SmartPhones Telecom AS sold to Telenor

Press release from Telenor:

Telenor Business Norway has reached agreement with the owners of SmartPhones Telecom AS for the acquisition of the company. The acquisition strengthens Telenor’s expertise in mobile services and managed communication services in the Norwegian business market.

“We think it is becoming increasingly important for customers to deal with a supplier that not only delivers excellent telecommunications solutions, but also takes complete responsibility for the development, implementation and operation of services. That is what is meant by managed communication services in telecommunications, and it is our strategy to become the best provider of such comprehensive solutions in the corporate market. The acquisition of SmartPhones is a step in realizing this strategy for Norwegian business customers”, said Rolv-Erik Spilling, president and CEO of Telenor Business Norway.

SmartPhones is a Norwegian company that develops and sells complete solutions for mobility for business customers, solutions that are often also called “personal information management” and “mobile device management”. The company has experienced strong growth in recent years, and had in 2006 a turnover of NOK 22.5 million, with a profit of NOK 8.1 million. The largest shareholders in the company are the mobile phone distributor Dangaard and A. Wilhelmsen group, in addition to key employees of SmartPhones. SmartPhones Telecom AS is headquartered in Oslo.

“With Telenor as a new owner, everything is set for further significant expansion for SmartPhones in the market for mobile solutions – both in Norway and other Nordic countries. Our focus is to offer the best mobility solutions and expertise through a strong distribution network, and we will continue going forward with Telenor as a new owner. Our goal is to make the mobile phone into an effective and useful tool than classical voice communications for both businesses and employees”, says CEO Maria Ursin in SmartPhones.

Telenor wants SmartPhones to continue as a separate entity, and wants to expand the business in collaboration with the talented employees of the company. The acquisition is subject to approval by the Competition Authority.