Press Release: ANT Limited
September 17, 2001
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- ANT Limited, a leading developer of Internet appliance software, Friday announced that
Quadriga, Europe's leading provider of in-room hotel technology, has integrated ANT Fresco(TM) as the core component
of its Genesis digital entertainment and communications system.
Genesis is the first pan-European satellite-delivered pay-TV system for hotels, providing customized digital content,
high-speed access to the Internet and integrated TV services. This is the first time that Fresco has been licensed
for use primarily as a navigation tool within a digital system.
Genesis is the first European system to offer a dedicated digital alternative via satellite to the traditional
analog services currently provided by most hotels. Using ANT Fresco, the system provides access through an on-screen
guide to customized content. This includes complete program selection in multiple languages for movies, sports
and light entertainment, as well as Video on Demand and a digital ``jukebox,'' Web access and a range of guest
and hotel management services.
Genesis uses ANT Fresco to navigate around the system, enhancing the user's entertainment experience by enabling
access to the interactive digital content and TV services through different menu options. Quadriga developed its
own user interface and on-screen service navigation guide with Fresco's user interface environment and GUI libraries.
This provides a unique ``look and feel'' to the system.
``ANT's architecture enabled us to port the Fresco browser quickly, which was vital to the development of our Genesis
product,'' said Terry Austin, Quadriga's director of technology.
``Genesis is an excellent demonstration of how ANT Fresco can be adapted for a wide range of Internet and digital
entertainment devices. It highlights that our technology is far more universal than just a tool for browsing the
Web,'' said John Cherry, senior VP sales and marketing for ANT.
``Quadriga has used the flexible functionality of our browser to create the navigation and on-screen menu system
for delivery of the Genesis entertainment and communication services. In addition, our customizable user interface
allowed Quadriga to create a branded product that rivals domestic digital broadcasters,'' Cherry added.
ANT's patent-pending three-layer architecture allows OEMs to quickly and easily produce a branded interface for
their Internet appliances while retaining their own choice of underlying hardware and operating system. This architecture
also allows broadcasters and other service providers to update their user interface in the field via the connection
to a set-top box.
About Quadriga
Quadriga is Europe's leading provider of interactive technology services to the hospitality industry. Its interactive
services are currently utilized in more than 321,000 hotel rooms worldwide, and enable hotels to satisfy an increasing
demand from travelers for guest room information and entertainment.
Quadriga Genesis marks the transformation of Quadriga Worldwide from the supplier of TV technology to the media
and communications partner to the hospitality industry.
With headquarters in the United Kingdom, Quadriga employs more than 400 people and operates in 30 countries across
Europe, including Austria, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Spain, Switzerland,
Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, and Greece. Quadriga also operates in several countries in the Middle East and
Africa including Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
About ANT Limited
ANT Limited (www.antlimited.com) develops and markets embedded communication
appliance software for use in consumer electronics and Internet appliances. Core technology includes the ANT Fresco(TM)
Browser and the ANT SimplEmail(TM) e-mail client, which employ high-performance, highly portable and customizable
architectures designed to meet the needs of Internet appliances and other networked products.
ANT's technology gives original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of Internet devices, and the technology partners
that supply them, three significant advantages: far greater speed to market, reduced engineering costs, and freedom
to leverage corporate identity.
The company's current customers include Analog Devices, Amino Communications, OpenGlobe, Pace Micro Technology,
Quiero, Sagem, Symbian and ZapMedia. Partners include Bitstream, Enea, IBM Microelectronics, RSA Security, STMicroelectronics,
Tality and Wind River Systems.
ANT Limited, Cambridge Business Park, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WZ, U.K.; phone: +44 (0)1223 716400; fax: +44
(0)1223 716401; E-mail: info@antlimited.com. U.S. headquarters: North
Suburban Business Center, 23 Walkers Brook Dr., Reading, Mass. 01867; phone: 781/942-4551; fax: 781/944-7785; e-mail:
sales@antlimited.com.
Fresco and SimplEmail are trademarks of ANT Limited. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective owners.
This news release is available from http://www.antlimited.com.
See ANT Limited at International Broadcasting Convention (IBC), RAI Center, Booth No. 5.328
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Contact:
For ANT in the United States
Moore.com Communications, Hermosa Beach, Calif.
Robin Moore, 310/798-7994
robin@mooredotcom.com
or
For ANT outside the United States
ANT Limited, Cambridge
Melanie Pankhurst, +44 (0)1223 716411
melanie.pankhurst@antlimited.com