Champion Technology Announces Global Partnership to Introduce i-KEY for Drunk-Driving Prevention

Champion Technology Holdings Limited has added a News Release to its web site 
http://www.championtechnology.com/press_releases.htm.




Hong Kong (24 June 2004) - Champion Technology Holdings Limited (SEHK: 092) and its technology partner Tiger (Telematics In-car Global Engineering Research) International Japan Limited today gave a demonstration of an innovative automotive solution that prevents drunk drivers from starting their vehicles if they are over the legal alcohol limit. The partners hope that the new device will be made mandatory for drunk driving prevention, and will become a standard feature in all existing and new vehicles.

 

i-KEY is a down-to-earth technology solution integrated into the car key, without modification of the vehicle or installation by qualified technicians. This is a major technological breakthrough, making i-KEY the world's first drunk-driving prevention device which is independent of the body of the vehicle, thereby enabling all existing cars to be duly equipped in a ready and convenient manner. Worldwide invention patents for this innovative key have been applied and are pending.

 

i-KEY is remarkably simple to use. It integrates a breath analyzer to any car key and can function regardless of the age and model of the vehicle. The key has a protruding interlock that blocks entry to the ignition and retracts once a breath sample under the legal limit has been analysed.

 

i-KEY is the world's first working car key device for drunk-driving prevention, and has been tested extensively on a wide range of vehicles. It combines sensors, electronics, computing, telematics, RF, and micro-motor technologies that are capable of being integrated into a car key for testing the driver¡¦s alcohol level. The driver needs only to blow into a small mouthpiece on the side of the i-KEY to get the ¡§green light¡¨ to start the car engine. If the alcohol level exceeds the legal limit, a red light will show and the interlock will disable the car key.

 

According to Paul Kan, Chairman of Champion Technology Group and Champion In-car Telematics, the Group's technology solutions provider for automotive applications, ¡§Dangerous driving is devastating, and getting drunken drivers off the road is of paramount importance. Existing in-car interlock devices, though effective in preventing drunk-driving, all involve major modifications to the car body and require installation by qualified technicians. i-KEY , on the other hand, can be replaced readily and provides the same protection at a fraction of the cost of modifying a car.¡¨



Paul Kan added, ¡§The cost of drunk-driving related accidents to society is huge. In some places, alcohol accounts for about 40% of all fatal crashes. We are offering this device because we believe that people don¡¦t always know when they are fit to drive or when they are over the safety-limit, particularly after a big party. The beauty of the key is that it helps monitor the safe alcohol level of the driver, and assists the driver in making a sensible and responsible decision on his own ability to drive.¡¨

 

¡§Defending Intellectual Property Rights is our Top Priority,¡¨ Mr Kan emphasised. ¡§We will defend our patents, design and software copyright vigorously. The key is a product that will affect the lives of people, and for which we have spent a lot of time and resources to develop and test.  Imitators do not have the experience gained through the long process of development and research. A lookalike key hence is not in a position to benefit from the many pitfalls encountered during lengthy testing processes. Such imitations will not only affect our investors¡¦ ability to recover their investments, it will also erode our continuing R&D resources.  It can also be dangerous for the users.  Any copied products will affect the confidence of the market and slowdown adoption.  Our roads may therefore not be as safe as they should be, and innocent lives would be lost.  Hence we will not spare any effort to go after infringements of our intellectual property rights.  Currently we have built up a war-chest of $800 million cash which should be sufficient if any such legal battle is to be fought.  In the event of further cash requirements for legal proceedings, we have support from our shareholders to raise additional funds to meet this need.¡¨

 

As of today, Champion In-car Telematics has formed a global alliance to market and manufacture the innovative key, initially covering the markets of China, Japan, Korea, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, New Zealand and Australia. In order to ensure a widespread global distribution of the drunk-driving prevention key, as well as to promote healthy competition among the global suppliers, the key will be marketed initially under the two labels of i-KEY (intelligence and insurance) and d-key (drunk-driving prevention).   Current approved suppliers include 5 listed companies in Hong Kong: Champion Technology, Digital Hong Kong, Group Sense, Kantone Holdings, and Wonderful World.  The others are:  Alcohol Sensor Limited, Alcoholkey Inc., Beijing Greatwall Digital Technology Limited, Ideas Technologies Limited, Kantone Telecommunications, Inc. (U.S.A.), Kantone (UK) Limited, Multiton Elektronik GmbH, Multitone Electronics PLC, Multitone Eletronica Limitada, New Atlantic International Limited, Tiger International Japan Limited and Tiger International Limited.



All of them are community minded companies and many of them are either members, sponsors or technology partners of International Drunk Driving Prevention Association (IDDPA.com), Drunk Driving Prevention Organisation (DDPO.org) and Breathalyser (Breathalyser.org).

 

Japan will be the first market to officially launch the i-KEY, which is expected to be around the fourth quarter of 2004.

 

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About Champion Technology (stock code 092)

 

Champion Technology (www.championtechnology.com) is a global technology group offering innovative solutions in the areas of communications software, wireless, e-commerce, security, and telematics. The Group¡¦s solutions are dedicated to bettering the lives of people, preventing accidents, and saving lives, and these include software-enhanced wireless messaging, radio products and systems, as well as networking and Internet access products for customers, network operators, and commercial, government and industrial customers.

 

With total assets of $4.8 billion, the Group has a presence in more than 50 countries through a network of regional offices and distributors, and it includes 3 Hong Kong listed companies and a former London listed company. Champion Technology Holdings Limited has a primary listing on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.




 

About Champion In-car Telematics

 

Champion In-car Telematics (www.championit.com) is a division of Champion Technology, and is involved in the distribution and promotion of innovative safe-driving solutions. It has invested in a number of in-car telematics projects including alcohol control systems, vision enhancement systems, pedestrian monitoring systems, and route information systems.

 

About Tiger International Japan Limited

 


Tiger International (www.tigerint.com) (Telematics In-car Global Engineering Research) is involved in the research and development of vehicle safety electronics, including Alcohol Control Systems and Pedestrian Monitoring Systems. It is the subsidiary of New Atlantic International Limited, whose principal business is investments in design, development, and licensing of intellectual property rights relating to in-car safety electronics.  New Atlantic is backed by international investors which include major financial institutions and technology companies, with combined total assets in excess of Yen 175 billion.