Tuesday, 10 April 2012, 10:00 HKT/SGT

DOCOMO InterTouch Announces its Strategic Alliance with OpenWays

Singapore and Chicago, Apr 10, 2012 - (ACN Newswire) - DOCOMO interTouch, a premier technology company providing a comprehensive suite of solutions and network management services for the global hospitality industry and a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTT DOCOMO in Japan, is introducing "FREEDOM Check In" whereby travelers can use their mobile hand phone to bypass the hotel front desk and securely open their room doors. The new FREEDOM Check In service is being offered in partnership with OpenWays, the global leader of Mobile Key solutions. DOCOMO interTouch will provide "FREEDOM Check In powered by OpenWays" hosting services and support to its hospitality customers with a focus in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Latin America regions. Equally important, FREEDOM Check In integrates within the DOCOMO interTouch FREEDOM platform, offering extraordinary product and service synergies to hotels.

DOCOMO interTouch is a premier technology provider in the hospitality industry with a global footprint covering more than 1,400 hotels in 70 countries. Headquartered in Singapore, the company's regional offices span the globe throughout Asia, South Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. DOCOMO interTouch is one of the world's largest hotel technology service providers, delivering reliable and secure Broadband Internet Access, in-room entertainment systems, and Business Center solutions all on one managed network platform, specifically tailored and customized to meet the needs of hotel guests. NTT DOCOMO Inc. is Japan's leading mobile operator and provider of integrated services centered on mobility.

"The OpenWays Mobile Key solution is an innovative alternative to traditional hotel check in," said Charles Reed, DOCOMO interTouch CEO. "DOCOMO interTouch chose to partner with OpenWays because the benefits of its Mobile Key solution - namely giving guests more freedom by simplifying guest check in via this self-service option - are now expected by modern travelers. FREEDOM Check in provides Hotels an ability to enhance their direct sales channels, promoting a loyal customer base and build a powerful mobile database. It brings more revenue control back to the Hotels.

"Offering FREEDOM Check in across the DOCOMO interTouch Wi-Fi network will be highly compelling to our customers," Reed said. "Partnering with OpenWays is part of our vision to be the most comprehensive supplier of WiFi-enabled solutions to the hospitality industry."

OpenWays will equip DOCOMO customers with enhanced guest service, a fortified mobile strategy, a sustainable alternative to traditional environmentally-harmful plastic keycards, increased guest loyalty, improved security and a more efficiently run operation. The Mobile Key by OpenWays solution enables hotel guests to choose between proceeding straight to their rooms upon arrival and securely opening their room doors with their cell phones, or waiting in lines upon arrival at the front desk to obtain a physical room key. Ultimate service is about offering the freedom of choice to the guests.

The integrated Crypto Acoustic Credential (CAC) solution can be retrofitted to the major electronic locks on the market. It is compatible with all 6 billion mobile phones in the world, including all cell phone network technologies (GSM, UMTS, CDMA, 3GCDMA, 4G, LTE, WIMAX) and ALL Mobile OS standards (Blackberry, Apple iPhone, Symbian, Google Android, JAVA J2ME, Microsoft Windows mobile and more).

"Through FREEDOM Check in, mobile-dependent travelers across Asia will soon have more flexibility and convenience once at their hotel destinations," said Pascal Metivier, OpenWays Founder and CEO. "This ubiquitous mobile solution is addressing global travelers' demands for a self-service option for bypassing the front desk and going directly to their rooms upon arrival. Because Asia is leading the world in mobile-phone dependency and interaction, adding a Mobile Key to the hospitality landscape will greatly enhance service and heighten customer loyalty.

"We are honored to be in partnership with DOCOMO interTouch through this agreement," Metivier said. "As a result of this alliance, DOCOMO will be delivering the next generation of in-demand mobile services to leading hotels throughout Asia, bringing more options and more convenience to more travelers around the globe via Mobile Key by OpenWays."

Contact:

Tsuyoshi Teitei
Docomo interTouch
Tel: +65-65111901
E-mail: tsuyoshi.teitei@docomointertouch.com

Barb Worcester
PRPRO / OpenWays
Tel: +1-440-930-5770
E-mail: barbw@prproconsulting.com

Topic: Press release summary
Source: DOCOMO InterTouch
Sectors: Media & Marketing, Electronics, Consumer Electronics, Wireless, Apps
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