LogicaCMG: RFID on the Threshold of European Breakthrough
LONDON, April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The key findings of an international study undertaken by LogicaCMG (LSE: LOG.L - news - msgs) ADVERTISEMENT


reveal that Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) is high on the agenda for European retailers, food manufacturers and logistic service providers. A majority of the companies interviewed in the Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Germany, France and Belgium, gave RFID top priority in terms of planned IT investment.

RFID is seen as the successor to barcoding. By using RFID it is possible to electronically identify and track objects, such as supermarket goods, without time delays or the need for human intervention. As a result, supply chain logistics are more streamlined and efficient and this ultimately leads to lower costs and higher revenues.

The study shows that half of the 50 companies interviewed in Europe have or are planning to deploy RFID pilot projects throughout 2004, with the vast majority planning to start implementing the technology within the next three years. A number of major retailers, such as Tesco (LSE: TSCO.L - news - msgs) (UK) and Metro (Germany) will initiate large-scale rollout of RFID. Whilst these projects will be finalised by 2007, the research indicates that companies will not begin to tag consumer products until 2008 when prices of tags will have naturally lowered. The focus for the moment is on Returnable Transport Items (RTIs), such as crates and pallets. The tagging of these RTIs will be standard as of 2005. The research highlights when and how RFID will be used on a large scale for RTIs within European retail supply chains. Due to the large variety of RTIs in retail supply chains, the management, recording and administration is both complex and labour intensive. RFID is set to eliminate these concerns.

Since RFID will have great impact on the processes and IT systems of companies, it is necessary that they thoroughly prepare themselves. The use of RFID with RTIs will only take place if the financial benefits are greater than the cost of implementation. The cost/benefit analysis part of the research showed that based on a tag price of 50 eurocents the handling cost per pallet could decrease by 8.5%. This leads to a payback period of between two and three years.

A majority of companies that have trailed RFID prefer the EPC (Electronic Product Code) network as standard for information exchange and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) as frequency. In the short term there are a number of issues that should be solved before RFID can be broadly adopted. First, the EPC network has not been finalised yet. Second, limitations in European legislation mean that the use of UHF technology is currently restricted. Finally, the software to integrate RFID in the existing IT infrastructure is not mature yet. LogicaCMG anticipates that by the end of 2004, the main issues will be resolved. As volume deployments will increase in the next few years, the cost of RFID tags will be naturally lower.

Paul Stam de Jonge, Director Sales and Marketing of LogicaCMG: 'The research shows that we are on the threshold of a breakthrough of RFID technology in the European market. The quick introduction of the EPC network is key for the broad acceptance and implementation of RFID. For this reason we, together with many organisations within the sector, have put a lot of effort in the definition of the EPC network."

Since the whole supply chain is involved, the RFID implementations of the large retailers in 2005 will have a great impact on the food manufacturers, logistic service providers and retailers. According to Paul Stam de Jonge 'the RFID implementations will lead to an irreversible process in the retail market. In the short term, it is therefore of the up most importance for companies to gain knowledge and experience with RFID'.

About RFID technology

RFID technology is based on a relatively simple concept. It consists of two elements that communicate through radio transmission - a tag and a reader. The tag contains a small chip and an antenna and can be placed on any object. The information on the tag, such as an identification number, can be transmitted to an RFID reader over a distance of a few meters. The readers are placed in various locations throughout the supply chain. RFID allows objects to be electronically identified and followed throughout the complete distribution chain.

There are two main reasons for the application of RFID technology in RTIs. On the one hand it allows RTI pool organisers and logistic service providers to electronically follow the RTIs. On the other hand it allows manufacturers and retailers to follow and identify products. Both reasons result in a higher cost-effectiveness.

The dominant position of the retailers in the supply chain means that they have a leading role in the uptake of RFID. The study shows that retailers are particularly interested in tracking at an individual product level. Tagging at pallet level is not as crucial as they are often only used to transport the goods to the distribution centre, as opposed to throughout the entire supply chain.

NOTES TO EDITORS
About the research
- The research is an initiative of LogicaCMG in close co-operation with
EAN Netherlands and ECR D-A-CH and is sponsored by Checkpoint Systems (NYSE: CKP - news) ,
Euro Pool System, Intermec, Omron, Zetes, SAS and Container
Centralen A/S
- The geographies researched were the Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Belgium,
France and Germany
- The study consisted of 50 in-depth interviews with potential users of
RFID technology (retailers, manufacturers, logistics service providers
and RTI pool organisers) as well as extensive desk research
- As it is expected that Returnable Transport Items (RTIs) will be fitted
with RFID relatively quickly, the study focused on the application of
RFIDs in pallets, crates and containers within the supply chain

About LogicaCMG

LogicaCMG is a major international force in IT services and wireless telecoms. It provides management and IT consultancy, systems integration and outsourcing services to clients across diverse markets including public sector, telecoms, financial services, energy and utilities, industry, distribution and transport. Formed in December 2002, through the merger of Logica and CMG, the company employs around 20,000 staff in offices across 34 countries and has nearly 40 years of experience in IT services. Headquartered in Europe, LogicaCMG is listed on both the London and Amsterdam stock exchanges (LSE: LOG; Euronext: LOG). More information is available from www.logicacmg.com.

About EAN Netherlands

EAN Netherlands plays an active and leading role in the promotion and implementation of the global, open EAN-UCC standards for automatic identification and electronic communication in the Netherlands. EAN Netherlands is a non profit organisation, with 5.800 member companies from 30 industry sectors, and is a member organisation of EAN International www.ean.nl.

About ECR D-A-CH

Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) is a joint initiative by manufacturers, retailers and other partners in the supply chain. ECR aims to improve processes and provide consumers with optimum quality, service and variety of products at the best price www.ecr.de.

Merrill Lynch
The broker reiterates its buy rating for LogicaCMG

I am just about into profit with this one so any positive news is good - thanks azhar

OK its now down 4% and I am again losing - even so just about more buuys than sells. The tidy will turn - "its only Logic!"

Optimistok IMO I think these will be trading around 250-300 within six months.

Invitation to Global Aviation RFID Forum 2004
MUNICH, Germany, October 8 /PRNewswire/ --

Global Aviation RFID Forum ; October 20, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm, Munich

Arabella Sheraton Grand Hotel, Arabellastrasse 6, 81925 Munich, Germany

- Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is working ADVERTISEMENT


intensively on advancing radio frequency identity (RFID) technology in the aviation industry.

- Airbus Spares Support and Services in Hamburg, Germany, already uses RFID technology to optimize the global use of its service and repair facilities (tool cycle management). Airlines benefit from faster availability and aircraft manufacturers from enormous cost advantages.

- This is the world's only solution for installing RFID chips in flying aircraft parts as required in the aviation industry. The effects of metal on the radio frequencies used in RFID present particularly difficult challenges for the solution.

- The technology and system solution to make it possible is provided by the consulting, software development, and system integration company LogicaCMG (LSE: LOG.L - news - msgs) .

- Under the lead of LogicaCMG, Airbus, and others, the aviation industry is establishing an important precedent for other sectors.

- RFID tags with integrated chips and mini antennas that can be tracked over short distances by radio waves are considered a megatrend in numerous industries, including logistics, commerce, and manufacturing (supply chain management).

The Global Aviation RFID Forum is sponsored by Airbus and Boeing.

Additional Information: www.globalaviationrfidforum.com

11 Oct 2004
ATLANTA, Georgia, October 11 /PRNewswire/ --

- LPA Will Enable Banks to Cater for All Future Demands for Payments
Services

LogicaCMG launched today the LogicaCMG Payments Architecture (LPA). This
strategic approach to reengineering payments operations enables banks around
the world to transform their payments businesses delivering high quality
services to customers at a significantly lower operational cost.

Across the whole of the payments industry, there is a growing recognition
that fundamental transformational changes are needed that place new and
different requirements on models of operation and technical architecture.
Marginal enhancement to existing operations and supporting systems has
resulted in today's system complexity and an inability to meet the challenge
of providing a flexible, scalable payments business.

With more than 30 years experience of implementing innovative payments
infrastructures and commercial payments processes, LogicaCMG is uniquely
equipped to support organisations through the analysis, design and
implementation of transformational change.

The LPA applies to all payments systems and processes, high and low
value, simple and complex, and covers all participants in the payments value
chain. It provides flexibility, high levels of automation and rapid
differentiation in payments services.

Under the LPA banner, LogicaCMG provides solutions and market leading
services to central banks, clearing houses and global, regional and domestic
banks. For central banks there is the award-winning real time growth
settlement (RTGS) and Government securities settlement systems. For
commercial banks there is innovation in liquidity management, electronic
invoicing, payment pricing and cash reporting. And in financial messaging,
LPA includes solutions for reporting, corporate connectivity and message
bulking.

The solutions and services that LogicaCMG has recommended for many years
are available as demonstrable solutions with live customers. To this we add
our global experience in implementation of major change programmes to deliver
the safe and progressive transformation of existing payments infrastructures.

Nick Caplan, international managing director of LogicaCMG's global
financial services business, said: "LPA brings together our market knowledge
and implementation experience in a model for the transformation of payment
businesses. It truly builds on LogicaCMG's understanding of the payments
industry to deliver a payments infrastructure that can meet the demands of
customers and regulators now and into the future."

LogicaCMG will be exhibiting at Sibos 2004 (stand D068) where LPA will be
a focus. Additionally at Sibos, Terry Quigley, head of global financial
messaging, LogicaCMG, will moderate the seminar 'Payments services in the
digital world. Are you getting what you pay for?' on 12 October at 14:00. If
you are attending the show and would like to speak to LogicaCMG and discuss
the LPA, please contact Matt Harris or Pete Hendrick on +44-(0)20-7429-7000
or email.

LONDON, October 11 /PRNewswire/ -- LogicaCMG will demonstrate its leadership
position in the transportation
industry, through the strength of its mobility solutions, at this year's
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress, taking place in Nagoya,
Japan from 18 to 22 October. The company is supporting the congress from its
offices in Japan located in Osaka and Tokyo.



LogicaCMG will share ITS Netherlands' stand 3048-2, Hall 3. Two
particular areas where it will detail its expertise in the mobile solutions
market are Mobile Ticketing and Mobile Traffic Services (MTS).



On Thursday 21 October, 11:00 - 12:30, LogicaCMG will give a presentation
entitled Cooperation and Traffic Management with its Dutch customer, the
province of Noord-Brabant, on the successful deployment of its Mobile Traffic
Services (MTS) solution. Following an initial pilot scheme in November 2003,
Noord-Brabant has extended its use of MTS to the whole region for the next
two years. The presentation will showcase how the service has delivered
reliable information on travel times and vehicle speeds on the entire road
network. Using a GSM network, LogicaCMG's MTS provides historical and/or real
time traffic information enabling the province of Noord-Brabant to inform
motorists of the traffic situation, recommend alternative routes or apply
measurements for leading the traffic over the road network more efficiently.



In addition, LogicaCMG will make a presentation entitled: Sustainability
- Funding Sources and Mechanisms, 14:00 - 15:30 on Thursday 21 October.
LogicaCMG will highlight the benefits and long term impact of mobile traffic
services, cell broadcast emergency alerting, GSM-rail developments and
Galileo based positioning for road user charging. LogicaCMG will focus on
sustainable business models and transition paths to scale from regional
pilots up to nation-wide implementations.



Cees de Wijs, Director Wireless Enterprise Solutions at LogicaCMG
commented; "With Mobile Traffic Services and Mobile Ticketing LogicaCMG can
provide solutions for governments, consumers and business users alike -
enabling significant time and cost savings. LogicaCMG's systems integration
track record coupled with its global reach enables it to provide unparalleled
support to global corporations in their use of these innovative services."




To request a meeting with a LogicaCMG spokesperson at the ITS World Congress,
please contact Pete Hendrick or Cathy Owen, Band and Brown, +44(0)20-7419-7000,

Wednesday October 13, 12:00 PM
LogicaCMG Announces a Global Alliance With Dovetail Systems
ATLANTA, Georgia, October 13 /PRNewswire/ -- LogicaCMG (LSE: LOG.L - news - msgs) Advertisement

announced today a global marketing and licensing agreement with Dovetail Systems to transform the payments processes, operations and infrastructure of commercial banks.

LogicaCMG and Dovetail have identified that banks needing to transform their payments operations require a safe and progressive method to deliver business value, renovate current business processes and technology. These changes need to be based upon existing operational capabilities. This alliance brings the complementary skills and strengths of both companies together to implement their shared vision quickly, efficiently and with minimum risk. The risk of change is substantially reduced by implementing a step-by-step change, rather than the one-time 'big bang', which many competing technologies demand.

Visitors to Sibos 2004 can see this capability demonstrated at the LogicaCMG and Dovetail stands (LogicaCMG - D068, Dovetail - G126). The combination of the two companies' strengths provides multi-currency payments processing functionality, capable of operating in both the US and European environments.

LogicaCMG's All Payments Solution, part of the all-embracing LogicaCMG Payments Architecture (LPA), combines technology from Dovetail with its own components and those from other providers, to enable banks to exploit the changing economics of the payments business.

Nick Caplan, international managing director of LogicaCMG global financial services said "We welcome the addition of Dovetail Systems to the range of providers we have selected in our payments solutions. Banks which have defined a strategy to grow their payments business will need an adaptable cost-effective infrastructure capable of satisfying customers' demands for new services and the ever-growing burden of regulation in a cost-effective manner. With Dovetail's capability to deliver increased straight through processing, this alliance provides a platform to meet the challenge."

Richard Little, Chairman of Dovetail, added, "By working with LogicaCMG we can leverage their expertise and reputation for delivery to time and to budget to help banks around the world to transform their payments operations. Our shared approach in managing an effective payments business enables distributed functionality resulting in reduced costs, empowered staff and an improved contribution to profitability."

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/041013/250/f4gyj.html

LONDON, October 15 /PRNewswire/
LogicaCMG today announced that it has signed an GBP 8.1 million five year contract with EDF Energy in the UK.

The deal covers the delivery of IT services, consultancy and support for two critical areas of EDF Energy's business - the electricity distribution network (the UK's largest), and its back-office SAP systems.

Following a competitive bid, LogicaCMG was selected to provide
applications management and support for all EDF Energy's Networks Branch
business systems. The service is flexible to meet the changing demands of EDF
Energy's electricity distribution network, which serves more than a quarter
of the UK's population.

LogicaCMG will be responsible for controlling, monitoring and
maintaining key network applications to ensure they are always operational
for more than 3,500 staff in the branch.

As part of the deal, LogicaCMG will also be responsible for
all EDF Energy's SAP support requirements across the company. This integrated
back-office software includes the IT systems used to manage Work Management,
Materials and Warehouse Management, Procurement, Finance and HR requirements.

Benefits to EDF Energy include:

- Operational cost savings

- Experienced support of key business critical applications

- Helping to provide a high quality customer service

The key challenge will be in maintaining key applications to
make sure the electricity distribution network is served to the highest
safety standards, ensuring that there is no down-time and making operational
changes to improve service and performance.

Director of IT Andy Hooper said: "A highly reliable
performance is essential when it comes to systems that support the power
distribution network. In effect we are helping to keep the lights on.
LogicaCMG's proposition meets our demanding requirements at a realistic
price.

LogicaCMG's commercial approach is linked to continuous
improvement which means that EDF Energy's payment for services can be made in
inflation-linked instalments in proportion to the company's IT spend over the
period of the five year contract.

Jim Yeats, UK managing director for Energy and Utilities at
LogicaCMG said: "This is a very important win for LogicaCMG and our EDF
Energy client team, which have worked closely with EDF Energy to build strong
relationships and trust - delivering a service that matches the needs of the
customer."


http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20041015090000nd037.html

Union Telephone selects LogicaCMGs next generation multimedia messaging infrastructure

19 October 2004

LogicaCMG has secured a contract with Union Telephone Company to deploy its Next Generation Multimedia Messaging Service Centre (MMSC) and Wireless Service Broker (WSB) solutions. These will enable Union Telephones subscribers in Wyoming, north western Colorado and eastern Utah to have access to new value added services such as picture messaging and WAP services.


LogicaCMGs MMSC is a part of its Next Generation Messaging solution, which offers an integrated environment for key data services such as SMS, MMS, WAP and voice and video messaging. The high-performance, high availability solution provides the scalability necessary to maintain the quality of service users expect from MMS services. Critical functions such as transcoding, which ensures an optimum end-user experience by adapting the multimedia messages to different handsets, underpin the high levels of service delivered by LogicaCMG.


Alan Marchant, CIO and director of Billing, Union Telephone, said: Its great to be working with LogicaCMG to deliver a broader range of services to our customer base. Using this technology will enable us to expand our service options across our network, all delivered efficiently and at a high standard. We were already a customer of LogicaCMG and wanted to continue to offer our customers the highest quality and most competitive service offering. The best technology fit and the fact that LogicaCMG has such a strong heritage in the MMS marketplace were key factors in choosing them over the competition.


DeWayne A. Nelon, president of LogicaCMGs telecoms business in North America, said: Wireless carriers achieve significant revenues by providing high-quality MMS services. We are playing a valued role in supporting companies who want to enter and compete effectively in this marketplace. Im very pleased were extending our relationship with Union Telephone Company by providing the ability to deliver further value added services to its customers.


http://www.logicacmg.com/pressroom/press_releases/press_releases.asp?display=detail&id=1030

LogicaCMG wins order from Amsterdam hospital
AFX


AMSTERDAM (AFX) - LogicaCMG PLC said it won an order to implement an electronic patient status system for the Academic Medical Hospital in Amsterdam.

The project is expected to start this month, with full implementation taking about three years. LogicaCMG will use the EMD/EPD software of MI Consultancy for the project.

