After many years involved in sound and data technology, Laurence introduced a new convergence of SMS technology and ideas, forming a partnering to export the unique SMS technology to the UK. Britain was chosen as the most ideal situated country in terms of logistics global positioning with the prospect of exporting a new dimension in SMS communication technology, During 2001 Laurence approached the British Home Office with the possibility of introducing the unique Gateway SMS Mail communication system to the security forces in the UK. This in-turn led to Laurence's introduction to New Scotland Yard where between December 2001 and May 2002 Scotland Yard cleared the bureaucracy process to trial the system.

On June 1st 2002 the Unique SMS text system went on official trial for three months in Special Operations Room at New Scotland Yard, becoming an instrumental communication tool through events such as the Queens Jubilee week, Nottinghill Carnival, the London Marathon, protest marches, street rallies, and general to serious communication needs of New Scotland Yard & The Metropolitan Police Force.

After the initial three-month test trial was concluded a success, it was decided to do a 6 month work solution evaluation on the system in which CMG International would head up the project. During this time the system expanded to other valuation sites within Scotland Yard and the Metropolitan Police Force in London. SMS Mail was also included to critical sites such as Buckingham Palace Royalty Protection branch.

During this time Laurence put forward a number of software solutions and additions to the Scotland Yard software. This enhanced the system specifically to top level security communication applications within New Scotland Yard and the Metropolitan Police Force.

The system and software took on new elevated heights in unique application SMS messaging communication.

SMS Mail is now packaged for the rest of the UK Police Forces, business, special events, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, shopping centres, security companies, and other high security SMS communication applications.

 
(Director)                                           
 
Rob Fisher (MD)
After 16 years in the corporate environment Rob had had enough of corporate life and he went on his own as Neptune Software selling PC hardware and software and with a vision of the online world that was coming! Within a year Neptune was selling more US Robotics modems than any other distributor in Africa. Rob was a founder member of Le Club Internet (one of the first ISP's in Africa). Le Club was acquired some 4 years after inception by ITI Holdings and subsequently bought and re-branded as Storm Internet. Rob spent a year with the Storm Group helping with the transition.

  
Loet de Swart (COO)                                                       
Loet has a wide range of management skills including Project management, Financial Administration, HR and International Marketing. The majority of these skills were honed while fulfilling the role of Managing Director of UST Projects (PTY) Ltd, a large National steel manufacturing concern.

Prior to this, Loet acquired extensive International experience working for the ABN-Amro Bank and as the Business Development Manager for Al-Khalifa in Bahrain where the emphasis was placed on projects where Global Technology partners were introduced to investors. The majority of the projects were petroleum "downstream" manufacturing centric.  

Greg Mahlknecht (CTO)
The genius behind our amazing SMS technology, Greg has been in software development since his school days developing applications since the early 80's. The programming languages he is comfortable with include Pascal, C , Assembler, JAVA, ASP and others and has database skills having worked with Informix, Oracle and SQL.

(Application developers) 
 
Richard de Oude ( Head of Client Application Software Development)
Richard is a high end developer. Richard has been a lone developer since leaving school (a few years ago) and has found a home where he can concentrate on pure development without having to worry about all the admin and marketing side of things.

Like Greg, Richard is comfortable in a multiple of different languages and databases. All round a pretty smart guy.

 
 
Nic Papadopoulos
Nic has been around with stints on a few ships as a photographer and various other exciting jobs. Nic's specialties are advanced development with database back ends and ecommerce.   
 
Pedro Pinhal
After turning down a position at microsoft, he joined our team shortly after finishing his BSCHons at UND. Pedro is comfortable in C , Java, Assembler, Antlr, ASP, and SQL. He also has a keen interest in graphics and game programming, and rocks at foosball. Other interests include music and sports. Under the guidance of Greg and Richard, Ped hopes to become an accomplished application developer.  

The development team is renowned for our unique high security SMS text software, application efficiency & reliability in our SMS system products.

Tyronne Hofland
Tyronne was thrown (literally) into the world of the IT business in August 1997 as a favour to his uncle and was told he would last "A week TOPS!" Some four years down the line, he is still here and now one of the key developers!


