Month: April 2005

York based mobile communications rental provider, Cellhire, recently opened its tenth international office in Japan’s bustling capital city, Tokyo.

Cellhire, who has offices as far flung as New York, Paris and Seattle, expanded into the far east in early March.

The company offers rental solutions for overseas travellers worldwide. With its extensive array of products, a wide choice of service providers, 24 hour customer service and numerous international offices, Cellhire is in the unique position of being a global service provider.

Through the business secured by providing travellers with services for Japan, Cellhire recognised the potential of having a base within the country. Their proximity allows them to build up strong business partnerships within Japan, giving them the ability to offer an unmatched level of service to their customers and extending their global reach.

Cellhire will provide solutions for both inbound travellers to Japan and outbound travellers from the country to anywhere in the world. This will allow travellers to and from one of the world’s leading business capitals to stay fully connected and contactable despite the time differences, culture shock and jet lag!

Although the mobile technology in Japan is incompatible with most others used around the globe, Cellhire’s new Japan office will ensure travellers can keep connected with a compatible solution whether visiting or leaving Japan. With the country being an international leader in mobile and data technology, situating Cellhire at the epicentre of technological advancement, the position can only be advantageous for the company’s customers.

Tim Williams (Chairman & Chief Executive) describes the expansion as “ an exciting new opportunity, allowing Cellhire to expand its Global Portfolio into eastern markets, embracing new technologies, practices and cultures. It’s an exciting time for both us as a company and our customers who will benefit from the mobile solutions and new level of service the Tokyo base will facilitate.”

Cellhire’s Japanese office is now open for business, headed by Joji Kanemoto and supported by Cellhire plc’s head office in York.

In partnership with Avis, Cellhire recently extended its range of mobile solutions offered to all Avis customers from the UK and overseas.

This growth follows the successful launch of the Avis Satellite Navigation Rental service at the end of 2004, which began with a trial at Heathrow Airport and is now available at Manchester, Gatwick, Birmingham and Stanstead airports.

Designed to benefit inbound and outbound business and leisure travellers as well as Avis’ corporate renters, the new, enhanced rental services include:

• Mobile phone and SIM card rental, enabling users from outside of the UK to save money on national and international calls using local airtime
• International SIM card rental, enabling users to avoid expensive roaming charges on both incoming and outgoing calls and save money using their own phone overseas
• 3G data cards for laptops and handheld BlackBerry units for mobile email and internet access

Any customer booking car rental online at http://www.avis.co.uk can order these latest mobile communications solutions and equipment can be collected from any UK Avis location. Alternatively, Cellhire can deliver direct to hotels, businesses or residential addresses in the UK.

Penny Stoolman, Director of Sales and Marketing, Avis UK says, “Any inbound customer who needs a mobile phone, email or internet access, will benefit from our latest value-added communications services. Similarly, we expect these services will also help corporate customers who require hands-free mobile phone usage for employees when they are travelling on work related business.”

Commenting on the expansion of the partnership, Martyn Stevens, Managing Director, Cellhire UK commented, “We are delighted that we are expanding our successful partnership with Avis, providing innovative mobile communication services to customers from the UK and abroad. With the highest commitment to quality, convenience and customer service guaranteed, our partnership enables customers to stay in touch for less throughout their trip.”

UK based mobile communications provider Cellhire plc have received the much coveted Queen’s Award For Enterprise and International Trade.

The award recognises and encourages outstanding achievements in overseas earnings by UK businesses.

Cellhire, a mobile communications specialist, has been awarded the honour for ‘Continuous Achievement in International Trade’. It recognises the company’s substantial overseas earnings, growth and commercial success in the last six years, during which time Cellhire has become the leading global supplier of mobile solutions, with clients ranging from the Ministry of Defence to the BBC and offices around the globe, from London to Cannes, Japan to New York .

To achieve the award, as well as showing strong international trade figures, the Company also had to demonstrate its;

• impact on society – displayed in Cellhire’s commitment to charities such as the St Leonard’s Hospice, York, for whom the Company is a corporate patron, and the American Red Cross, supported by Cellhire USA during the Tsunami relief work
• environmental impact – shown through the recycling of office consumables and conducting environmentally compliant disposal methods of equipment
• relationship with employees – confirmed through Cellhire’s recognition as an ‘Investor in People’ and the significant investments in internal communication and reward systems.

Tim Williams, Chairman and CEO of the Group says; “Everyone at Cellhire is delighted to win this prestigious award which recognises the Company’s achievements in building a business with a truly worldwide presence.”

The award was presented to Tim on the 22nd April 2005 at the Gladstone Library, 1 Whitehall Place, London, England by His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester KG, GCVO.