling products; in this case, a service that provides users with access to Facebook, regardless of their plan or type of handset. We know that this application is extremely popular among Tigo subscribers in Colombia, where almost 40% of the population uses this social media [platform] to stay connected to family and friends [1],"said Jos'e Gal'an, Tigo's Entertainment Manager. "Our goal is to bring advanced services to all users, including prepaid customers who lack a data plan. Today, this is possible, thanks to Gemalto's Facebook for SIM."

"With the introduction of mobile number portability in Colombia, it has become more important than ever to provide value-added services that keep subscribers committed to their cellular providers," added Rodrigo Serna, Senior Vice-President of Telecommunications for Gemalto Latin America. "The application improves customer satisfaction providing access to Facebook from even the most basic phones, while it increases customer loyalty to the operator by linking the service to their SIM cards, a truly win-win solution."

Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO) is the world leader in digital security with 2012 annual revenues of EUR2.2 billion and more than 10 000 employees operating out of 83 offices and 13 research and development centres, located in 43 countries.

Gemalto is at the heart of the rapidly evolving digital society. Billions of people worldwide increasingly want the freedom to communicate, travel, shop, bank, entertain and work - any time, everywhere - in ways that are enjoyable and safe. Gemalto delivers on their expanding needs for personal mobile services, payment security, authenticated cloud access, identity and privacy protection, e-healthcare and e-government efficiency, convenient ticketing and dependable machine-to-machine (M2M) applications.

Gemalto develops secure embedded software and secure products, which it designs and personalises. Its platforms and services manage these secure products, the confidential data they contain and the trusted end-user services they enable. Its innovations enable its clients to offer trusted and convenient digital services to billions of individuals.

Gemalto thrives with the growing number of people using its solutions to interact with the digital and wireless world. For more information, visit www.gemalto.com, www.justaskgemalto.com, blog.gemalto.com, or follow @gemalto on Twitter

Tigo

Tigo has been present in Colombia since 2006 and is committed to keeping people and companies connected to today's world, offering reliable and innovative telecommunications services with justice and transparence. More than five million Colombians use Tigo's services, to date. Tigo is the brand operated by Colombia M'ovil S.A. ESP., a private company established in Colombia, which belongs, by majority, to Millicom International Cellular S.A., whose headquarters are located in Luxembourg, and operates in 13 Latin American and African countries, serving more than 30 million customers. More information at: www.tigo.co.

Statements presented in the hereby press release are merely based on expectations, plans, strategies, projection goals, future revenues, incomes, earnings or any other information from the company, whose results could vary and differ in the future from those previously presented in this release.

View this news release online at:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130320006381/en

Gemalto
Media
Asia-Pacific
Yvonne Lim
(+65) 6317 3730
yvonne.lim@gemalto.com

North America
Nicole Smith
(+15) 12 758 8921
nicole.smith@gemalto.com

Latin America
Ernesto Haikewitsch
(+55) 11 5105 9220
ernesto.haikewitsch@gemalto.com

Tigo
Media
Ana Mar'ia C'aceres G
(300) 209 4085
Communications Director
ana.caceres@tigo.com.co

(+33) 4 4236 4540 peggy.edoire@gemalto.com

Tigo in Colombia launches access to Facebook for all its subscribers using Gemalto's Facebook for SIM mobile application

Gemalto solution provides 24/7 interactive Facebook access from any mobile handset even without a data plan.