New Strategic Partnership Integrates ANT Fresco with intent®

Extended Java portability for ANT's native browser and extended functionality for Tao's multimedia platform

Cambridge, 19 March 2002

ANT Limited, a leading provider of communications appliance software and services for digital TV and consumer electronics, and Tao Group, a founding member of the Open Content Platform Association (OCPA), have announced the availability of ANT Fresco browser for the intent platform. In a newly established strategic partnership, ANT and Tao have integrated ANT's browser to Tao's flagship product, which runs on a wide range of devices including set top boxes (STBs), interactive digital TVs (iDTVs), personal digital assistants (PDA's) and smart phones. This extends the range of multimedia functionality, applications and content that Tao is able to deliver and makes it easier for ANT's OEM customers to use Fresco in a Java environment.

"ANT enables a streamlined, customisable native browser which is well suited to applications that don't require the full Java Virtual Machine to be present," said Graham Nice, Tao's Strategy Director. "Tao strives to provide OEMs with a broad selection of proven technology for multimedia functionality and content development. With ANT Fresco, we have added a reliable and robust, highly-respected browser to our portfolio of intent-supported applications for our customers."

intent is a binary portable platform, compatible across a wide range of processors and RTOSs. Third-party applications integrated into the intent infrastructure essentially become plug-in components, capable of being run anywhere that intent is deployed. Fresco has been fully integrated within Tao's platform, alongside the many other multimedia solutions.

"Our browser is already highly portable due to its unique architecture," said Jon Hoskin, Chief Operating Officer for ANT, "but intent extends that portability even further. Our browser can now run anywhere that uses the intent platform, including a JVM which means that, in addition to being an alternative to Tao's non-Java customers, ANT can now compete with Java browsers on equal terms, making it even easier for our Java-based customers to use Fresco in their digital TV or other appliance solutions."

ANT Fresco is a highly functional, platform independent browser, specifically designed for digital TV and other consumer electronics appliances. The core browser code resides within ANT's unique, patent-pending, three-layer software architecture, which consists of a portability environment to manage the interface to the hardware platform, an applications layer to house the browser core and other applications, and a graphical user interface layer to enable customisation.

Since ANT and Tao have already completed the integration work of Fresco with intent, ANT customers choosing to use Tao's platform will not have to do any additional porting work for Fresco, as intent will slot seamlessly into their platform and RTOS. In addition, ANT customers who also choose intent will now have access to a wider range of ready-ported content, applications and functionality through Tao's other strategic technology partnerships and members of OCPA, such as gaming engines, input method technologies, sound engines, databases and file viewers.

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 Tao Group Limited

Tao has developed intent®, a binary portable, language independent, high performance, multimedia platform that is now used by many of the world's leading OEMs in their client products for home and mobile networks. The technology allows these companies to have a single strategy across all of their platforms, irrespective of operating system, hardware and function. intent is now being used in products including smart mobile appliances and digital television. intent is also a core piece of technology in the Open Contents Platform Association (OCPA), launched successfully in Japan this year. Tao's range of JavaTM products have been designed from their inception to combine the Java language with Tao's multimedia to run real-world content many times faster than any alternative. The Company was founded in 1992, has offices in the United States, Europe and Japan and counts Mitsubishi, Sony, Motorola, NEC, Sharp and Bowman Capital Partners amongst its investors. Tao has a growing and high value, global patent portfolio and is the recipient of multiple industry awards, both for its technologies and for the rate of corporate growth. (http://tao-group.com/)

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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