Tyronne started off doing internet support and dabbling in HTML on the sidelines. This opened the door to a new opportunity which he grabbed with both hands. He started doing Braby's Red Index listings and banners which improved his HTML and graphic skills. but he wanted more! So he spent many hours learning ASP and data basing and has found his niche. It's where he wants to be!

 
Dale Studzinski
After leaving school in 1997 (DHS) Dale was taken under the wing of Rob Fisher and his company (then known as Club Internet). He was dropped into the accounting department where Rob's wife Anthea taught him a number of invaluable lessons.

Dale then moved on into specialist development/support in 1998 learning asp and databases. After two years he decided to make a move overseas to a company called axos where he would stay for 4 months after which he returned.

SMS Worldwide is proud to have our advanced SMS text Alert Systems in many of the worlds Highest Security Operation Rooms where the system operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Brett Laas
Brett went To George Campbell High school and from there he went to continue his studies in Electronics at Technikon. His first Job was with a Die Company in the Corrugated Industry. He received training on PC's for designing with a CAD Package. From then he sent his CV off to Club Internet where Rob gave him a chance to prove himself. So far he must be doing OK because he is still here.

The knowledge he has gained so far is hands on experience like the rest of the team. Rob calls it a QBE Degree (Qualified by Experience) Brett is the Manager of the Brabys Web Sites.  
 
Jolene Hofland
Jo relocated from Richards Bay to Durban in the middle of 1997, where she carried on her schooling at Northlands Girls High School and matriculated in 1999.

Her first 8 months out of school she didn't have a clue on what she wanted to do, so like any young teenager she started waitressing. Those eight months was the first and last she would like to see of a restaurant unless she is eating in it!

Her brother, Tyronne, phoned one day to ask if she was interested in giving web design a go. She accepted and started working at ITI Club Internet as a junior web designer. She has learnt HTML and graphic development which she uses in creating listings and banners for Brabys web site. She is also learning ASP and data basing as more of the web sites developed require those capabilities.  
 
Riaan Grobelaar
Fresh out of the SADF in 1993 he started looking for work, having a keen interest in graphics and design, he worked for a Interior Designer for a year, doing interior house layouts and selling R20,000 chairs which he didn't find very interesting or challenging. He moved to an Electronic Sign Writing company called American Signs, working with a then "state of the art" 386 PC, doing everything from designing the TAZZ stickers for Toyota's to 15 Meter road-side signs.

He worked there for five years learning everything he could about signs and logos. After speaking to Rob and explaining his situation, he was offered a position doing support calls. 4 Christmas parties and 9 months later, the name has changed, but the help and support he got from them have stayed the same.  
 
Alan Haarhoff
Alan went straight from School (DHS) to University of Natal, Durban in 1993. After 2 years he took a break and went overseas to explore the world. After a year working on a Kibbutz and in the Yorkshire Dales as a Barman, Alan came back to South Africa and started as a waiter in a French Restaurant in Durban. After then Managing the Restaurant for a few years he took a course in HTML programming and, as they say, the rest is history.

In 2001 he took a year to study various courses in Web Development and his MCSD. Pocket money was earned by developing sites for people and various businesses. At the end of the year Rob offered to take him on for a month in February 2002 to gain experience, and has since stayed on.

His passion if for ASP and the internet, and is learning tons from the experienced guys around him.  

(Security specialists) 
 
Steven Leonard
Steve (or Doctor Death all dressing black) has also been around for a number of years and joined in the days of the house in New Germany and also went through the support and web development sections and now heads up the security division as well has being a webmaster.

 
Lee Ruthenberg  (MA Economics)

New to the team - Lee completed university with majors in English and Economics. He studied further and completed a Masters Degree in Economics with a focus on Industrial Policy. After moving to London in 1998 he began working in the banking and finance industry. After a short time at UBS he spent 3 years at Citibank in corporate liquidity and investment. This last year before joining SMS Worldwide Lee was involved in Business Development consulting for emerging small businesses, financial contracting and taken time to travel through New Zealand.   

He joins the SMS Worldwide team as an Account Executive to promote and further the customers interests, requirements and needs. 

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A typical development team member soon after the completion of a new SMS software upgrade release. The standards we set in maintaining our leadership in unique SMS communication technology sets us apart from other SMS technologies out there, both in our technology and the development team itself.