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2006.06.28

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ACCESS, Oki Electric and OKI ACCESS Technologies Collaborate in DLNA Compliant Products for Next Generation Home Networks

Accelerate the convergence of home networks and mobile terminals

TOKYO, Japan – June 28, 2006 — ACCESS CO., LTD. (TSE: 4813), Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (TSE: 6703) and OKI ACCESS Technologies, Co., Ltd., a joint company of the two companies, today announced a collaboration agreement to accelerate the realization of next-generation home network service. The three companies will combine their current products to provide solutions that are compliant with the DLNA※1 guideline, the home network standard, that will promote the convergence of home networks and mobile terminals.

In June 2006, ACCESS developed middleware for embedded equipment, the “NetFront Living Connect,” which is compliant with the DLNA guideline. Oki Electric announced its BB Media Router (BBMR) in October 2005, which is a gateway platform provided worldwide for next-generation home network service with home gateway and server functions. Based on the agreement announced today, Oki’s BBMR will be equipped with ACCESS’ NetFront Living Connect, providing a home gateway function that is compliant with DLNA.

“We are pleased to be working with ACCESS whose NetFront Browser has a high market share in the digital home appliance browser market,” said Masayoshi Matsushita, Senior Operating Officer of Systems Network Business Group at Oki Electric. “With this collaboration, BBMR-users can now control DLNA compliant home appliances such as PVRs (Personal Video Recorders) from their NetFront Browser-equipped mobile phones whether they are in or out of their homes. This will provide a much more convenient and comfortable home network.”

“Based on our NetFront Living Connect’s functions, BBMR-users will also be able to upload and download and store videos from mobile phones or PDAs using the home server function,” said Toru Arakawa, president and CEO of ACCESS. “We believe this collaboration will contribute toward the convergence of home networks and mobile terminals. We will promote the realization of new home network services using DLNA compliant equipment.”

In addition, based on Oki’s eSound and eVideo※2 technologies, OKI ACCESS Technologies developed its high quality voice and video codecs, the “NetFront Video Codec Modules / NetFront Audio Codec Modules,” and its voice and video media player “NetFront Media Player.” By connecting these codecs with DLNA compliant home appliances that are equipped with NetFront Living Connect, users can replay a high quality video and sound from the video stored onto the BBMR.

Home networks using “NetFront Living Connect” and “BBMR” will be demonstrated at ACCESS’ booth at the Embedded Security Expo & Conference to be held in June 28 to 30 at Tokyo Big Sight.

  1. DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance)
    This is an industry standard-setting body dedicated to realizing interoperability among digital home appliances, mobile terminals and personal computers. Equipment that is compliant with DLNA guidelines can easily be connected via networks.
  2. eSound, eVideo
    eSound is Oki’s high-quality VoIP technology to enable voice communication over IP networks with realistic voice tones that are beyond conventional phone quality. eVideo is Oki’s video codec technology for video communication, recording and replaying over IP networks in high-speed and high-quality and with low latency. The codec is compliant with MPEG-4 and H.264, the video codec method established by ISO/ITU.

About Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1881, Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. is Japan’s first telecommunications manufacturer, with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. With the corporate vision, “Oki, Network Solutions for a Global Society,” Oki provides top-quality products, technologies and solutions to its customers through its info-telecom system business, semiconductor business and printer business. All three businesses function as a collective force to create exciting new products and technologies that satisfy a spectrum of customer needs in various markets. Visit Oki’s global web site at www.oki.com.

About ACCESS
ACCESS is a global provider of mobile content delivery and Internet access technologies to the beyond-PC market. 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 making the ubiquitous Internet a reality. 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-us-inc.com.

About OKI ACCESS Technologies Co., Ltd.
OKI ACCESS was established in November 2005 as a joint company between Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd, and ACCESS Co., Ltd. With approximately 20 employees, OKI ACCESS is focused on developing voice and video media package products for next-generation mobile terminals.


ACCESS and NetFront are trademarks or registered trademarks of ACCESS CO., LTD. in Japan and other countries.
eSound and eVideo are trademarks of Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
Names of other companies and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies.

Oki Electric
For Asia:
Akiko Horiguchi
+81-3-3580-8950
press@oki.com

For Europe and US:
Naomi Takeuchi
+1-408-737-6479
press@oki.com

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

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