"Zapmedia, Inc. And Samsung Electro-Mechanics Form Strategic Relationship"
Samsung Electro-Mechanics to manufacture, brand and distribute new entertainment convergence product based on ZapMedia's ZapStation Hardware Reference Platform
ATLANTA - Feb. 21, 2001 - ZapMedia, Inc., a leading Atlanta-based media convergence technology company, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (SEMCO), a constituent member of the Samsung Group, have announced a strategic relationship to manufacture a Samsung-branded product based on ZapMedia's ZapStationTM Hardware Reference Design, the conduit to ZapMedia's entertainment service.
Enabled by ZapMedia's patent-pending ZapStation Hardware Reference Design, ZapMediaEngine software and the ZapMedia Entertainment Portal, the Samsung-branded CD/DVD digital entertainment product (Samsung ZapStation) will allow consumers to access a wide range of digital entertainment through their television or stereo without the need for a computer. Under the arrangement, SEMCO will manufacture, brand and distribute ZapMedia's current ZapStation Hardware Reference Design which includes a 30Gb hard drive that can store up to 30 hours of video and up to 10,000 songs, a digital audio jukebox featuring Windows Media Audio and MP3 formats, CD and DVD player, CD ripper, internet browsing, e-mail and versatile broadband or dial-up service access.
"We are very pleased to be working with SEMCO to bring another ZapStation design to the market," said Eric Hartz, CEO and president of ZapMedia. "SEMCO plays a significant role in the consumer electronics industry and retail market, speeding ZapMedia's vision of delivering ZapMedia's digital entertainment service to consumers through their TV, stereos and the Internet." Added Jeff Ayton, Chief Marketing Officer, "It is exciting to see our technology poised to begin the new era of convergence in home entertainment." "SEMCO and ZapMedia's relationship bolsters the delivery of digital entertainment to a broad consumer base in the near future."
Through the Samsung ZapStation, Powered by ZapMedia, consumers will be able to access the ZapMedia Entertainment Portal, which delivers a wide range of entertainment options in a user-friendly format. Users can access premium content such as news, finance, and sports from USA TODAY, audio from MP3.com and media from a variety of video content providers.
"ZapMedia's technology and services and SEMCO's history of innovation and design excellence creates an ideal business alignment," said Mr. Kim, Ho-Kon, Managing Director of Samsung Electro-Mechanics. "We are excited to use our manufacturing, branding and distribution expertise to bring the future of home entertainment products and services to consumers." Samsung will also manufacture, brand and distribute ZapMedia's next generation hardware platform.
As a member of the Samsung Group, SEMCO maintains manufacturing facilities throughout Korea and five overseas plants in Portugal, China and Mexico. SEMCO manufactures, markets and distributes over 50 kinds of devices and components. The Samsung branded ZapStation design will be manufactured and assembled in Korea.
About ZapMedia.com, Inc.
ZapMedia, Inc., based in Atlanta, is a privately held convergence technology company bringing customized entertainment to consumers. With ZapMedia's co-branded products and services, consumers of all ages can access movies, music, video and the Web, as well as play CDs and DVDs through their existing televisions and stereos. The ZapMedia ecosystem, developed in-house, consists of the ZapStation hardware reference design (device), ZapMediaEngineSM (software), ZapAccessSM (service) and the ZapMedia Portal. For more information about ZapMedia's products and services, visit the web site at www.zapmedia.com.
About Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd., based in Suwon, Korea, started out in 1973 as a maker of electronic parts and has played a key role in Korea's electronics industry ever since.
The people at Samsung Electro-Mechanics are proud to represent Korea's largest producer of parts and components and are now standing tall on the world stage, continuing to develop and supply the parts and components that are essential for market-leading finished products.
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