Amino selects ANT Fresco for the AmiNET set-top box series for interactive IPTV content and services

AmiNET with ANT Fresco delivers a cost-effective solution for manufacturers and service operators

Cambridge, 12 August 2003

Set-top box (STB) vendor Amino has selected the ANT Fresco browser for its AmiNET series of STBs to provide users with fast and intuitive access to interactive IPTV applications, content and services. The browser offers a number of advanced, integrated features, including Macromedia Flash Player 5 for multimedia capabilities, a choice of font engines, IME (Input Method Editor) and predictive text entry.

Amino and ANT have been working together for over four years. ANT Fresco's reliability and performance had already been proven, having been integrated as part of Amino's first-generation STB technology. Fresco is an ideal content rendering solution for the AmiNET series, which is specifically designed for interactive on-line audio, video and data services. The browser's small footprint means that the bill of materials (BOM) is kept to a minimum. In addition, the streamlined porting process ensures a fast time-to-market, further reducing development costs.

"We believe Amino is setting a new trend in IPTV by marketing set-top boxes that focus on the most important functions for service providers and give their customers an option to get to market very quickly," said Stephen Reeder, Director, Sales & Marketing at ANT Limited.

"With ANT Fresco as an integral part of the AmiNET family, we are able to offer our customers a cost-effective, flexible solution that allows them to include the functionality they require, with a user interface that can be customised to suit their own range of services and product branding needs," said Mike Greenall, marketing director at Amino.

The AmiNET series of STBs has been designed to accelerate the implementation of networked digital video systems within different markets, including consumer, education, hospitality and retail. The series offers a range of web and audio/video capabilities that enable it to manage the multimedia distribution requirements of these markets. The units are available as licensed designs or volume products, and can be customised to meet the specific needs of customers.

About ANT Software Limited

ANT plc (www.antplc.com) is a leading provider of digital TV client and consumer electronic software solutions. ANT's unique client solutions allow robust and consistent delivery of digital-media, user interfaces, interactive services and applications to the TV and portable media devices. ANT enables service providers to efficiently create and deploy successful solutions to the market that deliver high value and clear differentiation.

ANT's products are pre-integrated with many industry-leading solutions and are based upon open standards, enabling low-risk, cost-effective roll-out of services, while ensuring flexible client hardware choice with efficient bill of materials. ANT software has been extensively deployed by customers throughout the world including Chunghwa Telecom, Foxconn, France Telecom, Humax, LG/Nortel, Philips, Sagem, Samsung, SaskTel, Telecom Italia and Thomson.

ANT plc's shares are listed on AIM, a London Stock Exchange regulated market, under the ticker ANTP (Reuters: ANTP.L, Bloomberg: ANTP.LN).

About Amino

Amino (www.aminocom.com) is an electronic systems designer specialising in products for multimedia distribution such as on-line digital video and audio, as well as data reception. Its range of small, low cost, high functionality set-top boxes and gateway products are available as manufactured units or as licensable designs for hotels and hospitality markets, healthcare, retail and education, as well as networked and broadcast markets. The company offers a shared risk and reward approach that enables the rapid implementation of cost-effective services.

Amino, based in Swavesey, near Cambridge, was founded in 1997 and is privately held. It has received £10m in funding from business angels and institutional investors.

Trademarks

ANT, the ANT logo, Galio, Fresco and PurePlay are all trademarks or registered trademarks of ANT Software Limited. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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