Wireless multimedia messaging tomorrow's killer application

WIRELESS MULTIMEDIA MESSAGING TOMORROW'S KILLER APPLICATION Hantro Products demonstrates a new ground breaking wireless multimedia prototype MOBILE VIDEO CONFERENCE - MADRID, SPAIN - April 9, 2001. Hantro Products Ltd, a leading developer of two-way video technology for wireless communications, introduces a state-of-the-art wireless multimedia messaging prototype with real-time video stream encoding and decoding. The prototype, which will be first introduced at Mobile Video Forum in Madrid, April 9, 2001, uses Hantro's hardware-based MPEG-4 technology. Hantro's multimedia messaging prototype proves that wireless video messaging is possible already with today's technology. In this prototype the multimedia message is first encoded with Hantro's MPEG-4 codec and then recorded with Hantro's software in an EPOC environment. After that the video message is transmitted wirelessly to a PocketPC device. There the wirelessly transmitted message is viewed with Hantro's multimedia player. "We believe that multimedia messaging applications are the first solutions to hit the wireless market," says Mr. Eero Kaikkonen, President and CEO of Hantro Products Ltd. "The reason why multimedia messaging is going to be the first killer application is simply because people want to share the moments with others and create own content to their video messages. Using video and multimedia messaging offers infinite possibilities to those with a vivid imagination. Multimedia messaging is an ideal solution also for mobile operators, because the transmission of the message does not have to be in real-time, which would require broadband networks. This makes it possible to send multimedia messages also in networks with low data capacity." Hantro's MPEG-4 technology offers powerful encoding with a high resolution up to CIF. Efficient encoding is a crucial feature in wireless multimedia messaging, as several terminals are not necessarily wireless - they might be PC's or PDA's with wide displays that require high resolution. "Hantro's MPEG-4 codec is an ideal solution for wireless multimedia messaging with high resolution and high frame rate. By providing an easily integrated SoC solution that is ARM AMBA bus compliant, we answer all the demands that wireless multimedia messaging sets. We are happy to present our new prototype as a result of our long-term research and development. This long-term work makes it possible to provide the codec technology now as a product to the customers in wireless telecommunications business," Mr. Eero Kaikkonen continues. About Hantro's MPEG-4 solution Hantro's MPEG-4 codec is a hardware-based solution including necessary software. The codec enables the transfer of high-class video images between mobile devices by providing high-quality, simultaneous video encoding and decoding at speeds up to 30 frames per second and up to CIF resolution. Due to its modular structure, Hantro's codec can easily be adapted to any target system with any camera, processor, display, or performance level - from a low cost segment to the most demanding high- end application. Extremely low power consumption is achieved by using a sophisticated power control system. The codec solution is available for the customer integration from Hantro now. About Hantro Hantro Products Ltd. specializes in the latest video coding technologies and wireless communication. The company's main product is an MPEG4 codec, a two-way wireless image transfer for wireless appliances. Hantro's MPEG-4 codec is a System-on-Chip solution and it is specifically designed for wireless handsets with low power consumption and low processor loading. Hantro was founded in Oulu, Finland in 1992. Since the beginning, the company has concentrated on the design services for wireless technology. For more information on Hantro and its products, please visit www.hantro.com. All trademarks, brands and product names are the property of their respective owners. All press material is available on the Web at http://www.hantro.com. Media Contact: Hantro Products Ltd. Eero Kaikkonen Tel: +358 8 815 6300 email: eero.kaikkonen@hantro.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/04/09/20010409BIT00380/bit0002.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/04/09/20010409BIT00380/bit0002.pdf