ANT launches 'Fresco Lite' — the high-performance embedded browser with minimized resource requirements

Cambridge, UK, 16 December 2003

ANT Limited announced today that it is has extended its browser technologies for embedded devices to include Fresco Lite, a new super-lightweight version of the ANT Fresco browser. With many millions of browsers already deployed in TVs and set-top boxes, ANT is a clear leader in browsing technologies for consumer-electronics devices. ANT Limited is the partner of choice to consumer electronics manufacturers, set-top-box providers and silicon designers worldwide, for TV-interface software, content rendering solutions, and embedded browser technologies.

ANT Fresco Lite has been developed in response to the ever changing needs of Digital TV content providers and set-top-box manufacturers. Channel operators who provide operator-controlled services to customers increasingly wish to use HTML technologies, but have no desire to support general Internet browsing. Fresco Lite, a feature reduced and radically memory optimised version of the market leading ANT Fresco browser, provides essential HTML features without carrying the cost overhead of extended standards. This means that the Fresco Lite browser requires minimal platform resources and can reside in as little as 500kb flash memory, while still delivering the features and robustness required by operators.

ANT Fresco Lite is targeted at service operators for displaying electronic programme guides (EPGs) and STB user interfaces on top of video, as well as operator-controlled services including Interactive-TV content and one-to-one communication with customers. Particular targets for Fresco Lite include cable TV operators and companies with a product requirement for a super-lightweight HTML browser for user interface display.

"ANT Fresco Lite offers the levels of reliability and speed required for consumer-electronics and embedded devices while placing minimal resource demands upon the set-top box," said Stephen Reeder, Executive Director of Sales and Marketing at ANT Limited. "Keeping customer-satisfaction high and operator deployment costs low is a key factor, in the shift to next generation cable TV networks, ANT Fresco Lite will play a significant role is helping operators achieve this."

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).

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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