30.9.2009, Press Release: Icareus and Shanghai Telecom sign cooperation agreement
Helsinki/Shanghai, 30 September, 2009 – Icareus, an interactive digital TV group, has signed a cooperation agreement together with Shanghai Telecom. Shanghai Telecom is a subsidiary of China Telecom, the largest fixed network telecommunications operator and the second largest operator in China. Shanghai Telecom launched a commercial trial of IPTV already in 2005. Currently, Shanghai Telecom has more than 600 000 IPTV subscribers. The number of IPTV subscribers is expected to reach 1 million by the end of 2009. Shanghai Telecom is the leading IPTV operator in China. According to the contract, signed in September, Icareus Studios Ltd will offer IPTV games to Shanghai Telecom to be offered to their IPTV customers. Shanghai Telecom’s IPTV subscribers will soon enjoy Icareus’ entertaining games on their home television. “The cooperation strengthens our opportunities to serve our customers in China ”, says Mr. Mikko Karppinen, Director of Icareus Technologies. Icareus has been working in China for the past year. In May, this year, Icareus acquired Innosonic Information Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. “The business transaction enabled Icareus to have stronger presence in China and this is now bearing fruit ”, continues Mr. Karppinen. ”IPTV games are one of the most important application types for the Shanghai Telecom IPTV service. Cooperation with Icareus will help us provide good service to our subscribers ”, said Mr. Zhu, Director of Shanghai Telecom’s IPTV Centre and continues, “New games from Icareus will continue to improve our subscribers’ user-experience. ” Icareus concentrates in two business areas in China:
IPTV applications and services Interactive Mobile services Icareus’ IPTV games and applications portfolio includes 20 titles and part of the development work has already been moved to China. Among Icareus’ clients are, e.g., Siemens AG, Tandberg, RiksTV AS, Samsung Electronics, NEC Europe, Broadcast Service Danmark A/S, RAI Torino, Ericsson AB, Teleca Italia SpA, Broadcast Service Danmark A/S, LG, Radio Television Brunei, Telecom Italia S.p.A, ORF Austria, Philips Electronics Nederland B.V., Multiplus Ltd, Irdeto, R Cable y Telecomunicaciones, THALES Broadcast & Multimedia and Reti Televisive Digital SpA. More Information: Ms. Jenni Kurvinen PR & Marketing Email: jenni.kurvinen@icareus.com Telephone: +358 (0)9 2289 0801 Mr. Kevin J. Tang Business Development Director, APAC Email: kevin.j.tang@icareus.com Telephone: +86 21 3250 4230 Icareus Group Icareus Group is one of the leading companies in the area of interactive television. Icareus activates media companies to increase their revenues and customer satisfaction by creating TV- centric interactive services and technologies. Icareus offers its content and solutions for broadcasters, cable-, satellite- and mobile operators, TV and media production companies and service providers, having customers and partners in more than 30 countries around the world.