COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Richard "Rick" R. Roscitt, best known for his rapid rise through the ranks of AT&T, as well as for his work as chief executive officer of ADC and, most recently, president and chief operating officer of MCI, has been named chief executive officer of SMobile Systems, Inc.
Mr. Roscitt, 55, joined SMobile in 2006 as chairman and will retain the title as well as assuming the position of CEO.
"SMobile is extremely fortunate to have Rick take over the reins as CEO," said Jim Holden, a member of SMobile's board and former president and CEO of DaimlerChrysler. "Given Rick's extensive background and insights in the telecom world, he truly understands the challenges and opportunities facing today's market as well as the evolution of cell phones into powerful mobile computing devices."
Founded in 2002, SMobile created the first complete line of products and services designed to protect mobile phones from hackers, viruses, identity thieves, malware, unwanted messages, service interruption, spam attacks and other security threats.
"In my role as SMobile's chairman, I have seen the company build a technology platform and suite of wireless communications security solutions that are second to none," Mr. Roscitt said. "With the rapid spread and adoption of smart phones, Blackberries and now the iPhone, now is the time for a company like SMobile to help protect our nation's wireless communications networks.
Since its inception, SMobile has proven to be a thought and technology leader in the wireless industry, offering the most robust, end-to-end security solutions that are designed to protect both the mobile device and the carrier's wireless network. Designed from the ground up for mobile systems, SMobile's technology is lean and unobtrusive to ensure that the user is fully protected while not sacrificing functionality or impacting the performance of the device.
"Wireless communications technology has become both ubiquitous and a vital component of daily life and business," said Neil Book, president, SMobile. "The threats to mobile handsets, wireless networks and cellular carriers have never been greater, and the need for a comprehensive security solution has never been more pressing."
Mr. Book explained that, according to SMobile's proprietary research, the number of mobile malware variants has more than doubled since the beginning of 2006, bringing the total number of known mobile viruses to over 365. SMobile and other security experts predict close to 1,000 viruses by the end of 2007.
"With his nearly four decades of telecommunications experience," Mr. Book said, "Rick Roscitt brings a unique perspective to SMobile. He is a proven leader and a business visionary with the skill set and experience to ensure that we continue to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers."
During his long tenure with AT&T, Mr. Roscitt was president of AT&T Business Services, the company's then largest and most profitable business unit. Under his leadership as CEO of AT&T Solutions annual revenues grew from $100 Million to $5 Billion. The story of Mr. Roscitt and the growth of AT&T Solutions is featured in the book Leading at the Speed of Change by Bill Capodaghi and Lynn Jackson.
"My entire career has revolved around taking an entrepreneurial approach to solving telecommunications and business issues," Mr. Roscitt said. "The opportunity to assume the chief executive position at SMobile will be one of the highlights of my career. Having spent the last 36 years working in the carrier space, I understand the unique challenges they face day in and day out to provide strong, reliable and secure services to their subscribers. That experience will help me lead SMobile as we work to meet the demands of our customers, the wireless carriers."
During his tenure as president of MCI, Mr. Roscitt was instrumental in leading the company out of bankruptcy in 2004. Mr. Roscitt received a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Sloan School of Management at MIT. He is a member of the Board of Trustees at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. Mr. Roscitt is also on the Board of Directors of Force 10 Networks in San Jose, CA.
SMobile Systems, Inc. is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with facilities in Fort Lee, New Jersey, Dortmund, Germany and Pune, India.
About SMobile
SMobile, Inc. has created the first and only complete line of products and services that securely protect mobile phones and the global wireless infrastructure from hackers, viruses, data compromise, unauthorized data theft and the effects of lost or stolen devices. The company's security applications include virus and malware detection, text message and data filtering, prevention of unwanted messages from interrupting the user, spam blocking, enterprise management, protection for mobile professionals from harmful data on open networks and data security and password-protection for content and files. SMobile is headquartered in Columbus, OH with facilities in Fort Lee, N.J., Dortmund, Germany, and Pune, India. The company is privately held.
SMobile Systems, Inc.
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