News
mTouche Technology Bhd partners with Cellcast plc in South-East Asia
Collaboration will fast-track mTouche’s European expansion
KUALA LUMPUR, 5 January 2006
mTouche Technology Berhad has today entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Cellcast plc, the interactive digital broadcaster listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
The two companies will develop interactive television services for broadcasters in Malaysia and Singapore using Cellcast’s iTV (interactive television) formats and solutions, and mTouche’s intelligent Short Messaging Platform, mTouche Interactive TV Platform for premium SMS and premium IVR services. At the same time, Cellcast will assist mTouche in the provision of mobile messaging services in Europe.
mTouche Technology and Cellcast expect to complete their initial collaboration and enter a joint venture within six months.
mTouche Technology Berhad is a leading provider of mobile messaging technologies and interactive media applications (including television, radio and press) in South-East Asia. With its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, the company was established in 2002 and has subsidiaries in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, and in Hong Kong.
Cellcast plc is a leading international provider of participation television applications and interactive mobile content in the fast-growing multi-platform digital entertainment sector. Headquartered in London, with associated operations in Paris, Beirut, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Buenos Aires, Cellcast is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing and sales of interactive television applications, formats and services, and other telecommunication solutions in the UK and worldwide.
Eugene Goh, Chief Executive Officer of mTouche, said “This collaboration with Cellcast will fast-track our expansion to Europe and also widens our range of products and services. The resultant joint-venture between the two parties will contribute positively to the future earnings of mTouche.”
Andrew Wilson, Chief Executive Officer of Cellcast plc, said “We are very pleased to be exploring new opportunities in South-East Asia with a company that has such expertise and vision.”
mTouche Media enquiries:
Quattro Communications |
|
Yong Kwai Meng |
Tel: 03-7804 3088 / 012-655 938 |
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For further information on Cellcast:
Cellcast plc |
|
Andrew Wilson, CEO |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7190 0300 |
Cellcast Media enquiries:
Abchurch |
|
Henry Harrison-Topham / Tania Wild |
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7398 7700 |
Notes to Editors:
About mTouche Technology Berhad
The mTouche Technology Berhad is involved in the provision of mobile short messaging technologies such as mTouche Intelligent Short Messaging Platform and mTouche Content Provisioning Platform. It is a forerunner and leader with expertise in mobile messaging technologies and interactive media applications (which includes television, radio and press) in South-East Asia with operations in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand and North Asia namely Hong Kong.
The mTouche Group, with its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, was established in 2002 and within a short span of three years has set up subsidiaries in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia and Hong Kong. A Multimedia Super Corridor-status company, mTouche has the ability to reach out to all mobile network operators in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.
mTouche has direct mobile network operator connection to 20 mobile operators spanning across five countries and reaching out to more than 88 million subscribers in the region. It targets to reach out to an additional 400 million subscribers with its expansion into China and India by 2006.
The 20 mobile operators which mTouche has strategic alliances are Maxis, Celcom and Digi in Malaysia; SingTel, MobileOne and StarHub in Singapore; Telkomsel, IM3 (Indosat), Satelindo (Indosat) and Excelcom in Indonesia and AIS, DTAC and Orange in Thailand and Hong Kong CSL Ltd, Hutchison Telephone Company Ltd, New World PCS Ltd, China Resources Peoples Telephone Co Ltd, SmarTone Mobile Communications Ltd, Sunday O/B Mandarin Communication Ltd and PCCW Ltd in Hong Kong.
The Group is led by a strong management team with background in operations, mobile technology, wireless communication technology, marketing and product development.
About Cellcast plc
Cellcast plc is a leading international provider of participation television applications and interactive mobile content in the fast-growing multi-platform digital entertainment sector. Headquartered in London, with associated operations in Paris, Beirut, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Buenos Aires, Cellcast’s applications and programming are distributed on the Sky Digital platform in the UK and broadcast partners include Canal+ in France; Future TV, LBC, MBC, Dubai Television and Rotana in the Middle East; Telefe in Argentina, and Zee TV and Star TV in India.
Cellcast’s revenues streams are independent of both advertising and subscription fees. With a network of revenue sharing agreements with telecommunications carriers and aggregators across five continents, Cellcast receives a share of the call revenue every time a consumer uses a mobile or fixed-line phone to participate in its interactive entertainment, revenue which is retained or shared with its broadcast partners. Cellcast’s programme formats and proprietary Interactive Platform (CIP) also facilitate delivery of content to mobile phones, the internet and broadband-delivered IPTV. This enables viewers to continue participating in a programme away from the TV, generating 24/7 revenue opportunities.
Cellcast plc joined the AIM market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange on 21 September 2005.
Issued on behalf of mTouche Technology Berhad by Quattro Communications Sdn Bhd. Please direct all media queries to Yong Kwai Meng (yong@quattro.com.my) at Tel: 03-7804 3088 or 012-655 938.
