I'm guessing this is the IIJI news (not on Yahoo yet).
Pardon the formatting, can't help it in this case...
===============
(PR NEWSWIRE) IIJ Group Ties up with Samsung
Corp. and InfoBank For Mobile Data Center in Korea
TOKYO, April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Internet Initiative Japan Inc. ("IIJ")
(Nasdaq: IIJI) (headquarters: Tokyo, Japan, president: Koichi Suzuki) today
announced that IIJ made an agreement with Samsung Corporation (Samsung,
headquarters: Seoul, Korea, president: Woo Taik Chung, CEO: Myungkwan Hyun)
and InfoBank Corporation (InfoBank, headquarters: Seoul, Korea, president:
Tae-hyung Park and Jun-ho Jang) for establishment of a joint venture company
tentatively named "i-Heart" for operating Mobile Data Center in Korea.
Inception of service is scheduled in June, 2000.
IIJ and its affiliate companies such as IIJ Technology Inc. and Crosswave
Communications Inc. will have one-third stake in i-Heart, and Samsung and
InfoBank will have other one-thirds for each. Details about i-Heart including
total amount of capital, management and business plans are slated to be
finalized at the middle of May.
At the initial stage, i-Heart will focus on gateway solutions for mobile
Internet, which converts existing 5 different wireless protocols into others
and enables wireless content providers not to offer their services based on
such 5 protocols. i-Heart will then extend its service to other data center
services such as server hosting, systems integration and maintenance.
"Korea is one of the most advanced Internet markets in Asia," said Koichi
Suzuki, President and CEO of IIJ. "Especially, mobile Internet is unique and
powerful field for further Internet growth. Combining Samsung's superior
marketing capability, InfoBank's cutting-edge conversion technology in mobile
gateway solutions and IIJ group's accumulated know how in operating
large-scale Internet infrastructure including data centers, I believe i-Heart
will have great presence in Korean market."
The IIJ Group is committed to improve Internet quality with new network
services over new network infrastructure while providing more users with
better Internet connections, and strive to further the popularization of the
Internet.
About IIJ
Internet Initiative Japan Inc. ("IIJ") is a Japan's leading
Internet-access and comprehensive Internet solution provider mainly targeting
high-end corporate customers. Founded in 1992 as a pioneer of commercial
Internet services in Japan, IIJ has built one of the largest Internet backbone
networks in Japan as well as between Japan and the United States. IIJ and its
group companies provide total solutions ranging from new generation network
services over optical-fiber infrastructure optimized for data communications,
construction of Asian-wide IP backbone network, high-quality Internet access,
securities, hosting/housing, contents design, and to systems integration.
About Samsung Corporation
Samsung Corporation is the biggest trading company in Korea which has more
than 200 overseas branches worldwide. Besides playing a role of Internet
generator through investments to domestic venture companies, Samsung
Corporation concentrates on the new business development in international
Internet market through technology cooperation with overseas Internet
companies and exports domestic Internet technologies to world-wide market.
About InfoBank Corporation
InfoBank was established in June 1995 as the most prospective venture
company in mobile communications and Internet integrated services. Utilizing
its mobile platform, InfoBank Corporation provides various services including
e-mail, GPS, e-commerce, and mobile gateway services for SK Telecom, KT
Freetel, Shinsegi, Hansol PCS and LG Telecom. The main stockholders are
Credit Information of Korea, Samsung Corporation, Daum Communication,
Hyundai-Daum investment association, Mirae Asset Co., Korea Dream Capital and
Shinyoung Securities.
SOURCE Internet Initiative Japan Inc.
-0- 04/17/2000
/CONTACT: Ms. Junko Higasa of IIJ Group Media-Investor Relations Office,
+81-3-5259-6310, or press@iij.ad.jp /
/Web site: iij.ad.jp /
(IIJI)
|
