OnStar Chooses SITEL to Handle Human Interface For Revolutionary In-Vehicle System
21 January 2000
OnStar Chooses SITEL to Handle Human Interface For Revolutionary In-Vehicle SystemBALTIMORE, Jan. 21 -- SITEL Corporation and OnStar today announced the signing of a multi-year contract in which SITEL will handle OnStar customer contacts from a new 750 workstation center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Financial terms were not disclosed. OnStar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors, has developed an innovative in-vehicle safety, security and information service that uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network and cellular technology to link vehicle and driver to an OnStar Center, where Advisors are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to offer real-time personalized help. SITEL is responsible to manage the Charlotte OnStar Center, integrating the people and processes with the technology, applications and databases. Currently, more than 100,000 subscribers have the OnStar service. OnStar expects to be providing this service in over 1 million vehicles by the end of 2000. Phil Clough, SITEL's President and CEO, commented, "We are tremendously excited to be part of this revolutionary new service that brings state-of-the-art communication and customer service to the automobile. There is virtually limitless potential to how this service will transform the functionality we associate with the automobile, especially as OnStar realizes its vision of bringing Internet access to the automobile. We are also very proud to be expanding our relationship with General Motors." SITEL employees, serving as OnStar Advisors, will provide a broad range of services to OnStar subscribers including automatic notification of airbag deployment, stolen vehicle tracking, emergency services, remote door unlock, remote vehicle diagnostics and roadside assistance. Convenience services include everything from finding ATM locations and getting directions to the local zoo to arranging hotel reservations or ticket purchases. "OnStar is experiencing rapid growth as more drivers demand safety, security and information services delivered to their vehicles," said Chet Huber, general manager of OnStar. "We look forward to our relationship with SITEL at our new Charlotte OnStar Center as we establish the infrastructure to accommodate our expanding subscriber base." SITEL Corporation is the worldwide leader in delivering eCRM solutions to large corporations. SITEL manages in excess of one million remote customer contacts per day via the telephone, Internet and traditional mail. On behalf of its clients, SITEL finds, acquires and retains customers and helps build and enhance value from these customer relationships. More than 22,000 SITEL employees operate from more than 75 customer contact centers, located around the globe in 18 countries, and offer service in more than 25 languages and dialects. Please visit the Company's web site at http://www.sitel.com for further information. This news release contains statements, which are considered forward-looking within the Federal Securities laws. The forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results and future events may differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by or underlying the forward-looking statements.