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NEC to Demonstrate DRM Solution at 3GSM World Congress 2005

Tokyo and London , February 9, 2005- NEC Corporation (NEC) announced today it would demonstrate its secure and OMA compliant DRM Solution in the 3GSM World Congress 2005 in Cannes , France. The annual exhibition is to take place from 14 to 17 th February at the Palais des Festivals et des Congresses.

NEC will showcase its mobile Digital Rights Management System (VS-7810) at 3GSM, providing live, preview demonstrations of the software, which enables flexible ticketing, super-destribution and Domains (content sharing) for multi-media content.

One of the first such solutions to appear on the market, NEC's Digital Rights Management (DRM) software is targeted at operators and content providers who will benefit from the ease with which it can be implemented. Unique in that it is total solution of server and client, the DRM software can be easily integrated into operators' and content providers' existing system. Once installed, the software works to implement both super-distribution and flexible ticketing.
Super-distribution entails the controlled forwarding of content. When protected content is forwarded, content recipients must purchase the right to use the content over the air prior to unlocking content. Flexible ticketing enables users to select the purchase options which best meets their needs.

At present, users can download contents from the mobile internet via their mobile handsets; in most instances, these are available for free copying. NEC's DRM software is an effective way of policing this process, and sets up a pay-per-'bundle' system. For example, the Rights to ten plays of a particular music can be purchased for a fixed price, downloaded from the operator and can be managed by an OMA-compliant, trusted terminal. Once in place, this system encourages users to purchase content legally as well as combating the illegal downloading, copying and transmission of content.

A customizable interface to the operator/content provider existing system provides a flexible option to supply various charging schemes to end-users. During the implementation phase, NEC works with both the content provider and the operator to provide the most effective DRM Module.

Designed to benefit operators, content providers and users, the system has a variety of advantages. Operators and content providers will reap the rewards of the safe distribution channel and the flexible billing platform. Content providers, as a result, will make available a larger range of content, which in turn will encourage more users to download content. The user benefits from the increased selection and will also be satisfied with the choice of purchase models including event based and metred usage.

NEC has been involved in mobile DRM Research & Development since 1997 and is consequently one of the leading solution providers in this area. NEC is a member of the Board of Directors, Board committees, etc in OMA , and has been continuously contributing to the organization and industry. NEC input several change requests and joined the test fest for DRMv1. For DRMv.2, NEC proposed the Accumulated Function which was accepted by the DLDRM working group. In addition, NEC plans to attend test fests for DRMv2.

For more information regarding NEC's activities at 3GSM World Congress 2005, please see the following URL:
http://www.nec-3gsm.com/
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<About NEC’s mobile application business>
NEC is a total mobile solutions provider capable of providing solutions from cellular handsets to infrastructure and mobile applications. NEC has been actively expanding its sales in mobile applications, infrastructure and handsets, not only within Japan, but also in overseas markets. The firm has a proven track record of delivering platforms for implementing mobile internet services such as i-mode/WAP2.0, along with location information systems, contents conversion software, mail servers, and the like. NEC’s mobile applications are value-added applications by which, using cell phones, persons anywhere can easily get the information they want and freely participate in their favorite communities and thus live more fulfilling lives. The fundamental concepts behind the applications are “personalize”, “community” and “security.” In the recent years, because of the penetration of camera-equipped cell phones and the introduction of ring tone services for call sender, the keywords “personal” and “community” have assumed greater importance. On the other hand, when introduction of 3G infrastructure and IMS gets going, the changeover to all-IP and broadband multimedia data communications will move into high gear. The predictions are, as a result, that packet-based voice services -- such as VoIP service and PoC (Push to Talk Over Cellular) -- will expand and the integration of voice and data services will accelerate along with the introduction of image distribution services such as cartoons or movies.

On the foundation of its Mobile Internet Platform, NEC will aggressively expand sales efforts in its primary products of (i) “Ring back melodies”, in which phone call recipients let call senders hear their favorite music or messages, (ii) “Location information system”, a platform for providing various services based on participant’s location and (iii) “3G/2.5G Mobile Visual Solution” to provide multimedia data such as cartoons, together with its other application software offerings.