Swisscom Hospitality and Planet One Group become the first global Hotel IT managed service provider

Singapore-based Planet One group of companies, with its subsidiaries 3D Networks and FCS Computer Systems, has formed a commercial partnership with Swisscom Hospitality, Europe's leading IT solutions provider for hotels. The Planet One /Swisscom partnership results in a complementary voice, video and data service offering across the Asia-Pacific region while enabling Swisscom to serve its hotel partners globally with IT managed services.

The Planet One group of companies offer multi-skilled IT professionals, solutions and services across locations serving key markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Through its subsidiaries 3D Networks and FCS Computer Systems, Planet One markets voice and data communications solutions, back-office system integration services, software development and outsourced applications support to the hotel industry. The group already holds well established regional relationships with chains like IHG, Starwood, Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Shangri La and other major international hotel brands active in China and across Asia-Pacific.

Swisscom Hospitality Services, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is Europe's leading provider of network-based technology solutions for hotels. Departing from its global network management platform that presently serves 2'200 hotels in 43 countries, Swisscom has built a suite of IP convergent services (on site and above property) for the guest room, the meeting room, the public area and the hotel back-office. Both as a network manager and a solution provider, Swisscom has been supporting many of the world's leading chains towards the global implementation of their brand standards for many years.

"For various reasons, our global hotel chain partners have a clear preference to be served globally by one trusted IT partner that operates at competitive price levels and with experienced people as close as possible to their venues or ownership groups", comments Leo Brand, CEO of Swisscom Hospitality Services. "In order to support the aggressive expansion plans of our chain partners, a solid local presence in China and Asia-Pacific is required. After our successful entry into Russia and the Middle East last year, we are very proud to make the next step together with Planet One, FCS and 3D Networks in China and Asia-Pacific towards our strategic goal of providing full global service coverage."

Mr. Brand adds: "I am excited about this promising partnership with Planet One and its subsidiaries, which has a very solid foundation as our respective service portfolios and key markets complement each another perfectly."

Comments Yoon Mun Chiew, CEO of Planet One: "Swisscom has developed strategic relationships with a number of hotel groups such as Hilton, Rezidor, Marriott, NH and others. These relationships constitute a great asset for FCS Computer Systems which will allow exploiting broader hospitality market opportunities within Asia-Pacific and Europe. In addition, Swisscom offers a direct Sales channel which is important in view of Europe's cultural and linguistic diversity. Vice versa, we are keen to propose Swisscom's Managed Services for hotels as well as their industry-leading ConnectedHotel TV solution, both of which complement very well our strong voice related business in China and in Asia-Pacific."

Under the agreement signed today, 3D Networks becomes the preferred installation partner for Swisscom's High-Speed Internet access services, its Business Centre Solution and its rapidly expanding global Conference services. In particular, 3D Networks will deploy manage on-site hotel equipment on behalf of Swisscom, while Swisscom's Network Operations will continue to manage and monitor all hotel networks 24/7. Moreover, 3D Networks acts as Swisscom's distribution partner for its award-winning IPTV solution known as ConnectedHotel TV.