InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[nieves]

PHONES 4U: Talking Head Technology hits high street
Apr 25, 2003 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- Leading mobile phones retailer phones 4u teams up with Wizcom and Anthropics Technology to demonstrate FaceWave mobile messaging applications on Sony Ericsson P800.
From today, UK consumers can test-drive cutting-edge mobile phone 'talking head' technology in high-street stores across the country.
phones 4u has teamed up with London-based developer Anthropics and mobile service and content provider Wizcom to install 'FaceWave' on the new Sony Ericsson P800 handset. FaceWave peer-to-peer messaging allows mobile phone users to create and send fully animated 'talking head' messages. Users can animate their own faces on their mobile handsets simply by adding a voice message or typing in a text message. The message is then converted to speech and performed by their animated face.
phones 4u will be buzzing as the award winning technology is given its first public trial. A phones 4u spokesperson said: 'Our customers are clamouring to get their hands on new technology. This test-drive provides the ideal opportunity for them to experience cutting edge mobile content and have fun pushing back technological boundaries.'
The developers, Anthropics, believe that phones 4u, as Britain's fastest growing retailer, is the ideal test bed to stimulate demand. Customers will soon be able to use their own still photos, dozens of celebrity caricatures or even an animated hamster to get to grips with the next national craze.
Notes to editors:
FaceWave users create their own 'talking head' messages by choosing from a library of faces including personalities, cartoons and even animals, and then speak their personal message into the mobile phone. FaceWave then animates the face to make it speak the message, which can be previewed by the user and sent to friends as a MMS or Picture Message. Anthropics believe that this is a fun way to communicate using the latest mobile technology, driving uptake of handsets and increasing data traffic. Consumers can download FaceMovies onto a number of 2.5 and 3G phones on: www.FaceWave.com.
About Anthropics Technology
Anthropics Technology Ltd (www.anthropics.com) is the London-based developer of 3G and 3G-like visual messaging, visual voicemail and content services that add a compelling new human dimension to mobile communication. The company markets its technology to top-tier mobile network operators, who seek to quickly and efficiently deliver to their customers exciting new mobile applications and increase their revenues.
Anthropics' pioneering FaceWave technology combines still photos with text or speech to immediately create life-like 'talking heads' with which operators and mobile phone users are enlivening content delivery and everyday mobile messaging. Anthropics technology is inexpensive for operators to deploy and is designed to transmit across very low bandwidths on existing and future GSM, GPRS or 3G mobile networks and mobile devices.
Anthropics is funded by a consortium of investors including Quester VCT, SkyVentures and Skandia Media Invest.
About Phones 4u
* The UK's fastest growing retailer for two years running with 340 stores across the UK and Northern Ireland employing more than 2,000 people.
* Headed-up by Managing Director Anthony Catterson, with headquarters in Stoke.
* A pro-active retailer in the fight against mobile crime; phones 4u supports Immobilise and has launched its own security initiative and products including MicroTag and security marking booths.
* 6 UK networks provided by phones 4u: 3, T-Mobile, Orange, Vodafone, O2 & Virgin Mobile.
* Pioneers of the UK Text Championships, a nationwide competition to find the fastest texter in the UK, and Phone Shui, Feng Shui for the mobile phone developed by Dr Paul Darby.
* Part of the Caudwell Group, founded by the Caudwell brothers in 1987 and headed by John Caudwell.
* General information on the market is available on request.
CONTACT: Nancy Prendergast, tannissan mae T: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] Claire Thompson, tannissan mae Tel: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] Steve Hughes, phones 4u Tel: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail]
M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [e-mail].
(C)1994-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
-0-