Ascom acquires assets of GE Healthcare’s Nurse Call Business

GOTHENBURG,Sweden - Wednesday, June 20th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ascom acquires assets of GE Healthcare’s Nurse Call business headquartered in Bradenton, Florida as of 18 June, 2012. This acquisition accelerates the growth trajectory of Ascom Wireless Solutions in the healthcare communication market. GE Healthcare’s Nurse Call systems (www.gehealthcare.com) are a leading nurse call system used by hospitals throughout North America. GE Healthcare’s Nurse Call business has established itself as a leader with its Telligence and Telergy nurse call solutions. In 2006, GE introduced Telligence a network based VoIP nurse call system which improved clinical workflow within the acute care market. GE and Ascom have a long standing relationship where they jointly developed the Mobile Monitoring Gateway for sending alerts and alarms from GE Healthcare Patient Monitors to mobile devices. This acquisition further strengthens the partnership between both companies.

Ascom has acquired the assets of GE Healthcare’s Nurse Call business and will keep it as a separate Ascom business unit based in Bradenton, FL. This acquisition is complementary to the existing Ascom Nurse Call business outside the US and allows Ascom the ability to provide its customers with the best features and functionality from the combined offerings. Patrick Van Ryzin, who has led the GE Healthcare Nurse Call business for the past three years, will continue to lead the business as a separate business unit for Ascom, reporting directly to Claes Ödman, General Manager of the Ascom Wireless Solution division based in Sweden. Claes states: “This will be a completely seamless transition for all of the current GE Healthcare Nurse Call distributors and resellers. It will be business as usual for all of the partners. Ascom is committed to providing the excellent service and customer care that GE Healthcare has provided for years. We look forward to working with these new partners.”

Fritz Mumenthaler, CEO of Ascom, says: “Ascom is very pleased to have acquired these assets, which help Ascom move closer to our mission of becoming the international market leader in mission-critical communication in healthcare. This acquisition, and our recent acquisition of Miratel in Finland, combined with our own teleCARE Nurse Call allows Ascom to provide superior nurse call solutions all around the world.”

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ABOUT ASCOM

Ascom is an international solution provider with comprehensive technological know-how in Mission-Critical Communication. The company focuses on the areas ofWireless Solutions (high-value, customer-specific on-site communications solutions) and Network Testing (a global market leader in testing and optimization solutions for mobile networks). The company is headquartered in Switzerland, has subsidiaries in 17 countries and a workforce of some 1,900 employees worldwide. Ascom registered shares (symbol ASCN) are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange in Zurich (Switzerland).

ABOUT ASCOM WIRELESS SOLUTIONS

Ascom Wireless Solutions (www.ascom.com/ws) is a leading provider of on-site wireless communications for key segments such as hospitals, elderly care,independent living, manufacturing industries, secure establishments, retail and hotels. More than 75,000 systems are installed at major companies all over the world. The company offers a broad range of voice and professional messaging solutions, creating value for customers by supporting and optimizing their Mission-Critical processes. The solutions are based on VoWiFi, IP-DECT, nurse call and paging technologies, smartly integrated via Ascom Unite into existing enterprise systems. The company has subsidiaries in 11 countries and 1,200 employees worldwide. Founded in 1955 and based in Göteborg, Sweden, Ascom Wireless Solutions is part of the Ascom Group, listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange.

Contacts

Ascom Wireless Solutions

Anne Thingvall

Manager Marketing Communications

+46 (0) 31 – 55 93 87

anne.thingvall@ascom.se