RA'ANANA, Israel, July 12, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Emblaze establishes "Emblaze Defense" Video solutions division for Homeland Security and Military Markets
Signed development and co-marketing contract with "Tadiran Communication" a global leader in military communication technology
Ra'anana, Israel, July 12, 2004: The Board of Emblaze Ltd (the "Group") (LSE:BLZ) announces that it has established a new division under the name "Emblaze Defense" to target the global defense markets as a vertical approach combining all other Emblaze business units' technologies and products and customizing them for military and homeland security applications over narrowband and broadband networks.
It also announces that it has been contracted by Tadiran Communications Ltd. to provide real-time video technology over Tadiran's RF networks. Tadiran will now be able to offer its customers the ability to stream video to their rugged handheld devices (RPDA) and handheld rugged computers (Tacter) targeted for the military markets.
Modern day warfare increasingly demands solutions for real time visual intelligence to combat growing global terrorism and low intensive conflict. Emblaze Defense has been created to adapt the Group's proven video delivery technologies to provide leading-edge video solutions for real time security and surveillance, over existing cellular, narrowband RF and broadband networks. Experienced gained by Emblaze in telecoms over the past five years will help to address the needs of the military and security markets.
The adapted product will be marketed under the brand Emblaze EyeTM. It is a secured, scalable and robust product suite for field operatives and Central Command to communicate visually and to manage, store and access vital intelligence data on a wide range of devices, from mobiles through interactive TVs. Based on 'Commercial off the Shelf '(COTS) products, they are also supported by worldwide technical and maintenance services.
These are rapidly growing markets with substantially large revenue potential in the next 5-10 years. In the US alone, the federal government has budgeted $13 billion for Homeland Security products and services.
Eli Reifman, Chief Executive Officer of Emblaze Ltd. "The ability to make split second decisions based on real time visual information from the scene, is critical in today's security & surveillance markets. Recognizing this opportunity and without a great deal of cost we put together a high-level team with extensive experience in military intelligence, to utilize and adapt our core video streaming and interactive TV technologies. Our solutions enable relevant personnel to share vital information, thus accelerating the decision-making process in the field.
This is a strong addition to our business plan side by side with our mainstream and core businesses. We intend to exploit this vertical market in order to maximize revenues from our technologies and products."
Mr. Yaniv Cohen, who will be heading the Emblaze Defense division, has extensive experience in the military markets in various Israeli defense conglomerates. His work in Emblaze Systems for the past 3 years combined with his past commercial military development experience make him the most suitable person in the organization to lead the unit.
Mr. Cohen will be supported by Brig. General (Res.) Asher Sadan, who has been an integral part of the Israeli intelligence and warfare for more than 30 years and is currently still active in the IDF intelligence corps. Mr. Sadan's extensive experience and contacts in this field will serve the Emblaze Defense division for contracting and negotiating with the relevant parties in the global defense industries and governments.
Tadiran Communications Ltd, has over 40 years of experience in military communications technology and works hand-in-hand with the Israel Defense Force (IDF) and many other countries worldwide. It is the IDF's signal corps' main supplier of communications equipment. Tadiran also has a fully owned American subsidiary, Talla Com, based in Tallahassee, Fla. which serves as its U.S. production and marketing arm, and a vehicle for increased participation in FMS projects.
Emblaze Defense will present its full range of video solutions for the military at the MilTech exhibition on July 12 & 13 at David Intercontinental Hotel, Tel Aviv (Booth #72), and Eli Reifman CEO of Emblaze Ltd., is a keynote speaker at the adjoining conference.
Notes to Editors
About Emblaze Defense
Emblaze Defense, a recently established division of the Emblaze Group, focuses on video solutions for real-time security and surveillance. Its solutions are based on Emblaze's proven video streaming & broadband TV technologies.
Emblaze EyeTM comprises a central management & delivery system, a video platform for live delivery over wireline & wireless networks and customized mobile handsets optimized for video delivery - enabling federal agencies, rescue & first response forces, military personnel, and intelligence operatives to communicate visually and to manage, store and access vital data on a wide range of mobile devices.
About The Emblaze Group (Emblaze LTD)
Emblaze Ltd is a group of companies sharing a common vision to lead the market transformation to rich media personal communication. Emblaze Mobile a provider of end-to-end wireless multimedia handsets and backend solutions; Emblaze Transcoding, a global leader in transcoding capabilities for wireless operators; and Orca Interactive, provider of solutions for broadband and IPTV Interactive Television (iTV) services.
Emblaze Ltd. has offices in the United States, United Kingdom, China and Israel.
About Tadiran Communications Ltd
With over 40 years of experience in the development, manufacture and marketing of combat-proven military communications solutions, Tadiran Communications is a global industry leader in its fields of specialization. The company's secure and immune military communications systems and equipment serve the armed forces of over 50 countries worldwide. Main product families include short, medium and long-range communications, covering all frequency bands. The fully-owned Florida subsidiary, Talla-Com, and the Talla-Com subsidiary, Talla-Tech, focus on military computers and advanced power amplifiers. The subsidiary Tadlys specializes in the development of Bluetooth based networking products and wireless accessories for military purposes. Tadiran Communications consistently expands its mix of solutions and products. Through its acquisition of the German radio technology house, Telefunken RACOMS (formerly called EADS RACOMS), Tadiran Communications offers an even wider selection of military HF radio systems as well as advanced European standard communication modems and protocols. For the civilian market, Tadiran Communications offers wireless communications solutions for homeland security, public safety and government agencies. In 2003, Tadiran Communications' annual sales reached $272 million - up 21% from the 2002 total of $225.8 million - 83.4% of which was derived from exports. Tadiran Communications is publicly traded under the symbol: TDCM on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Its major shareholders are the Shamrock Group and the FIMI Group.
This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange