Cambridge, 2 February 2009 – ip.access (www.ipaccess.com), the multi-award winning developer of picocell and femtocell solutions, announces that Blue Ocean Wireless, the world’s first global GSM provider for the deep sea merchant maritime sector, is using their nanoGSM® system to provide mobile phone service to merchant seafarers.

Blue Ocean Wireless’ global service enables seafarers to use their existing mobile phones while at sea in exactly the same way that they would in port or on land. The ability to communicate with family and friends at sea is a real need for seafarers, who spend many months away from home.

Using the cellular signal generated by the ip.access nanoGSM picocell, crew members can use their own standard GSM phones to make and receive calls and SMS messages while on board. The nanoGSM picocell is typically installed in the accommodation areas. It is connected to a Remote Gateway which converts the cellular call into a narrowband IP signal for transmission over the satellite network, via a satellite terminal, using L, Ku or C band technology.
Importantly, the Blue Ocean Wireless system efficiently manages the operational cost by minimising the IP bandwidth used to connect to the satellite network and transmit the call. It also ensures that the satellite connection is not left “on” when there are no calls in progress.

The Blue Ocean Wireless prepaid mobile connectivity solution enhances the working experience and life on-board ship for both officers and ratings. The instant and personal access to communication provided by voice and SMS messaging leads to a happier and more productive crew. For ship owners, this helps them to attract and retain sea-going staff. An added benefit for family members is that fixed global rates for satellite connections allow for easier and more cost-effective shore to ship calls.

“We always work with industry leaders to deliver the best possible service to our customers,” said Robert Johnson, CEO of Blue Ocean Wireless. “We chose ip.access as our partner based on their expertise as the leading provider of picocell technology. The ip.access nanoGSM picocell is a reliable, high-performance product, and we are delighted to use it to deliver our global GSM service to deep sea merchant customers worldwide.”

Commenting on the news, ip.access CEO Stephen Mallinson said, “ We’re thrilled to work with Blue Ocean Wireless and be part of such a pioneering and innovative service, which for the first time brings the benefits of mobile cellular communication to seafarers who spend so much time away from friends and family. We look forward to working with Blue Ocean Wireless to develop and deliver new and exciting applications for this technology in the future”.



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About ip.access
Based in Cambridge, UK, ip.access ltd (www.ipaccess.com) is a leading manufacturer of cost-effective picocell and femtocell infrastructure solutions for GSM, GPRS, EDGE and 3G. These solutions bring IP and cellular technologies together to drive down costs and increase coverage and capacity of mobile networks.

ip.access is the company behind the multi-award winning Oyster 3G™ femtocell. The Oyster 3G increases cell capacity and coverage, drives down costs and dramatically improves the 3G user experience at home.

The ip.access nanoGSM® is the world’s most deployed picocell solution. It provides GSM, GPRS and EDGE coverage and capacity for offices, shops and (using satellite backhaul) passenger aircraft, ships and remote rural areas.

With deployments in more than 35 live networks around the world and growing, ip.access is the partner of choice for operators competing in the new converged marketplace.

ip.access counts Scottish Equity Partners, Rothschild Gestion, Intel Capital, Amadeus Capital Partners, ADC, Cisco, Qualcomm and Motorola Ventures among its shareholders.

About Blue Ocean Wireless
Blue Ocean Wireless is an Irish company with a base in the UK focused on expanding communication capability in the merchant maritime sector. Blue Ocean Wireless, founded in March, 2007 by Irish private equity firm, Claret Capital, provides, for the first time, GSM connectivity for seafarers in deep ocean water, where no other network exists. This allows users to make and receive voice calls, send and receive SMS text messages and, in time, browse the internet using their existing handsets.

Blue Ocean Wireless (BOW) works in partnership with communications industry leaders including, Altobridge, JRC, SeaCom, Smart Communications and Stratos to provide the best products to its customers.

BOW shareholders include Claret Capital, NTT Docomo, the world’s leading mobile communications company, Smart Communications, the Philippines leading mobile telecoms company, Bank of Scotland (Ireland), a subsidiary of HBOS plc and Altobridge, the Irish remote communications company.

For more information, please visit www.blueoceanwireless.com


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Alex Sowden / Dave McCann
CCgroup
T: +44 118 920 7650
E : ipaccess[at]the-cc-group[dot].com
W: www.the-cc-group.com

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Nicky Davis
Tel: +44 7747 017654
nicky[at]neondrum[dot]com