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Miniweb and ACCESS Systems Europe Collaborate to Provide a Next Generation, Converged TV & Internet Video Experience
London, UK, and Amsterdam, The Netherlands, September 10, 2009 – Miniweb, the Interactive Service Provider that is enabling Internet video, interactivity and relevant, web-style
advertising on TV, and ACCESS Systems Europe Holdings B.V., a subsidiary of ACCESS CO., LTD., a
global provider of advanced software technologies to the mobile and beyond-PC markets, today announced
a collaboration agreement comprising technology integration and joint business development for hybrid TV
deployments. The integration will combine ACCESS NetFront™ Browser and DLNA software with the
Miniweb interactive services platform and menuing system to provide a converged Internet and broadcast
video entertainment experience to consumers, and new revenue streams to content owners and device
manufacturers.
ACCESS NetFront™ Browser is the most advanced, versatile and powerful full internet browser for beyond-
PC devices, including broadband connected TVs, surpassing 800 million deployments worldwide at the end
of July 2009. , Miniweb utilises the broadband connection to TV devices to enable search, delivery and
recommendations for Internet content, payments and transactions, relevant advertising and community
networking functions, all on the TV. This provides an enhanced TV experience for viewers and new revenue
opportunities for TV network operators and content owners. The combined Miniweb and ACCESS
technologies will allow converged broadcast and broadband entertainment services to be provided to over a
million existing connected-TV devices and to any new devices incorporating the integrated Miniweb and
ACCESS solution.
Miniweb's open, standards-based platform gives viewers a new level of flexibility and control over their
viewing experience whether the broadcast service is satellite, cable, terrestrial or IPTV. Miniweb will
integrate its video search and recommendations capability into the ACCESS software stack within TV
devices allowing TV viewers to seamlessly search, discover and play appropriate Internet video from
multiple sources. Miniweb will also provide a payment service allowing a single point of billing for the
consumption of premium Internet video content.
"This exciting new partnership will enable TV device manufacturers to offer a more appealing consumer
proposition, as well as bring new revenue streams and web-style business models to the industry," said
Andrew Carver, CEO, Miniweb. "It will make the benefits of the Miniweb services available to anyone who
has, or is deploying ACCESS NetFront Browser or DLNA solutions in a broadband connected TV device."
ACCESS will provide NetFront Browser v3.5, the latest version for mobile handsets and internet-enabled
devices, bringing superior user-friendliness and browsing capabilities. ACCESS will also provide NetFront™
Living Connect, its DLNA solution for multimedia home networks, and its advanced video aggregation and
management technologies.
"We're very pleased that ACCESS technologies are integrating the Miniweb solution into the NetFront
product offering for the European market," said Yusuke Kanda, CEO, ACCESS Systems Europe. "Through
this agreement, we contribute to fulfil European consumers' expectation for a rich, connected digital
lifestyle."
Miniweb will be demonstrating the latest version of their interactive services platform at IBC, Amsterdam on
the 11th -15th September, on stand IP512. This will show the functionality that, through this agreement, is
available to devices embedded with ACCESS' NetFront Browser with minimal additional cost or integration
effort.
About Miniweb Interactive Miniweb is an Interactive Service Provider operating a managed services platform that enables internet
video and interactive media on broadband connected TV devices. Our open, standards-based platform
addresses business and consumer needs for converged broadcast and broadband entertainment delivering
internet video, recommendations, search, and personalised web-style interactivity for TV viewers. The
platform enables network, media and TV device companies to benefit from the global growth in broadband
enabled TV services allowing monetisation of viewer interaction with linear and internet delivered media.
This provides consumers with a wide choice of broadband video content to complement their broadcast
viewing and allows video content owners and aggregators to gain new distribution channels and revenue
streams. Miniweb's contribution to broadcast and broadband convergence has been recognised through
recent award wins including: Best Interactive Service / Application at the IPTV World Series Awards 2009,
Pick Hit Award for Innovation at IBC 2008, and Red Herring Europe 100 Winner 2008. For more information
please visit: www.miniweb.tv.
About ACCESS and ACCESS Systems Europe
ACCESS CO., LTD. is a global company providing leading technology, software products and platforms for
Web browsing, mobile phones, wireless handhelds and other networked devices. ACCESS' product
portfolio, including its NetFront™ Browser, ACCESS Linux Platform™ and Garnet™ OS, provides
customers with solutions that enable faster time to market, flexibility and customizability. The company,
headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, operates subsidiaries and affiliates in Asia, Europe and the United States.
ACCESS is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers' Index under the number 4813. ACCESS Systems
Europe Holdings B.V. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACCESS CO., LTD., with its principal place of
business in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and offices located in Paris, France and Oberhausen, Germany.
ACCESS was first established in Europe in July 2001 as a total solution provider for mobile Internet and
beyond PC markets. ACCESS maintains research and development centers in Montpellier, France and in
Oberhausen, Germany. For more information about ACCESS, please visit http://www.accesscompany.com/.
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Press Contacts
Miniweb:
David Bramley / Ian Westover
Platform PR
Tel: +44 20 7486 4900
david@platformpr.com
ACCESS Europe
Laurence Clavére
Marketing and Communications
Tel +33 (0)4 99 52 41 00
Laurence.clavere@access-company.com
ACCESS, the ACCESS logo, NetFront, ACCESS Linux Platform and Garnet are registered trademarks or trademarks of ACCESS CO., LTD. in
the United States, Japan and/or other countries. The registered trademark LINUX® is used pursuant to a sublicense from Linux Mark Institute,
the exclusive licensee of Linus Torvalds, owner of the mark on a world-wide basis
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