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.

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!

AMSTERDAM, November 9 /PRNewswire/ --

- Traditional Ringback Tone Makes Way for Music

Vodafone will be the first telecom provider in the Netherlands to
introduce its customers to ringback tones. This new service, introduced by
Vodafone as 'Welcome Tunes', offers mobile subscribers the opportunity of
replacing the usual ringback tone with the latest top-40 hits or sound clip.



Welcome tunes allow a subscriber to change how callers experience
contacting them. Traditionally, a caller hears the standard ringback tone
before the phone is picked up at the other end, but in future, when callers
get through to a Vodafone subscriber, they are more likely to hear music or a
sound clip.. The subscriber can select a tune which can be personalised to
each caller, ensuring that no-one need listen to the traditional ring tone
when making a call again. Subscribers can determine settings of the welcome
tune via either the web or WAP.



As opposed to the popular ring tones, which reside in the handset, the
ringback tone service resides on the network of the telecom provider. There
are no requirements in respect of the handset, and every mobile caller can
use the ringback tones.



Vodafone's Welcome Tunes service is based on the product, MyCaller, from
NMS Communications. LogicaCMG is responsible for the implementation and
maintenance of the solution.



"The fruits of our partnership with NMS have paid off with Vodafone
Netherlands," said Menno Breedveldt, sales and marketing director Telecoms
LogicaCMG in the Netherlands. "We're pleased to be partnering together to
bring a new application to market and believe that the technical excellence
of the MyCaller solution, coupled with our experience working with mobile
operators will deliver true value to Vodafone Netherlands and its
subscribers."



Notes to Editors

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

http://www.ukwire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20041109111000NJ058.html

WHAT A RIDE TODAY. finsihed 204ish

LogicaCMG fell back as well after also being downgraded to 'hold' from 'buy' on valuation grounds by Deutsche Bank.

The IT services firm's shares shed 2-1/4 pence at 201- 1/2

THE CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES, INC. 12 NOVEMBER 2004 Increased stake 8.16% from 7.00%

Monday November 15, 08:06 AM
LogicaCMG Delivers Next Generation Messaging Solution to Bulgaria's Fastest Developing Mobile Operator
LONDON, November 15 /PRNewswire/ --

- Cosmo Bulgaria Mobile EAD - Operating Under the Brand GloBul - Selects LogicaCMG (LSE: LOG.L - news ADVERTISEMENT


- msgs) 's Leading Next Generation SMSC

LogicaCMG announced today it has been selected to provide a Next Generation Short Message Service Centre (SMSC) to GloBul, Bulgaria's fastest developing mobile operator. Once implemented as part of a three-year, EUR1.1 million contract, LogicaCMG's SMSC will enable GloBul to offer its 1.3 million subscribers exceptional SMS service levels, even during peak times when traffic volumes are at their highest.

GloBul has decided to move to LogicaCMG's Next Generation Messaging IP-based SMS architecture in order to have a resilient and robust messaging solution that can cope with increased traffic demands. The LogicaCMG solution offers high quality, uninterrupted SMS services to customers during high SMS traffic times such as Christmas, New Year's Eve and text voting television programmes. LogicaCMG's Business Tools suite alongside the SMSC will also enable GloBul to offer on-line customer care for data services. This enables Globul to undertake service and subscriber targeting from the in-depth analysis of their data usage that Business Tools provides, providing them with a competitive edge in the Bulgarian market.

LogicaCMG's platform offers GloBul a cost-effective solution in every phase of market development, whilst preparing its network to accommodate future service demands. It will support expansion of GloBul's range of value-added SMS and content delivery services to the operator's pre- and post-pay subscribers. The ability to provide these advanced messaging capabilities will unlock new SMS market opportunities for GloBul, increasing potential revenue generation and enabling it to speed the return on investment. In addition, LogicaCMG's Pre-delivery Service Agent - successfully deployed in 2002 - is automatically integrated as part of this deployment and will provide real time rating and charging of all data traffic.

Mr. Stefan Kolev, Switching and Services Director at GloBul Bulgaria, said: "The provision of SMS to our customer base is a critical source of revenue for the foreseaable future. We needed a solution that could perform under pressure at peak times, deliver excellent levels of customer service and thereby protect SMS revenues. We are confident that moving to a LogicaCMG messaging platform will deliver the high perfomance we need to retain and grow our customer base through the provision of the highest quality of SMS."

Chris McDermott, CEO of LogicaCMG's global telecoms business, said: "Our reputation for successful implementation of flexible, robust and scalable messaging platforms has made LogicaCMG the ideal partner for mobile operators to grow their mobile messaging services. We are very pleased to be helping GloBul to take advantage of the growth in mobile services and to maximise their revenue opportunities with our Next Generation SMSC solution."

LogicaCMG's Next Generation Messaging solution offers an integrated solution for key data services such as SMS, MMS, WAP and voice and video services, integrating best of breed modules and applications seamlessly into operator networks. Combined with common components such as rating and charging, customer care, provisioning and management, it provides operators with an open standards, all-IP architecture.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About GloBul

GloBul is the trademark through which Cosmo Bulgaria Mobile EAD offers mobile telecommunication services in Bulgaria. Following commencement of its commercial operation in September 2001, the company develops its activity on the grounds of rich international experience and know-how. The overall investments made by the company so far exceed EUR 500 million.

Within the three years of its operation GloBul has covered 98% of the population and 83% of the territory of Bulgaria and has established 247 roaming agreements with partners in 115 countries all over the world. GloBul's customer base already exceeded a number of M 1,3 and this number is constantly growing. This ensures the company a reputation of one of the fastest developing operators in Europe.

The company has developed an extensive and flexible distribution network. Its products and services are offered in more than 450 commercial outlets in the entire country. GloBul's official agents are Germanos, Office 1 Superstore, GlobalNet and Da, da. In addition, the company has a network of 24 exclusive shops and works intensively for its expansion.

Over 700 highly qualified employees with considerable professional experience and work motivation works for GloBul at present. The company is driven by the principle that professionalism, respect to the client, market broadening and constant high quality of services offered are the keys towards achieving trust, correctness and respectability in its relations with clients. GloBul's aspiration is to continue to offer its clients high quality, accessible, straightforward and human mobile communications. More information is available at www.globul.bg

About LogicaCMG

The Questor column
Edited by Harry Wallop (Filed: 13/11/2004)

You'll need plenty of courage to run with the Logica bull

This time last year life at LogicaCMG was all about job cuts. Formed by an Anglo-Dutch merger in 2002, the computer services giant was in the midst of a redundancy programme aimed at squeezing costs.

Fast forward to today and chief executive Martin Read is hiring aggressively in the UK and the Netherlands as order books begin to swell.

So bullish is Mr Read that he wants to double the size of the business over the next half decade.

He has form. The company's market value of more than 1billion represents an almost tenfold increase on Logica's worth when he arrived from Marconi in 1993.

It's been a bumpy ride and the combined shares are worth a fraction of the price they fetched during the dotcom craze, when Logica and CMG's text messaging technology set investors salivating. Those who bought then are nursing painful losses but the lucky few who got in at the start of 2003 and sold in December last year, as Questor recommended, trebled their money. Since then, the shares have drooped - they were back down at 196.5p this week - but prospects have improved. The UK business is seeing shoots of recovery in the financial and utility sectors.

In Germany, business is still tough and 300 job losses should generate 17m of annualised cost savings.

The wireless business that made the company famous has failed to replicate its SMS success in the world of picture messaging but Mr Read is confident it can return to a small profit at the March year end.

Trading on 15 times forecast earnings for 2005 and yielding 3pc, the shares are at a small discount to the sector and are worth a look if you're feeling brave.


http://www.money.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2004/11/13/cxquest13.xml&menuId=242&sSheet=/money/2004/11/13/ixfrontmarkets.html

Big boys may want to buy them cheap that is why they downgraded them.

