SmarTone and Nokia launch Pocket Kingdom for SmarTone iN's Java gaming community

(I-Newswire) March 10, 2005 - San Francisco, CA, USA - SmarTone, Hong Kong's leading mobile operator in multimedia services, and Nokia announced today the launch of the first massively multiplayer online role-playing java game on mobile, Pocket Kingdom. Pocket Kingdom, supported by the Nokia SNAP Mobile platform, enables customers to use their guile to conquer the world. Three new casual, broad-appeal games including Reversi, Lose Your Marbles and Blackjack will also be made available to SmarTone customers. Five others including Poker, Maze, Blocks, Penalty Kicks and Backgammon will be introduced shortly.

All of these online Java games created for the SNAP Mobile platform are supported by three handset models, the Nokia 7610 imaging phone, the Nokia 6630 3G smartphone and Sharp's GX32. More Nokia and non-Nokia models will be added to the list during the next six months.

"We are pleased to join with Nokia to introduce the online Java gaming community through the launch of Sega Mobile's award-winning Pocket Kingdom - a game pitching a player's strategem against others," said Douglas Li, Chief Executive Officer of SmarTone. "The new game, based on the SNAP Mobile solution, expands our games portfolio and provides customers with the best gaming experience by enabling real-time interaction and dynamic multiplaying within the SNAP Mobile community. We are pleased that the Nokia SNAP Mobile solution supports other manufacturers' handsets. This offers a freedom of choice for customers and brings fun and enjoyment to a large gaming community."

"SmarTone is the perfect partner for us as they have the commitment, expertise and track record in making things happen," said Lisa Waits, Head of SNAP Mobile at Nokia. "We are very happy to see SmarTone's iN's Java gaming community take shape and grow. SNAP Mobile provides the essential technological infrastructure and specialized support services upon which network operators and other service providers can build and expand their gaming communities, as well as providing game developers with the fundamental network tools to create mobile multiplayer games."

Sega Mobile, one of the earliest game developers to design games for the SNAP Mobile platform, specializes in rich mobile content. Hiroshi Okamoto, Mobile Chief Producer of Sega Mobile, commented, "SNAP Mobile enabled us to focus on great game development, not the technology. Pocket Kingdom, which consists of over 40 fantasy units and over 130 possible item combinations, allows hundreds of game fans to interact with each other at the same time. They do not have to chain themselves to a desktop computer to get in on the action and fight with a real enemy."

Pocket Kingdom and the other new online Java games will be available exclusively to SmarTone customers in Hong Kong for a limited period of time. Customers subscribing to this online Java community service can enjoy unlimited casual multiplayer game play playing Reversi, Lose Your Marbles, and Blackjack for HK$20 per month, with an additional one-time fee of HK$32 during the promotion to download Sega Mobile's Pocket Kingdom.

About Smartone
SmarTone is Hong Kong's leading mobile operator in multimedia services. It aims to bring its customers closer to the people, the information and the entertainment that is important to them and, through this, to generate greater shareholder value. SmarTone is committed to delivering the best value proposition in the market through continual improvements in the three pillars of its business - products and services, network performance and customer service. Publicly listed in Hong Kong since 1996, SmarTone is a GSM operator and one of the four 3G licensees in Hong Kong.

About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia is dedicated to enhancing people's lives and productivity by providing easy-to-use and secure products like mobile phones, and solutions for imaging, games, media, mobile network operators and businesses. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on five major exchanges.


Media Enquiries:

SmarTone
Ms. Alice Li
General Manager, Corporate Communications
Tel: +852 31282255/9093 0218

Ms. Monica Chan
Manager, Corporate Communications
Tel: +852 31282241/6112 6946

Nokia, Multimedia
Communications
Tel: +358 7180 45667

www.nokia.com

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