Belgacom Buys Specialist in Mobile-Phone Parking Payments

BRUSSELS -(Dow Jones)- Belgian leading telecommunications company Belgacom said Thursday it is taking over Mobile-for, a specialist in mobile payments for parking services.

Mobile-for has thrived on its SMS parking solution, which the company has successfully launched in 7 cities in Belgium. Belgacom's takeover of Mobile-for fits in with its strategy to invest even more in the growing mobile payments market and to expand its offer.

Mobile-for was set up in June 2006 by the Antwerp parking operator Apcoa Belgium and the Estonian company NOW! Innovations. The company is specialized in mobile payments for parking services.

Proximus, Belgacom's mobile phone unit, worked closely with Mobile-for in the development of SMS parking. In September 2006, Proximus and Mobile-for launched SMS parking in Antwerp. Two years later, 30% of the parking places were paid via SMS parking in Antwerp.

Mobile-for also introduced SMS parking in Hasselt, Tienen, Lokeren, Wetteren, Turnhout and Diest. As from 15 October the service will be available in Bruges and by December 2008 Mobile-for expects to offer the SMS parking service in some 10 cities, also in Brussel and in Wallonia.

The activities of Mobile-for tie in perfectly with Belgacom's strategy to invest in the development of mobile payment services which anticipate the needs of its customers.

Thanks to this takeover, Mobile-for will become an independent entity of the Belgacom Group. There will be no impact on Belgacom's relationship with its existing customers and partners.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

Posted to the site on 17th July 2008