South African technology protects the Queen on her Jubilee

Issued by Text 100 for storm
Johannesburg, 18 Jun 2002

Local technology firm Always Active Technologies (AAT), a spin off from the storm group, supplied Scotland Yard with short message service (SMS) technology for one of the UK's largest events this year, the Queen's Jubilee. AAT's SMS technology provided valuable communication services to the police, police reservists and administration staff during the celebrations.

The technology - implemented by AAT's strategic UK partner, Trible Technologies UK, within the Scotland Yard control room - allowed for the distribution of SMS alerts and commands to a number of patrolling groups throughout the Jubilee ceremony.

"Scotland Yard required an effective bi-directional communication tool for the reservists and officials without having to be solely reliant on two-way radios. In addition AAT's SMS technology allowed them to communicate cost-effectively with all those on duty on the day," says Rob Fisher, managing director of Always Active Technologies.

AAT's successful and proven implementation with the SMS against crime Web site (www.smiles.co.za) and evaluation of the SMS Mail system, led to Scotland Yard's decision to utilise AAT's SMS technology for the Queen's Jubilee celebrations.

An interface similar to an e-mail program allowed SMSs to be sent and received to and from the various user groups, all at the click of a mouse from the Scotland Yard control room. The service notified users of route changes, suspicious persons or general commands while on the beat.

Tim Wyatt-Gunning, managing director of storm, says: "Securing a project like this is a great privilege. It proves that SA has the infrastructure, proven expertise and experience to provide businesses and agencies like Scotland Yard with world-class telecom services."

Always Active Technologies

AAT was incorporated as a (Pty) Limited company in August 2000 when it was listed as a separate entity from its parent company.

AAT has been developing cutting-edge technologies in the Internet and cellular fields since the inception of the Internet in SA. AAT has considerable experience in developing solutions in spheres that have yet to be explored by other developers. AAT believes in developing and pioneering technology solutions that usable and accessible from anywhere.

AAT is a leading developer of SMS, mobile and Web development, incorporating SMS messaging, interactive database-driven Web sites and hosting services.

Storm

Storm was incorporated as a South African limited company in December 1998. The business launched in Cape Town in June 1999. The company sees itself as challenging the major players in the telecoms market by providing products and services that help companies to communicate efficiently and cost-effectively.

Storm currently provides over 3 500 businesses with a range of high quality, cost-effective alternatives to existing providers of voice and data communications including storm international, storm cellular, storm access, storm fax and storm sms. Storm international lowers the cost of a business's international calls through its latest callback technology. Storm cellular and storm fax reduces the cost of calls to cellular phones and the sending of faxes. With the acquisition of ITI's ISP business in 2000, storm offers Internet connectivity which includes domain name registration, Web site design and server hosting services. Furthermore, the company is positioning itself to offer converged voice and data services on one network, once deregulation of the local telecommunications market takes place.

Storm will continue to differentiate itself in the industry by providing services which, will include VOIP (once legalised) as well as value-added services such as its newly launched Customer Zone offering.

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South African technology protects the Queen on her Jubilee

Local technology developer Always Active Technologies (AAT), provides SMS technology to Scotland Yard