Orca and Lucent

7 Jun 2005 07:19

Emblaze Ltd07 June 2005 For immediate release: Tuesday, June 7, 2005 Orca signs strategic agreement with Lucent Technologies Lucent also commits to significant pre-purchase of licenses Ra'anana, Israel: Emblaze Ltd (Emblaze or "the Company") (LSE: BLZ) announcesthat its Group company, Orca Interactive (LSE: ORCA), a global market leader indeveloping applications for IPTV, announces that it has signed an agreement todevelop and deliver next-generation IPTV solutions with Lucent Technologies(NYSE: LU), the worldwide provider of systems, software and services tonext-generation communications networks. Under the agreement, Lucent has integrated Orca's RiGHTv IPTV middlewareplatform into its network infrastructure solutions for the delivery of videoapplications. The two companies are collaborating to develop a market-readysolution designed to help telecoms service providers to deliver cost-effective,mass market Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services and next-generationmultimedia services at any time on any device. Under the multi-year agreementthe companies are also collaborating on joint developments to enhance serviceproviders' ability to address the quality and control issues associated withdeploying IPTV. As part of the agreement, Lucent has committed to a multi million dollar licensepurchase for Orca's RIGHTv middleware solution. "Lucent is an excellent partner with which Orca can attack the IP Video marketand deliver new technologies that bring better service control to the operator,reduce the total cost of ownership and allow operators to stay ahead of the IPTVinnovation curve," said Haggai Barel, CEO, Orca Interactive. "We are pleasedwith the interest already shown in our joint solution and look forward toworking alongside Lucent to accelerate the deployments of our IP Video services." "When we combine our expertise with Orca's RIGHTv middleware platform, we giveour customers the best IPTV delivery solution today, and lay the foundation fordeploying advanced multimedia services in the future," said Robert Piconi, vicepresident and general manager, Broadband Solutions, Lucent Technologies. For further information: Enquiries Emblaze GroupDoron Cohen, Hagit Gal + 972 9 7699831/ 339 Corfin CommunicationsHarry Chathli, Neil Thapar + 44 207 929 8989 About The Emblaze Group (Emblaze LTD) Emblaze Ltd. is a group of companies sharing a common mission to provide telecomoperators with technologies, products and solutions for next generationservices: Emblaze Mobile, a new breed in handsets design and manufacturing;Adamind (LSE: ADA), a global leader in content adaptation (transcoding) forwireless operators; Visual Defence (LSE: VDI), a provider of wireless and IPvideo solutions for military and homeland security markets; Emblaze Systems,leading provider of customized, media centric, end-to-end solutions for mobilemedia and Orca Interactive (LSE: ORCA), provider of Interactive Television IPTVmiddleware 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, Canada, United Kingdom, China, Korea andIsrael. www.emblaze.com About Orca Interactive Orca Interactive (LSE-ORCA) is a leading provider of IPTV middleware andapplications for broadband network operators and service providers. Orca enablestriple-play providers to deliver a full array of attractive video-over-IPservices that generate new revenue streams and strengthen customer loyalty.Leveraging a flexible telco-grade middleware platform, Orca empowers operatorsto deliver broadcast TV, video on demand (VOD), personal video recording (PVR),home media and other compelling interactive services. Orca's SI-enabledsolutions are designed for easy outsourcing of integration services by anoperator's preferred systems integrator. Orca has formed strategic partnershipswith leading players across the IPTV value chain to ensure best-of-breedsolutions with low total cost of ownership. For more information, please visithttp://www.orcainteractive.com/ About Lucent Technologies Lucent Technologies designs and delivers the systems, services and software thatdrive next-generation communications networks. Backed by Bell Labs research anddevelopment, Lucent uses its strengths in mobility, optical, software, data andvoice networking technologies, as well as services, to create newrevenue-generating opportunities for its customers, while enabling them toquickly deploy and better manage their networks. Lucent's customer base includescommunications service providers, governments and enterprises worldwide. Formore information on Lucent Technologies, which has headquarters in Murray Hill,N.J., USA, visit http://www.lucent.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange