Press Releases

ACCESS Announces its NetFront™ Living Connect Middleware for DLNA-Friendly Equipment Designed for Next-Generation Home Networks

Supports Faster Development of DLNA-Friendly Consumer Electronics Devices and Lower Development Costs

TOKYO, Japan – June 21, 2006 — ACCESS CO., LTD. (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 4813), a global provider of mobile content delivery and Internet access technologies, announced today that it has developed NetFront^™ Living Connect, a middleware product supporting the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) network device interoperability guidelines (expanded in March 2006), a set of standards for home networks. NetFront Living Connect, developed primarily for home networks, is expected to help shorten development periods for DLNA-oriented equipment; thereby speeding the advance of the next-generation of home networks.

NetFront Living Connect, jointly developed with ACCESS’ wholly owned subsidiary IP Infusion, is a middleware product for DLNA-ready equipment. NetFront Living Connect is designed to work with a wide range of devices, including TVs, set-top boxes, hard disk recorders, mobile phones, digital cameras, printers, and home gateways.

NetFront Living Connect, with its portability, is compatible with the working environments and conditions of various devices and is well suited for environments where memory resources are limited. NetFront Living Connect also features customizability, allowing free development of the graphical user interface. It also supports Digital Rights Management (DRM) (DTCP-IP and Windows^® DRM). ACCESS plans to obtain DLNA certification and logo certification for Intel’s ViiV^™ and MicroSoft’s PlaysForSure.

By linking with an HTML browser developed by ACCESS, BML (Broadcast Markup Language) browser, TCP-IP, and third-party products, NetFront Living Connect can also be provided as a total solution. The joint venture Oki Access Technologies Co., Ltd., formed recently as a collaboration with Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (“Oki Electric”), will be able to supply Codec products, (NetFront Video Codec Modules/NetFront Audio Codec Modules) and an audio and visual media player, (NetFront MediaPlayer) as a set.

The NetFront Living Connect software development kit (SDK) is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of this calendar year.

“ACCESS has been providing solutions for linking a wide range of devices to networks,” said Toru Arakawa, president and CEO of ACCESS. “In the future, we want to do the same in the home networking market, which is expected to rapidly advance as the realization of the ‘ubiquitous network society’ progresses.”

“I am very pleased to report that, through the collaboration with ACCESS, we will be able to supply products that will popularize DLNA, which is a powerful set of standard specifications. Along with ACCESS, we will continue to work toward the realization of a great home network that connects mobile phones, home gateways and servers,” said Masayoshi Matsushita, Executive Chief Officer, Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.

ACCESS at Embedded Systems Expo & Conference, Tokyo, Japan
ACCESS will be exhibiting a range of devices that incorporate NetFront Living Connect and highlight the Digital Living Network Alliance in its booth at ESEC at Tokyo Big Sight, June 28 – 30. ACCESS is located in booth 6-50.

About ACCESS
ACCESS is a global provider of Internet technologies to the mobile and beyond-PC markets. Its NetFront browser, widely recognized as one of the most advanced Internet browsers in the world, is a cornerstone to the company’s vision of enabling Internet access anywhere and on any device. NetFront technologies are delivering full Internet browsing and related services to next-generation mobile devices and consumer electronics ranging from digital TV to automobile telematics. For more information: www.access.co.jp or www.access.co.jp/english.

IP Infusion, a wholly owned subsidiary of ACCESS CO., LTD., is a leading provider of intelligent network software for enhanced IP services.

ACCESS and NetFront are trademarks or registered trademarks of ACCESS CO., LTD. in Japan and other countries.
Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Head Office (Japan)
ACCESS CO., LTD.
Kyoko Obara +81 (3) 5259-3685
prinfo@access.co.jp

U.S. & Europe
Maureen O’Connell +1 (408) 400-1543
prinfo@access.co.jp

China
Delia Liu +86 (10) 6566-9636
delia.liu@accesschina.com.cn