Santa Monica, Calif. (January 12, 2006) DDD Group plc (AIM: DDD), the 3D software and content company, today announces the appointment of Hans Snook to the company’s board of non-executive directors.
Mr. Snook is the Chairman of MonsterMob Group plc (“MonsterMob”) and the founder and former Chief Executive of Orange.
Hans Snook was appointed Chairman of AIM-listed MonsterMob in May of 2005. MonsterMob is a leading media and entertainment company that specializes in the sale of mobile telephone entertainment content and services, with operations in 20 countries and connectivity to 38 mobile telephone network carriers.
Hans was the founder and Chief Executive of Orange, a leading mobile telephone network carrier. He articulated the vision of the ‘wirefree future’ that has driven the branding, strategy and operation of Orange. Under Hans’ leadership, Orange launched their mobile phone service on 28 April 1994 and had a profound impact on the mobile market both in the U.K. and globally. In March 1996, Orange listed on the London and NASDAQ exchanges and, in June of 1996, became the youngest ever company to enter the FTSE 100.
Following the agreed acquisition of Orange by Mannesmann at the end of 1999, Mannesmann was acquired by Vodafone early in 2000 and, on 30 May 2000, the agreed acquisition of Orange by France Telecom was announced. Hans continued as Chief Executive of the enlarged Orange Group, leading it to flotation in February 2001, at which point he became Special Advisor to the Group, a role from which he stepped down at the end of 2001. From 2002 until early in 2005, Hans was non-executive Chairman of Carphone Warehouse Group PLC.
Hans’ current directorships include MonsterMob Group PLC, Healthsmart Limited, The Integrated Health Consultancy Ltd. and Sensophone Limited.
“I am truly delighted that Hans has joined the board of DDD as a non-executive director,” said Paul Kristensen, Chairman of DDD. “Hans brings a vast, directly relevant experience to DDD, particularly in the mobile phone market where DDD has seen the most growth in recent months. His contributions as a board member will be invaluable.”
Enquiries:
Chris Yewdall, President & CEO, DDD +1 (310) 566-3340
e-mail: info@ddd.com
Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial
Nick Lambert +44 (0) 20 7861-3232
Notes to Editors
About DDD
DDD, also known as Dynamic Digital Depth, is transforming the viewing experience with applications for glasses-free 3D displays. Its patented technologies enable 3D viewing without glasses; simple integration of computer graphics applications with 3D displays; supply of 3D content through 2D to 3D conversion; and 3D transmission over existing networks. DDD is quoted on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM: DDD).
- A new category of flat screen LCD and plasma displays are being developed and marketed by major consumer electronics companies that provide stereoscopic 3D images without the need for the viewer to wear glasses. Stereoscopic 3D images appear to have natural in and off-screen depth. 3D displays have already been included with mobile telephones in Japan and in desktop PC displays and notebook computers in North America and Japan.
- In July 2005, DDD announced a two-year license agreement to integrate its DDD Mobile™ real time 3D conversion software with a 3D mobile telephone handset for one of the world’s top five handset manufacturers.
- In March 2005, DDD announced that it had extended the three-year license agreement with Sharp Corporation to include the TriDef DVD Player real time 3D conversion software with Sharp’s latest Actius AL3D 3D notebook PC.
- In October 2005, DDD announced the debut of TriDef Vision+™, a set top box that automatically converts TV, DVD & video movies and game console video signals to 3D for use with a new generation of TriDef RealTV™ 3D flat panel television displays developed by Arisawa Manufacturing.
- DDD’s solutions provide an important bridge between conventional two dimensional (2D) applications and content and the new 3D displays. Normal 2D pictures, video and computer graphics images are manipulated by DDD’s patented software enabling them to be displayed on 3D displays without requiring the content to be created specially for a 3D display. DDD offers automatic and operator guided 3D conversion solutions.
- DDD licenses these software applications, marketed under the TriDef® and DDD Mobile ™ and RealTV™ brand names, to manufacturers for inclusion with the 3D display products supplied to end users. DDD also licenses the software directly to end users who already own 3D displays and through an international sales channel.
- In July 2005, DDD announced a partnership with Jamster! International Sarl to convert Jamster’s popular mobile phone content library to 3D for distribution to owners of 3D mobile phones .
- DDD is currently expanding the product range to allow its content solutions to be used on future 3D display products including 3D digital cinema.
TriDef, DDD Mobile, RealTV and Vision+ are trademarks of DDD Group plc. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.