A spokesman for the company said the order is worth 'millions'.

amsterdam@afxnews.com

cjs/cmr

Institutions have started building on their holdings

http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20041020170000P6D48.html

NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES

THE CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES, INC. 51,367,180 increased to 7.00%
http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20041028120000P0E38.html

Phoenix provides a range of managed and network services, data center hosting, systems management, and help-desk services to IT services clients including LogicaCMG (LSE: LOG.L - news - msgs) , IBM (NYSE: IBM - news) , and Syntegra.

In its most recent financial year ended March 2004, Phoenix made an operating profit before amortization of 10.8m pounds ($19.5m), compared to a profit before amortization of 9m pounds ($16.3m) in 2002, on revenue that grew 10.6% to 58.3m pounds ($105.5m), of which 50.6m pounds ($91.6m) was from continuing operations.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/041028/221/f5gmt.html

Next year end (to be reported) 31 - Dec - 2004

Tuesday November 2, 02:44 PM
LogicaCMG Appoints New International Managing Director for Energy and Utilities
LONDON, November 2 /PRNewswire/ -- LogicaCMG (LSE: LOG.L - news - msgs)

today the appointment of Jim Tapper as international managing director for its energy and utilities line of business. Jim joins from Novera Energy Europe where he was managing director.

At LogicaCMG Jim will be responsible for the strategic direction and solution development of the company's worldwide activities in the energy and utilities sector. In 2003 this sector contributed GBP272 million to the group revenues.

Commenting on his appointment Jim said, "This is an exciting challenge. LogicaCMG has been at the heart of some of the most dramatic changes seen in the energy and utilities sector. I believe that the next few years will see a greater demand for the expertise and experience which the company has developed."

Jim has over 20 years experience in the energy and utilities sector holding senior positions with companies such as Accenture (NYSE: ACN - news) and the International Energy Agency in Paris

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/041102/250/f5skt.html

Slowly creeping up again we need to break 195 to get things rolling.

Pressroom. Press releases.
Interbrew Germany awards large outsourcing order to LogicaCMG joint venture NordIT

3 November 2004

nordIT, a LogicaCMG joint venture, has expanded its business relationship with Interbrew. The brewery group recently awarded LogicaCMG a five-year contract for the provision of outsourced IT support and consulting services for Interbrew in Germany.


Interbrew Germany comprises the brands Becks, Dinkelacker, Gilde, Spaten and Diebels and is a subsidiary of InBev, the largest brewery company in the world. LogicaCMG, which is among the top 10 European IT service companies, is supporting Interbrew with a service portfolio which includes the integration of various legacy IT systems from recent Interbrew acquisitions. This is one of LogicaCMGs largest individual contracts for outsourcing in Germany.


This contract demonstrates the importance of nordIT and LogicaCMG to Interbrews integration projects. nordIT will take on the hosting of the complete SAP environment and provide computer center services for more than 2500 employees at Interbrew.Key element of the contract will be the provision of consultancy services. In addition, LogicaCMG and nordIT will be responsible for all of the helpdesk services for Interbrew.


LogicaCMG regards this substantial order from the brewery company as an endorsement of its outsourcing capabilities and indication of the success of the IT service companys outsourcing strategy in Germany. LogicaCMGs combination of industry knowledge and technical expertise sets it apart in this market. Outsourcing is one of the fastest growing market sectors for LogicaCMG and already accounts for around 20 per cent of group revenues.


Notes to editors
NordIT is a joint venture set up by LogicaCMG with Interbrew and Stadtwerke Bremen and in 2002 LogicaCMG acquired a controlling interest in the business.

About inBev
InBev is a stock exchange listed corporation (Euronext: INTB) headquartered in Leuven, Belgium. It is one of the oldest breweries in the world, which today is the largest brewery company overall when measured according to sales volume. InBevs strategy is to build strong platforms in the important beer markets worldwide. We value natural growth, first-class efficiency, selected takeovers, and customer orientation. The portfolio includes more than 200 brands, among them Stella Artois, Brahma, Becks, Leffe, Hoegaarden, Staropramen and Bass Ale. The company employs nearly 70,000 employees and is active as a producer in 30 countries in America, Europe, Asia, and the Asian-Pacific rim. In 2003, InBev generated net sales of nearly EUR 9.3 billion (preliminary number from 2003). For additional information, please see www.inbev.com.

Some heavy volumes today.

The Times - Business section
6th November 2004

"Logica-CMG firmed 4p at 193.5p on hopes that the Atlas consortium, of which the computer services group is a member, will secure the eagerly awaited 5 billion outsourcing contract from the Ministry of Defence."

A good contract for Logica-CMG to be involved in!