WALTHAM, Mass. – May 16, 2002 – Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: LIOX), today announced that its ChinaConnect subsidiary has signed a definitive agreement with Ningbo Bird Electronics Ltd., one of China's largest mobile phone manufacturers, to jointly develop Java-enabled mobile phones. ChinaConnect has successfully integrated its wireless platform, SkyVM K Java Virtual Machine, with Bird's next generation CDMA2000-1x model phones, and is planning to rollout China's first domestically developed Java mobile phones in the third quarter of 2002.
"This agreement with Bird and the successful implementation of SkyVM in China's next generation Java mobile phones further solidifies ChinaConnect's leadership position in Greater China's fast-growing Java wireless data service market," said Xueni Ye, managing director of Lionbridge's ChinaConnect subsidiary. "Bird's proven track record of growing its share of the mobile market through product innovations will provide ChinaConnect with valuable opportunities to expand our technologies quickly in Greater China. We have also received great support from Sun Microsystems and recently became the first China-based company to become a Sun authorized Java channel partner."
As a leading provider of advanced Java technology and mobile applications in the Greater China market, ChinaConnect specializes in developing ultra compact and resource efficient embedded Java virtual operating systems for next generation mobile phones. SkyVM, which is based on Sun Microsystems' newest Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) and Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) standards, has an extremely small footprint which is ideal for mobile devices with limited resources. It provides a robust platform for applications developed using Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME), targeting a wide range of wireless and compact devices such as mobile phones. SkyVM enables handheld devices using different hardware standards to dynamically download and run a wide range of Java/J2ME applications for business and the consumer market.
"We are pleased to be the first domestic mobile phone company to produce a Java-enabled mobile phone. This development will allow Bird to establish a strong presence in China's fast growing data service market," commented Siqing Wang, director of research and development, Bird Electronics.
Bird is one of the largest and fastest growing mobile phone companies in China, with an estimated five million mobile phones to be sold in 2002. Bird is a leading product and technology innovator in China, having introduced a number of advanced consumer handheld products, including China's first PDA mobile phones. Compared to other domestic mobile phone manufacturers, Bird has invested heavily in research and development and holds significant intellectual property rights in many of it products. The company has been selected among a handful of companies authorized to design and produce China's next generation CDMA handsets.
In April of 2002, ChinaConnect and Sun (Nasdaq: SUNW) signed a Java technology partnership agreement. ChinaConnect is the first China domestically based company to become a Sun authorized Java channel partner.
"Sun is committed to wireless and Bird's Java-enabled mobile phones will further strengthen Java's presence in the vast Chinese wireless data service market. We are glad to have ChinaConnect as Sun's Java technology partner in China," said Fred Sit, General Manager, Sun Microsystems (China) Co. Ltd.
About ChinaConnect
ChinaConnect (HuanQiu TongLian Technologies Ltd. Co. in Chinese) is a subsidiary of Lionbridge Technologies, Inc., a provider of solutions for worldwide deployment of technology and content. ChinaConnect provides advanced Java technology and wireless applications for the Greater China market. The company specializes in building robust Java virtual machines for next generation mobile devices. Founded in 1997, ChinaConnect has consistently delivered enterprise-wide e-business solutions and products to multinational corporations, local enterprises and government organizations in the Greater China market. With offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei and Boston, the company helps global organizations target Greater China's vast and rapidly developing technology market (G to C) and facilitate local Chinese enterprises expand globally
(C to G). To contact us, email us at info@chinaconnect.com. To learn more, please visit at www.chinaconnect.com.
About Bird
Bird is one of the largest domestic mobile phone manufactures in China. The company was founded in October 1992 in Fenghua, Zhejiang province and was one of first mobile phone companies to be listed in China's stock exchange. Bird designs and manufactures a complete set of mobile devices ranging from cell phones to handheld PCs and pagers. With a registered capital of USD $20 million, Bird has invested heavily in product research and development. Bird is leading brand for China's domestically designed and manufactured mobile communication devices including mobile phones, handheld PCs and system equipments.
About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision — The Network Is The Computer™ — has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to take their businesses to the nth. Sun can be found in more than 170 countries and on the World Wide Web at www.sun.com.
SkyVM is a trademark of ChinaConnect in China, the U.S. and other countries. Java, J2ME is a trademark of Sun Microsystems. All other brands or products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders