Square Enix Expands Its Mobile Phone Content Offering in the U.S. Using UIEvolution Technology
Square Enix Co., Ltd., an industry leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software including the world's popular franchises FINAL FANTASY(R) and DRAGON QUEST, and UIEvolution, Inc., a leading wireless software company, today announced a strategic partnership designed to help Square Enix expand its mobile content business by using UIEvolution's software technology to deliver applications across multiple wireless device types and platforms. Through this agreement, both companies will begin collaborating on new and innovative content offerings for the US market. This agreement also includes an investment by Square Enix through its 100% subsidiary Square Enix U.S.A. Inc. of $4 million, making them the third largest shareholder in UIEvolution.
To capitalize on the growing market in the US, Square Enix started providing games through Verizon Wireless in December 2003. This partnership between Square Enix and UIEvolution will help them expand this opportunity and enter into new markets using UIEvolution's technology, which has become the standard for cross-platform, cross-device delivery of networked applications. UIEvolution's technology gives Square Enix the opportunity to increase their global mobile phones business by providing applications with community features that connect their users together regardless of device type or wireless network.
"Our relationship with UIEvolution allows us to expand our business by reaching out to our growing wireless customer base with new products and services," said Yoichi Wada, President of Square Enix Co., Ltd. "This market presents an enormous opportunity for growth and we expect this partnership to expand our business globally."
"We are pleased to be partnering with one of the leading interactive entertainment companies in the world to help them deliver rich interactive content and applications to wireless devices," said Satoshi Nakajima, CEO and founder of UIEvolution. "Square Enix customers expect the highest quality experience, and we are excited about the opportunity to work with them to deliver the same high quality experience to their mobile users."
UIEvolution's innovative software approach to cross-platform, cross-device client-sever application development and deployment enables customers to deliver a data-rich, dynamic, interactive user experience across BREW, J2ME/MIDP, J2ME/DOJA, MS Smart Phone, MS Pocket PC, PalmOS, MS Windows, i-Tron, VxWorks, Symbian, SPOT, Danger, and Gameboy platforms used by any OEM. In addition, UIEngine runs applications over virtually any wireless network including GPRS, CDMA 1xRTT, EDGE, WiFi, PDC, PHS, Bluetooth, and IRDA. UIEvolution products are deployed by existing customers including Disney, ESPN, Airborne Entertainment, Moviso, Interactive Imagination, TOS, ITX-EG, and the Company will announce a number of new significant customers in the coming months.
It is expected that applications based on Square Enix interactive content, utilizing UIEvolution technology, will be available in the coming months.
About Square Enix
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises -- FINAL FANTASY(R), which has sold over 47 million units worldwide and DRAGON QUEST (DRAGON WARRIOR(R) in North America) which has sold over 31 million units worldwide -- under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.
Square Enix U.S.A. Inc., located in Los Angeles, Calif., handles operations in North America including localization, marketing and publishing of Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix U.S.A. can be found on the Internet at
www.square-enix-usa.com.
About UIEvolution
UIEvolution is a privately held Bellevue, Washington-based software company which delivers software technology, development tools, and core applications that simplify the entire wireless application development and deployment process. Companies that design and deploy wireless applications are rapidly adapting UIEvolution's cross-platform software solution to enable developers to focus their time on creating innovative wireless applications rather than the deployment headaches caused by multiple operating system device standards (i.e. J2ME, BREW, Symbian, Pocket PC and Palm) and varying network speeds. With UIEvolution, an application is built once to work on any wireless device, operating system and wireless network worldwide. See the difference at
www.uievolution.com.
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