PRESS CONTACT

General Enquiry:
Takaaki Ezaki
Corporate Planning Department
Desperado, Inc.
Tel: +81-(0)3-5791-4780
Fax: +81-(0)3-5791-4781

Distribution Enquiry:
Yuji Kinoshita
Media Project Department
GIGA Networks, Inc.
Tel: +81-(0)3-5447-8340
Fax: +81-(0)3-5447-8339
 
Desperado Launches Digital Distribution of TV Dramas
to PCs and Mobile Phones
 
- Utilizing gNFRMh authentication technology developed by Faith, Inc.-
 
 
Tokyo - 20 August, 2007 --- Desperado, Inc., a subsidiary company of Faith Inc., a production of films and videos started providing itfs produced and finaced dramas gSenjo-no Girlsf Life (Girls on a battle field)h and gUranai-shi Tenjin (Fortune taller, Tenjin))hthrough a distribution website run by GIGA Networks Inc., also a subsidiary company of Faith. The distribution service launched in June 2007 is fee-based and its subscribers are able to watch the videos both on mobiles and PCs. The new service provided by GIGA Networks which allows the videos to play both on mobiles and PCs depends on a new rights authentication technology called Near Field Rights Management® (NFRM)*1 developed by Faith. When the service was started in June, the distribution was limited to short videos, and after a monthfs time, it succeeded in expanding the time limit of the content to 60 minutes which from today enables the distribution of longer content such as TV dramas.

As a result, Desperado decided to go into fee-based digital distribution business for mobiles and PCs, considering the convenience for users allowing them to purchase and watch content wherever they are, high security system based on the authentication of the handsets which purchases the content which removes the concerns about copy and/or misuse, reliability and manageability of collection of subscription/pay-per-view charge on i-mode official site.

Besides producing/financing, purchasing, distributing/advertising films and videos, Desperado explores new channels of content distribution such as digital distribution to reach wider audience.
 
*1 About NFRM service
This is a new content distribution service that ties mobile phones to PCs based on the rights authentication technology Near Field Rights Management® (NFRM) developed by Faith. The first verification test was conducted from March to June this year in cooperation with Intel Corporation and Yoshimoto Kogyo. Co., Ltd., and the second test is in preparation. Currently a NFRM-related patent has been submitted.
For more information, visit http://www.nfrm.jp/
 
<Summary of the Service>
¡Launch date: 20 August, 2007
 
¡Distribution Service: i-mode official site, gChakushin-Melody@GIGA,h
 
¡Access:
-Mobile phone
<i-mode> iMenu ¨Menu List¨@ringtone/Karaoke@¨J-Pop gChakushin-Melody@GIGAh
\100/\200/NFRM@Corner@in GIGA Rainbow
     
-PC
GIGA Networks NFRM homepage http://www.giga.co.jp/melody/NFRM/index.html
   
¡Access: Mobile phone <i-mode> iMenu ¨Menu List¨@ringtone/Karaoke@¨J-Pop
 
¡Environment
Corresponding mobile phone models:
For long content ... i-mode, FOMA, 904i series@(FeliCa mounted handsets)
For short content are available to viewing on the all Felica mounted handsets. (exclude F900iC)
 
About Faith, Inc.
Faith (Head Office: Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan, CEO/President: Hajime Hirasawa) is the pioneer of the ringtone business for the mobile phones. Originally, the concept of ringtone distribution started from this company. It commercialized the idea, and expanded the business not only within Japan, but also into the 21 countries throughout the world, including North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and South America. Moreover, the company provides the wide-ranging services such as on-line game and music distribution, and issuance of the electric money to settle e-commerce shopping. In future, Faith aims to provide the higher added-value service through the creation of ga new scheme for the distribution of the digital contenth in the global scale in various environments such as mobile phones and PCs.
For more information, visit http://www.faith.co.jp/
 
About GIGA Networks, Inc.
In addition to providing ringtone distribution services for mobile phones, GIGA Networks undertakes planning, development, and distribution of entertainment content such as films, music, and concert information. gChakushin Melody GIGAh, which started in September 1999 as an i-mode site providing ringtone services, currently boasts a paid-membership of about 3 million subscribers. By making use of the users reach, GIGA Networks expands and promotes high value-added services for future generation.
For more information, visit http://www.giga.co.jp/
 
About Desperado, Inc.
Desperado, Inc. was established in August 2006 through joint investment by companies such as Faith and Amuse Group. In addition to established ways of distribution such as producing/financing, purchasing, disbributing/advertising films and videos, it develops a new system of video distribution other than the conventional route by undertaking production of videos and digital distribution.
In addition, it provides appropriate incentives with the aim of nurturing and retaining new, talented creators that enables mass-production of high-quality video products. Based on these new challenges, the company plans to develop its video business that will enable it to maximize the copyrights. Desperado provides films and other products for the NFRM test.
For more information, visit http://www.desperado.bz/

* Names of companies and products in this press release are either trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies.