Top-selling Console Game Brand Goes Mobile: Plans to Install Monkey Ball on
Sprint Third-Generation (3G)-enabled PCS Phones; More Sega Titles expected
this summer on the Sprint Third Generation Network
LOS ANGELES, May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At this year's Electronic
Entertainment Expo (E3), May 22 - 24, the leading brands in wireless and
networked gaming take center stage. Sega Mobile, a division of Sega.com, Inc.
dedicated to bringing Sega content to the mobile market in North America,
announced today the formation of a strategic alliance with Sprint (NYSE: FON,
PCS), which operates the largest all-digital, nationwide network and is the
fastest growing wireless carrier. Sega will leverage its popular franchises
and extensive gaming legacy to deliver the best in mobile gaming content for
the highly anticipated Sprint Third Generation Network launching nationwide
this summer.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGO )
Sega Mobile will bring one of the first full-color mobile games to Sprint
wireless customers with the launch of the hit title Monkey Ball.
"The Sprint Third Generation Network enables the transformation of mobile
games from the text-based experience of today to a graphic, full-color
experience of console-brand games available through Sprint on its 3G-enabled
PCS phones," said Chip Novick, vice president of consumer marketing for
Sprint's PCS division. "When Sprint launches recognizable games like Monkey
Ball from a top provider like Sega on its 3G Network this summer, you will
inevitably see more and more Sprint customers moving their phones from their
ears to their eyes as they get a little game action on the go."
Plans include enabling Sprint customers to be able to choose from a host
of additional Sega games, including classic titles such as Pengo, Flicky, Puyo
Puyo, and Head On. Sega Mobile plans to continually update its game line-up
and round out its repertoire by publishing new titles in a variety of genres,
such as puzzles and sports.
"More than 400,000 mobile phone users in Japan currently enjoy wireless
gaming from Sega Mobile of Japan, and gaming is consistently ranked among the
top three services for wireless users. The customer demand is evident," said
Ryoichi Shiratsuchi, CEO Sega Mobile. "To take advantage of these markets, we
are aggressively pursuing partnerships with leading wireless access providers
such as Sprint."
The Sprint Third Generation Network is scheduled to launch this summer. At
launch, Sprint expects faster wireless data speeds and enhancements for
existing applications and services when using a 3G enabled device. Sprint's 3G
technology also establishes a platform for later releases of new and more
robust applications as data speeds increase including enhanced games, video
and audio clips, enhanced messaging, email with attachments, high-speed
Internet browsing and digital imaging. Specifically for games, 3G enables
Sprint to move the game experience from the text-based games of today to
graphic, full-color brand name games on 3G-enabled PCS Phones using the Java 2
platform, Micro Edition (J2ME(TM)).
For more information, please visit http://www.segamobile.com and
http://www.sprint.com/mr .
About Sega Mobile
Sega Mobile (http://www.segamobile.com), a division of Sega.com, is an
interactive gaming division that is dedicated to bringing the thrills and
excitement of networked gaming to cellular phone and PDA users in North
America. The new division consists of Publishing, Content delivery, and
Marketing teams solely focused on providing innovative, unique and classic
content for the mobile market.
About Sega.com, Inc
Sega.com, Inc. (http://www.sega.com) is a network entertainment company that
integrates Internet technology with innovation while leveraging a video game
heritage dating back more than 50 years. Sega.com also built SegaNet the only
high-speed online console gaming network and community destination for gamers.
Sega.com is dedicated to bringing the technology and content required for
networked entertainment to game developers and game players alike, leveraging
the network possibilities for a multitude of devices including game consoles,
cellular phones and PDAs.
About Sprint
Sprint is a global communications company serving more than 26 million
business and residential customers in over 70 countries. With approximately
80,000 employees worldwide and more than $26 billion in annual revenues,
Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state of
the art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide
all-digital, fiber-optic network. Sprint's award-winning Tier 1 Internet
backbone is being extended to key global markets to provide customers with a
broad portfolio of scalable IP products. Sprint's high-capacity, high-speed
network gives customers fast, dependable, nonstop access to the vast majority
of the world's Internet content. Sprint also operates the largest 100-percent
digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States, already serving
the majority of the nation's metropolitan areas, including more than 4,000
cities and communities.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This news release includes certain estimates, projections and other
forward-looking statements. Future performance cannot be ensured. Actual
results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.
The words "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe" and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. You should
not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of
the date of this news release. Sprint is not obligated to publicly release any
revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of
this news release or unforeseen events.
Sprint provides a detailed discussion of risk factors in periodic SEC
filings.
SOURCE Sprint PCS
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Related links:
http://www.segamobile.com
http://www.sprint.com/mr
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001013/SPRINTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840
CONTACT:
Media - Nancy Sherrer of Sprint,
+1-913-762-7032, or +1-913-706-9051 (PCS), or
Nsherr02@mail.sprintpcs.com; or Jenny Rees, +1-415-844-6251, or
jrees@accesspr.com, or Peter Nguyen, +1-415-844-6215, or
pnguyen@accesspr.com, both of Access Communications, for Sega.com
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