New mobile service with SeeStorm 3D characters in Japan

February 17, 2005

Dimps Corporation, Japanese computer game and mobile content provider, launched new mobile content service "* Com" with 3D characters (Avatars). The service is based on 3D talking character technology of SeeStorm, the pioneer developer of synthetic video software.

The service provides mobile users with a new highly attractive way of personalization of their handsets: via live and emotional animated characters. Avatar "lives" on the screen of the handset as screensaver and visualizes the phone's events.

Avatars presented by Dimps Co. are humans and pets, funny pictures and cartoon personages, so that each subscriber could find the one most appealing to him or her, and endow the phone with a most friendly "personality". Smiling cat, winking baby or glooming bus - that's what can look at you from the screen of the mobile handset, if you choose so (www.dimps.co.jp/kcm/index.html).

User can also create his or her own 3D characters from a photo made directly with a cameraphone. It is easy as 1-2-3: take a picture by cameraphone - send it to server - receive a new 3D character, absolutely personal and unique. User's photo can be mixed with a background picture or animated effects can be added, to get a fully individual funny avatar on mobile phone.

Avatars can express emotions and change moods, and their behavior is an immediate reaction to handset inner and incoming events. Doggy cries if battery is low and have aureole around the head if somebody is calling or a message has arrived, etc.

3D talking characters technology is developed by SeeStorm, technology innovator in computer vision and sophisticated speech processing and pioneer developer of synthetic video solutions. All characters presented by Dimps and their behavior are generated with SeeStorm software.

SeeStorm products for next-generation wireless avatar services are delivered to Japanese market via SeeStorm partnership with Kyocera Communications Systems, the biggest data center serving all major Japanese mobile operators (NTT DoCoMo, KDDI and Vodafone).

SeeStorm partners with communication solutions providers, handset manufacturers, processor makers, mobile carriers and wireless content and service providers to deliver rich-media personalized speech and visual communications to mobile and PC users.

About SeeStorm

SeeStorm is technology innovator in speech-to-motion and real-time synthetic video conferencing. SeeStorm's mission is to redefine the way people communicate, visually. SeeStorm's proprietary speech processing and computer vision technologies enable real-time character animation and natural, speech-based communication, that could run on top of VoIP software.

SeeStorm is a subsidiary of SPIRIT DSP, a global leading provider of embedded voice and communication software products. SPIRIT DSP employs 120 professionals, has been in international software licensing business since 1992. SPIRIT focus is communication, speech and VoIP software products and today SPIRIT counts among its clients Adobe, Agere, Atmel, Flextronics, Ericsson, HP, HTC, Iwatsu, Kyocera, LG, Macromedia, Marconi, NEC, Nortel Networks, Oracle, PalTalk, Panasonic, Philips, Polycom, Samsung, Siemens, Texas Instruments and Toshiba, among 200+ other communication OEMs and software vendors.

About Kyocera Communication Systems

Kyocera Communication Systems was established in 1995 and provides hosting and system integration services to large enterprises throughout Japan, including leading mobile operators. KCCS provides high value-add services and solutions for numerous companies in the IT, Mobile and Network sectors. KCCS has a worldwide employee base of about 1200 and a sales turnover of 56,934 million Yen.

About Dimps Corporation

Dimps was established in 2000 (Japan) and is a developer of video games for arcade and home entertainment systems, developer and content provider of multimedia digital contents for computer and mobile equipment. Customers include Bandai, Banpresoft, Banpresto, IXI, Namco, Sammy, Sammy NetWorks, Sega, Sony Finance International, Vivendi Universal Games. The company also is a content aggregator and provider for mobile carriers KDDI and NTT DoCoMo.