LogicaCMG wins 7-yr order from Amsterdam VU university
AFX


AMSTERDAM (AFX) - LogicaCMG PLC said it won a 7-year order from Amsterdam's VU university to implement SAP Payroll and a salary processing system for 3,800 employees.

A spokesman for LogicaCMG said the contract was worth around 1 mln eur.

He noted the order was of important strategic value as it combines outsourcing salary processing with payroll systems, and said LogicaCMG hopes to sign several more similar orders in the future, primarily in the Netherlands.

amsterdam@afxnews.com

ls/jlw

LONDON, November 16 /PRNewswire/ --

LogicaCMG today confirmed its biggest
ever outsourcing deal in Australia
with Integral Energy, the second largest electricity supply company in New
South Wales (NSW), serving around 820,000 homes and businesses.

Under the new deal LogicaCMG will take over the management and support of
Integral Energy's IT infrastructure and applications for the next four years.

Commenting on the contract Greg Forbes, head of LogicaCMG's energy and
utilities business in Australia said, "This is a milestone agreement for us
in the Australian energy and utilities market and secures our position as the
dominant provider of IT services to this sector."

"We believe that the relationship with Integral Energy will prove to be a
long and mutually beneficial one. The shared ambition and commitment to
excellence of both companies will ensure a sucessful outcome."

Jim Tapper, the international head of LogicaCMG's energy and utilities
business, said, "The strength and depth of sector knowledge which LogicaCMG
has in this area puts us in a unique position. This kind of expertise is
helping to drive our energy and utilities business worldwide."

LogicaCMG has recently extended contracts with both Aurora Energy in
Tasmania and Eraring Energy in NSW.

NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES THE CAPITAL GROUP COMPANIES, INC. Increased stake further to 67,843,957 (9.0%)

Thursday November 18, 07:02 AM
LogicaCMG Supplies Digital Tachograph Reading System
AMSTELVEEN, The Netherlands, November 18 /PRNewswire/ --

- Combining Smartcard, Verification, Identification and Mobile Technology

LogicaCMG (LSE: LOG.L - news ADVERTISEMENT


- msgs) and the Dutch Transport Inspectorate (Inspectie Verkeer en Waterstaat - IVW) have signed an agreement for the development and deployment of a digital tachograph reading system. The tachograph, which is installed in all lorries and buses, is the tool for monitoring the mandatory periods of driving and breaks for coach and truck drivers. The system to be created is called DIANTA and supports IVW inspectors reading digital tachographs. European legislation states that inspectors should be able to obtain digital readings from tachographs from August 2005.

IVW makes a contribution to the improvement of safety in national and international transport of goods and passengers. Using its powers of enforcement, monitoring and tracing IVW aims to increase road safety, achieve fair competition conditions, and improve social conditions in the transport industry. DIANTA will be developed to assist IVW inspectors in the field, by enabling them to read digital tachographs, to record data from analogue tachograph discs, to plan and justify time and to record inspections.

Like the current analogue version the new digital tachograph will register and record driving and break periods, speed and covered kilometres. With the digital tachograph this can be done more efficient and it is in addition less sensitive to fraud.

The inspectors will be equipped with tablet PCs from FujitsuSiemens. A smartcard is used to connect these tablet PCs to the tachographs that have been built into the vehicles to be inspected. Inspectors may use the application both online and offline, enabling them to always process or consult the latest information. With this solution, inspectors can make on-site inspections and take appropriate action.

The technical solution is based on the client/server concept, using mobile communication via GPRS, while the use of a smartcard guarantees a high degree of safety. To ensure smooth communication between the various application layers, the system uses a middleware solution by Aventeon.

Haye Mensonides, Managing Director Public Sector of LogicaCMG in the Netherlands said "This development will help the IVW perform its inspections with greater ease and accuracy. It is a solution which can be easily deployed around Europe to meet the new EU regulations."

NOTES TO EDITORS

About LogicaCMG

http://www.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20041122080000ni027.html