www.alcatel.com

Alcatel announced today that SFR, the mobile telephony subsidiary of the SFR Cegetel Group, has chosen Alcatel's 3G video solution to create real-time video telephony and videoconferencing services between UMTS handsets and PCs equipped with web cams or IP video terminals.

The solution supplied by Alcatel to SFR is operational since commercial launching of 3G services for the general public by the operator on November 10th. Alcatel's solution was tested by several hundred volunteer users in 2004 before commercial launching of 3G services for professional and corporate users Mai 2004.

Alcatel's 3G video solution improves simple mobile-to-mobile video telephony and allows several members of a company to take part in videoconferences using their UMTS handsets or their PCs, while at the same time enhancing the overall efficiency of mobile teams.

"The use of such an innovative 3G video solution on our UMTS network will enable us to provide our subscribers with real added value and quickly generate new user habits, thanks to the millions of PCs already deployed in the office and the home", states Pierre Bardon, Chief Operating Officer of SFR. "Alcatel's approach, which combined both marketing and technical aspects, fully corresponded to - and satisfied - our needs."

"Alcatel is strongly committed in the domain of video services, which are vital for the development of innovative multimedia services. SFR's subscribers will quickly see the practical benefits of having video access from any place and at any time, to people sitting in front of their PC", added Marc Rouanne, Chief Operating Officer of Alcatel's mobile activities. "This project is a perfect illustration of the possibilities of convergence between the fixed and mobile world, and of Alcatel's commitment to user-centric multimedia services".

Mobile video services represent real opportunities for mobile operators to grow their revenues and differentiate from their competitors, all while satisfying end-users' demands for personalized, interactive services that enable them to share images and emotions. Alcatel is committed to helping its clients succeed in this domain with its 'best-of-breed' mobile infrastructure, its complete portfolio of applications solutions, and its in-house expertise and experience for integration.