NTT-X and InfoMove Form Joint Venture to Distribute New Internet Telematics and Multimedia Applications
14 November 2000
NTT-X and InfoMove Form Joint Venture to Distribute New Internet Telematics and Multimedia Applications
LAS VEGAS--Nov. 14, 2000--NTT-X, Inc., part of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. and a subsidiary of NTT-ME Corp., a corporation with a wide range of business activities geared toward creating a better communication society, and InfoMove, the leading developer of personalized, location-based applications and wireless services, have agreed to form a joint venture that will deliver new Internet telematics and multimedia applications using NTT-X's extensive distribution channels.
NTT-X will hold a majority stake in the joint venture, temporarily called "InfoMove Japan," comprised of employees and resources from both companies. InfoMove Japan will serve as the exclusive distributor of InfoMove applications and services on designated NTT group technology hardware and platforms. The announcement was made at the Comdex tradeshow in Las Vegas, where InfoMove is showcasing its products.
"This venture opens the door for a new generation of telematics applications," said Peter Holland, InfoMove president and CEO. "Through the efforts of InfoMove Japan, consumers will see exciting, real-time wireless products that enhance the mobile experience."
"We are very pleased with this new relationship," said Shigeru Ikeda, NTT-ME and NTT-X president and CEO. "The InfoMove applications will add tremendous value to our products and services."
Under the agreement, the products and services offered by InfoMove Japan will include:
| -- | Current and future offerings from both NTT-X and InfoMove; |
| -- | Co-development projects from both companies and third parties; |
| -- | Third-party distribution channels, products and services. |
"The opportunity is limitless for InfoMove Japan," added Holland. "We look forward to a bright relationship with NTT, based on our mutual desire of bringing best-of-breed wireless solutions to consumers."
About NTT-ME
The NTT group has developed a wide variety of businesses aimed at creating more advanced communications for society, by building and maintaining the communications network and the related services that support today's social fabric. The initials "ME" come from two keywords expected to open the doors to business success in the 21st century: "Multimedia" and "Engineering." The key words signify that NTT-ME, with leading-edge technologies and solid reliability, meet the needs of our information distribution society and its increasingly complex and advanced fields of business. Today, NTT-ME is combining NTT's vast technical, R&D, and business-related resources in the field of multimedia to further strengthen its ability to respond more efficiently to the ever growing multimedia market. Through its ties with the NTT group and the fruits of NTT's world-renowned R&D laboratories to satisfy clients' needs and grow as a local, client-orientated business, NTT-ME can be called the NTT that is closest to the clients' own businesses. Clients can consult NTT-ME on a wide variety of issues trusting the extensive Multimedia and Engineering resources of NTT-ME, and the company's ability to come up with solutions that will sharpen the competitive edge in today's business environment.
About InfoMove
InfoMove is the leading developer of personalized, location-based applications and wireless services tailored for use in the automobile. The company integrates driver-specific content and applications and private-labels its services to strategic partners for wireless delivery to consumers through handheld PC's, cellular phones and in-dash car systems. By partnering with leading automotive manufacturers, handheld device manufacturers, Internet portals and wireless carriers, InfoMove is well positioned to deliver unparalleled services to the end user. Drivers and passengers can safely receive localized, personalized information including real-time traffic advisories, audible turn-by-turn directions, vehicle diagnostics, maintenance alerts, emergency services, location-based advertising, and text-to-speech enabled e-mail and Internet content such as news, stocks and weather.
InfoMove was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Seattle. It has strategic relationships with content providers, automotive manufacturers, technology developers and device manufacturers such as Microsoft, BSQUARE, Casio, InfoSpace, Yazaki, PACCAR, ALLDATA, Audible.com, Etak and the University of Washington. The company is working with leading automotive and device manufacturers to deliver this unique solution to consumers by early 2001. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.infomove.com.