Family e-mails made easy: BITel and Siemens Business Services start test of workstations without a computer

Joint press release from BITel and Siemens Business Services

Munich, Aug 28, 2006

You don’t want to buy a PC but still want to surf the Internet? In Bielefeld this will soon be possible, thanks to Siemens Business Services and telecommunications provider BITel. The two companies have joined forces to start the first test of its kind in Germany and offer the general public a service that was previously only possible in business settings: Access to the Internet, word processing, e-mail or electronic photo albums - all without having to buy a PC and worrying about software upgrades, virus infections or special IT knowledge.

Customers do not need a computer on their own premises; instead, they connect up via telephone to the mainframe at a high-security data center. BITel assigns private storage space to each user and takes care of their software. Fujitsu Siemens Computers sup-plies the monitor, keyboard, mouse and a small box which the customer connects to their telephone outlet. 49 euros per month buy instant access to all popular programs for the Internet, e-mail, word processing and image processing. The offering even in-cludes training courses for the individual programs as well as a telephone hotline which provides help when it is needed.

“Older people in particular are often afraid to buy a PC with all its attendant purchasing and especially maintenance hassles,” explains Alfred Kerscher, CEO of BITel. “Who wants to install complex firewalls if all you want to do is send e-mail greetings to your daughter? In the future, with our solution from a single source, you can leave all the un-pleasant details to us.”

Siemens Business Services developed the entire solution together with BITel and sup-ports its operation. “Corporate customers have used this so-called thin-client service from us for many years,” says Christian Oecking, head of Siemens Business Services’ outsourcing business. “They value the lack of administrative headaches and the high security standard.”

If the service proves successful in its test market, it will be marketed nationwide.

Pictures can be obtained here:
http://www.siemens.com/sbs/pictures/bitel1
http://www.siemens.com/sbs/pictures/bitel2

Siemens Business Services is an internationally leading IT service provider.
This Siemens Group offers services all along the entire value chain – from consulting to systems integration, right through to the management of IT infrastructures. Thanks to its comprehensive know-how and sector-specific expertise, the company provides measurable added value for its customers. With regard to outsourcing, Siemens Business Services is among the top ten providers worldwide. With around 39,000 employees, the Group posted sales in fiscal 2005 (ending 30 September 2005) of EUR 5.4 billion, 75 percent of which was achieved outside the Siemens organization. Further information at http://www.siemens.com/sbs.

BITel is the leading local telecommunications provider in Bielefeld, Gütersloh, Halle, Werther and Stein-hagen. As a subsidiary of Stadtwerke (municipal utilities) Bielefeld and Stadtwerke Gütersloh, it offers telephony and Internet connections along with associated installation and other services to private and business customers in the region. BITel counts national and international carriers among its customers and business partners. With its customized solutions, 24-hour on-site service and attractive products, the company has continuously expanded its business in recent years. In fiscal 2005, BITel had 75 employees and generated sales of 15.5 million euros. For more information, go to http://www.bitel.de.

Information number: SBS 280806.33d

Contact Information

Jörn Roggenbuck

Press Department Siemens Business Services

Siemens Business Services

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