BSD.L Regulatory News (BSD)

3 May 2005 08:00

Emblaze Ltd03 May 2005 EMBLAZE MOBILE SET TO ROK THE UK Emblaze Mobile Announces Exclusive Supply Deal with ROK Mobile London, 3 May 2005: Emblaze Mobile Ltd., the handset design and manufacturinghouse and member of the Emblaze Group (LSE: BLZ), today announced that it willbe the exclusive provider of unique and specifically branded handsets for thenewly announced ROK Mobile MVNO, part of the mobile entertainment company ROKEntertainment Group. Emblaze Mobile will be working with ROK to define the exact handsets that theywill distribute, which will be bundled with content preloaded onto memory cardsand then sold on through distribution channels in the UK. The first brandedhandsets are expected to come to the market before the end of August this year.ROK is aiming for an estimated 250,000 subscriptions within 12 months and onemillion within three years. "Emblaze Mobile is all about a bold, fresh and provocative approach to themarket and we are excited to be working with such a forward thinking andenergetic company as ROK," said Laurence Alexander, CEO Emblaze Mobile. "We workwith our customers to develop devices to appeal to a defined market withapplications, content and customised user experiences that will actually makepeople want to use the phone for more than just calls and SMS." Alexander continued, "ROK is a pioneer in content development and provision andhas partnerships with a portfolio of leading international brands; this is thebeginning of a close working relationship and together we will be enablingcustomers with the technology they need for their lifestyles and completelyredefining and reshaping market focus." "Everything that we are building for ROK MVNO is based upon true innovations,"added Jonathan Kendrick, chairman and CEO ROK. "With our handset supply partnerEmblaze we have found a truly original, attractive and highly capable range ofmobile phones." Emblaze Mobile's new focus is to deliver stylish, individual lifestyle handsetsto consumers in a sophisticated market place where handsets are no longer merelya functional piece of necessary technology, but rather a desired piece oflifestyle, coupled with applications and content enablement. Emblaze Mobile aimsto reshape the market with its innovation for design and usability, and toprovide cool, stylish mobile devices with leading user experience in allapplications beyond mere voice calls. As a leading provider of rich multi mediahandsets, Emblaze Mobile is completely centred on lifestyle enablement and thewants and desires of its urbane customers. Emblaze Mobile has expanded its international position with headquarters inLondon incorporating marketing, sales and management. The recently purchasedhandset design and manufacturing house in Korea provides volume manufacturingcapabilities, top tier mechanical and hardware design while Israel remains thetechnology focus for software R&D, applications and content development.More information can be found at www.emblazemobile.com. ENDS Enquiries: Emblaze Ltd.Doron Cohen, Hagit Gal +972 9 769 9831/339 Corfin Communications +44 (0)20 7929 8989Harry Chathli, Neil Thapar About The Emblaze Group (Emblaze LTD)--------------------------------------- Emblaze Ltd. is a group of companies sharing a common mission to provideTelecom operators with technologies, products and solutions for next generationservices: Emblaze Mobile, a new breed in handsets design and manufacturing;Adamind, a global leader in content adaptation (transcoding) for wirelessoperators; Emblaze Defense, a provider of wireless and IP video solutions formilitary and homeland security markets and Orca Interactive (LSE: ORCA), provider of Interactive Television IPTV middleware for Video On Demand (VOD)and broadcast services, aimed at Telecom, cable and xDSL operators Emblaze Group is traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BLZ) since 1996 andhas offices in the United States, United Kingdom, China, Korea and Israel. www.emblaze.com About Emblaze Mobile---------------------- Emblaze Mobile was founded in 2001. It is headquartered in London withoperating facilities in Israel as well as design and production capabilities inKorea. It is part of Emblaze group of companies which share a common mission toprovide Telecom operators with technologies, products and solutions for nextgeneration services. Emblaze Ltd. was established in 1994 and is traded on theLondon Stock Exchange (LSE: BLZ). Emblaze Mobile produces media-rich handsets with sophisticated voice and datasolutions that are individual, cool and stylish. Emblaze Mobile knows that itscustomers are sophisticated individuals who have busy lifestyles, and needmultimedia devices which are precisely tailored, simple, stylish and versatileto meet their different and constantly changing needs. These innovative devicesoffer operators the ability to provide additional value-added services and aricher, even more intuitive, multimedia experience. www.emblazemobile.com About ROK • Formed in 2002, ROK has become a major creator, licensor and distributor of mobile phone content. ROK has amassed a unique portfolio of original content spanning ring tones, real tones, animations, wallpapers, games and film clips for mobile downloads. • With 130 staff and offices in the UK, Houston, Los Angeles and Beijing (Where 'ROK New Net' operates as a Joint Venture with the Beijing Municipal Government) ROK has mobile content supply agreements with many of the worlds leading MNO's. • ROK is pioneering the introduction of content filled MMC's and has filed a Global Patent on the technology ROK has developed to place original content onto MMC's to include ROK's own auto-player and to include content encryption. • In addition, ROK has filed trademarks on DVC (Digital Video Chip), DMC (Digital Music Chip and DCC (Digital Content Chip). • ROK is a privately owned and funded company This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange