EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands, Oct. 10, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) --
SNAP2 will employ Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) technology from
Philips to develop digital TV applications including MHP components,
applications and services. Under the terms and conditions of
Philips' CompanionTV partnership program the two companies will work
together to strengthen MHP offerings to the market
Philips Digital Networks, a leading provider of advanced digital broadcast solutions, signed an agreement today with SNAP2 Corporation (OTCBB:SSNP), a specialist in MHP components, content development, applications and services, for the company to become the latest member of the Philips' CompanionTV partnership program. The deal with Philips will see the companies working together to develop and jointly distribute MHP solutions. Both companies believe the cooperation will encourage the market acceptance of the MHP standard through the joint development and marketing of digital TV applications.
SNAP2, with headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, develops MHP components, applications and services in addition to working in the area of MHP content development. The companies will co-operate to provide joint solutions to MHP application developers comprising the Philips SDK and SNAP2's GEAR and training services and marketing of SNAP2's value-added MHP applications by Philips. The key benefit of Philips' CompanionTV partnership program is to enable application developers like SNAP2 to further develop applications for MHP platforms and offer these to potential customers.
"Philips and SNAP2 share the vision of bringing effective MHP development and deployment software to the iTV market quickly and completely," said Steve Johnson, vice president of marketing, SNAP2. "With our recent announcements of MHP Express and SNAP2 GEAR, our company is helping iTV broadcasters support complete content development solutions with advanced Philips MHP products."
An emerging open standard, MHP enables any provider of digital content to broadcast interactive digital TV services on all MHP-compliant hardware. The partnership between the two companies will enable them to work closely together to ensure continuous compliance with the latest versions of Philips' MHP software and middleware, and to develop mutual marketing initiatives and roadmaps for MHP solutions.
Frank Bosveld, general manager of the SoftWorks business group at Philips Digital Networks, commented, "We are delighted to have further expanded the scope of our partnership program with this announcement. Both Philips and SNAP2 see digital TV and MHP developing hand-in-hand and we are happy to be instrumental in the growth of this market."
About Philips
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 37.9 billion in 2000. It is a global leader in color television sets, lighting, electric shavers, color picture tubes for televisions and monitors, and one-chip TV products. Its 212,390 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, components, semiconductors, and medical systems. Philips is quoted on the NYSE (symbol: PHG), London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips is located at www.news.philips.com
Philips Digital Networks is a Business Group of Philips Consumer Electronics, a division of Royal Philips Electronics. Philips Digital Networks is playing a leading role in the business of digital media delivery via broadcast and Internet distribution. In addition to being one of the world's top providers of digital television systems and set-top boxes, including Internet TV and personal video recording solutions, Philips Digital Networks has major business activities in enabling technologies like MPEG4-based media streaming, secure content delivery, middleware and applications for digital TV. News from Philips Digital Networks is located at www.digitalnetworks.philips.com.
Editorial note: Product and company names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks and are owned by the companies mentioned.
About SNAP2
SNAP2 Corporation (OTCBB:SSNP) is based in Des Moines, Iowa, and markets interactive application software, middleware and services enabling deployment of digital television set-top boxes and Internet appliances. The Company provides a services offering of software design, platform integration and optimization, consumer user interface and application development training. SNAP2 markets its SNAP2 GEAR for DVB-MHP middleware and content development tools targeting Java-based interactive television. The Company has provided digital television products and services to market leaders Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Philips, Motorola, Panasonic and Canal + US Technologies for their respective iTV set-top-box technologies. For more information, visit the SNAP2 website at http://www.snaptwo.com/