Seattle, WA. (August 11, 2008) – Wireless Maritime Services (WMS),
a joint venture of AT&T Mobility and SeaMobile® Enterprises,
announced today it will acquire certain maritime wireless assets of
SeaMobile Wireless, a division of SeaMobile Enterprises. The WMS
joint venture is further expanding its leadership position in at-sea
wireless mobility communications services, providing service to more
than 115 cruise ships and long-haul ferries throughout the world.
WMS will acquire SeaMobile Wireless master services contracts,
onboard wireless telecommunications equipment and shore side
infrastructure. The transaction will allow WMS to capitalize on the
strengths of SeaMobile in serving the maritime industry and enabling
travellers at sea to stay connected virtually anywhere using their
own mobile device. Financial terms of the agreement were not
announced.
“After several years of keeping the businesses as two completely
separate and distinct operations, we recognized a tremendous
opportunity to serve customers much more effectively by combining
the strengths of WMS and SeaMobile Wireless,” said Leighton Carroll,
CEO of WMS. “Under this agreement we greatly expand our wireless
coverage footprint and bring the benefits of over 300 worldwide
roaming agreements to the legacy SeaMobile Wireless fleet. This will
allow a vast majority of mobile phone customers worldwide to use
their wireless phones seamlessly when aboard cruise and ferry ships
that provide WMS wireless voice and data communication services.”
Other benefits to customers include access to over 30 carriers that
allow prepaid service to work on ships. Nearly two-thirds of
wireless subscribers in Europe are on prepaid service plans.
WMS will provide high quality wireless communications network and
service to the guests and crew of cruise and ferry lines worldwide.
The maritime wireless network WMS runs become active once ships
reach international waters, allowing guests and crew onboard to use
voice and data services available through their wireless home
carrier, just as they would on land. Usage charges are determined by
their home carrier and are conveniently billed on their regular
monthly statement.
“We believed that the best way for SeaMobile Enterprises to realize
the potential of our maritime wireless business was to fully
integrate our operations into the WMS joint venture,” said Jack
Donohue, President of SeaMobile Wireless and a co-founder of
SeaMobile Enterprises. “Our broader vision of providing at-sea and
remote location communications, connectivity and content services
throughout the world continues to advance with our maritime wireless
services now being offered exclusively through our joint venture
with AT&T Mobility.”
The WMS joint venture is governed by a board of directors consisting
of representatives from AT&T Mobility and SeaMobile Enterprises.
Leighton Carroll, a long-time veteran of the wireless industry is
President and CEO of the joint venture.
The transition of assets to WMS will be seamless to cruise and ferry
ships as no onboard equipment will need changing or replacement.
“We have been pleased with our relationship with SeaMobile Wireless
during the past two years,” said Bill Roberts, Director of Systems
and Operations for Crystal Cruise Lines. “This announcement marks
another important milestone in our relationship. Through WMS we
fully expect to continue delivering a superior maritime wireless
service to our guests and crew, while adding the attractive benefit
of now offering service aboard our ships to millions of AT&T
Mobility customers and others who have service with the joint
venture roaming partners.”
About Wireless Maritime Services
Wireless Maritime Services (WMS), is the world leader in providing
maritime cellular phone service to the cruise line industry. WMS
provides service on over 115 cruise ships and ferries worldwide with
roaming agreements with 300 carriers around the world. The company
specializes in cellular at sea communications, including voice, text
messaging, email and web browsing. WMS technology allows cruise line
passengers and crew to stay in touch with friends and family while
at sea. For more information, visit www.cellularatsea.com.
About SeaMobile Enterprises
SeaMobile Enterprises is the dominant global service provider of
at-sea communications, connectivity and content services. Our VSAT
solutions are delivered by the industry leader, Maritime
Telecommunications Network (MTN), a division of SeaMobile
specializing in the maritime industry. Our global VSAT satellite
communications network offers the reliability that only “Always On –
Always Available” systems can provide. Nearly 400 vessels worldwide,
including most cruise ships, the government and military, private
yachts, ferries, the offshore energy industry, and commercial
shipping customers depend on our voice and data networks to keep
people connected anywhere in the world. Our premier services include
remote access for Internet, fixed and mobile phones, fax,
television, on-board newspapers, and direct payroll deposit. For
more information, visit
www.seamobile.com.
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