Water Intel. Regulatory News (WATR)

14 Mar 2006 07:01

Qonnectis plc14 March 2006 Qonnectis plc Launches new automated meter reading product Qonnectis plc ("Qonnectis"), the energy and water conservation servicesprovider, will be launching its new iStaq-AMR product ("iStaq-AMR") at theNational Automatic Monitoring and Targeting Exhibition which starts today atAston Villa's conference centre in Birmingham. The iStaq-AMR is targeted at thegrowing market segment for automated meter reading. The iStaq-AMR provides automatic meter reading for billing purposes (which, overtime, is expected to supersede manual meter reading which is increasinglybecoming uneconomic). It is a derivative of Qonnectis's successful iStaq-LG,which is designed as a utility network monitoring and water/energy managementproduct using half-hourly meter communications. The iStaq-AMR reads the meterweekly or monthly, and has been developed in response to feedback from utilitiesand their business and high-usage domestic customers. Qonnectis additionallywill be able to offer its meter reading customers the benefits of itseasy-to-use "myMeter" online meter data services. This allows real time readingand highlights any unusual usage patterns. Michael Tapia, Chief Executive of Qonnectis, commented: "The iStaq-AMR extends our product range into a fast-growing market segment andprovides water companies, in particular, with a cost-effective way to improvetheir meter reading, billing procedures, to enhance their customer service andto also encourage their customers to conserve water in times of potentialshortage." 14th March 2006 For further information, please contact: Qonnectis plcMichael Tapia, Chief Executive 020 8893 4766 Bankside ConsultantsSue Scott / Michael Padley 020 7367 8888 Editors' notes - About Qonnectis Qonnectis' patented technologies enable the analysis of remote meter data tofacilitate water leakage control, customer profiling, and energy and watermanagement efficiency. Its products are already being used by a wide range of UKand overseas utilities including Scottish Water, Cambridge Water, Aquavitae,Generale des Eaux and Lyonnaise des Eaux as well as large commercial anddomestic users of energy or water. The iStaq family of products work by sending meter readings to Qonnectis' securedata centre via SMS text messaging over the GSM network. The data is thenaggregated and published online via utility-branded "myMeter" websites operatedby Qonnectis. The data can also be sent directly to utilities' billing systems.Customers can access real-time information via a web browser using the "myMeter"service. For more information, please visit www.qonnectis.com. ENDS This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange