Proshares Ultrashort Telecommunications (AMEX:TLL)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2019 to Jul 2024
Patented SD-Memory Card Compression and Digital Rights Management
(DRM) Technology Allows Users to Watch Movies, TV Shows, Play Games
and Enjoy a Variety of Content on Their Cellular and Other Mobile
Devices
Teletouch Communications, Inc. (AMEX:TLL) today announced that it
signed an exclusive, three-year Master Distributor Agreement for North
America with Los Angeles, CA-based ROK Entertainment US, Inc., a
majority-owned affiliate of United Kingdom-based ROK Corporation,
Ltd., a maker of technology that allows people to watch movies and TV
shows, play games and enjoy a variety of content on their cellular
handsets and other portable devices. Although confidential financial
terms were not disclosed, the comprehensive Master Agreement grants
Teletouch the exclusive right to distribute ROK's patented ROK Player,
related intellectual property, products and licensed content directly
to retailers, third-party distributors and wholesalers in the United
States, Mexico and Canada. The ROK software provides full Digital
Rights Management, or "DRM" protection for content compressed by the
patented technology, and is especially designed for portable devices,
including cell phones and other devices that use commonly available
SD-chip cards and similar storage media.
Jonathan Kendrick, CEO of ROK Corporation stated, "The patented
ROK Player technology does four key things. It compresses rich content
onto SD memory cards in a proprietary manner, reducing a two-hour
movie to fit onto a single 64MB card for use on portable devices.
Uncompressed, that same movie would take at least a 500MB card, which
of course is much more expensive. Secondly, the ROK Player is built to
be "plug-and-play," for ease of use in compatible devices. Third, it
plays full-frame high-resolution video at 24 frames per second (full
motion), creating a more satisfactory user experience."
Kendrick continued, "But perhaps most important to content owners
such as studios, record labels and game developers is that their
content will be delivered with full DRM protections built right in.
Frankly, it's far easier for a hacker to rip a DVD than one of our ROK
Player loaded chips."
John-Paul DeJoria, CEO of John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patron
Tequila, among other holdings, said this, "As an early, significant
investor in ROK Entertainment, I believe in this technology. My
eight-year-old son can easily work the player, and watching movies or
playing games on mobile devices is the future. With ROK's recently
granted patents, I think movie studios, mobile game developers,
advertisers and other content providers will want the protections
afforded by these patented ROK technologies."
Kendrick added, "We chose Teletouch as our North American
distributor because of its long history in the wireless market, for
its help desk and call center capabilities, for its executives'
extensive retail experience and for its deep relationships in the
wireless and consumer electronics business, both directly and through
its commonly controlled affiliate, Progressive Concepts, Inc. This
relationship will increase our speed to market, and will also allow us
to better concentrate our own resources on establishing large content
licensing deals, continued software-to-handset utilization development
and on completing our U.S. Internet-based white-label Media Store. We
are very excited to work with the Teletouch team."
Teletouch CEO, T. A. "Kip" Hyde, Jr., stated, "Last month, we
announced a fundamental strategic shift 'back' towards the business of
mobile. By establishing this exclusive retail and wholesale
distribution agreement for an entirely new portable multimedia content
medium in North America, the Company is taking the first steps toward
directly participating in the high-growth, multi-billion dollar
cellular handset and content download markets. ROK's patented
technologies, which provide the ability to watch movies, TV shows,
music videos and play casual games, are at the forefront of this
revolutionary change in the mobile industry."
Hyde concluded, "Specifically, ROK's ability to provide DRM
content protection for rich-media downloaded directly from the
Internet, Over-the-Air, or through retail kiosks for use on a cell
phone -- the most widely available consumer electronic portable device
today -- represents an enormous new sales opportunity for retailers of
many kinds, including big-box and chain consumer electronics stores,
theaters, music and book stores, as well as various cellular and
emerging WiFi carriers, MVNO's and others. The opportunity for
Teletouch to become an exclusive distributor of a DVD-replacement
technology that fits in the palm of your hand is a
once-in-a-generation business opportunity, and we are pleased that ROK
has selected us for the task."
About ROK Entertainment US, Inc.
Formed in 2004 by noted UK entrepreneur Jonathan Kendrick and
John-Paul DeJoria, CEO of John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patron
Tequila, ROK Entertainment is privately-owned with a mandate to create
original and innovative technologies to deliver full-length content
and entertainment to mobile phones and other portable devices. ROK was
awarded a primary patent in January 2006 for the storage of
DRM-protected audio-visual content on memory cards for play on mobile
phones and other mobile devices. ROK Entertainment is a subsidiary of
ROK Corporation, which provides technologies such as content-loaded
memory cards and multi-channel mobile TV over 2.5G and above GPRS
networks. With more than 100 staff worldwide, ROK has offices in the
UK, Los Angeles and Beijing with Joint Venture partnerships in Brazil,
Russia and Taiwan. More information about these companies and leading
edge technologies is available at www.rokcorp.com, www.rokent.com,
www.rokplayer.com, www.rok.tv and www.rokent.com.
About Progressive Concepts, Inc.
In continuous operation for over 30-years, privately-held PCI is a
leading provider of cellular voice, data, and entertainment products
and branded wireless services to individuals, businesses, and
government agencies through its chain of retail stores (Hawk
Electronics), branded sub-agents and direct sales force throughout
Texas and Arkansas. PCI provides the cellular services on the Cingular
Wireless network, and maintains its own billing, data and customer
service operations for its nearly 100,000 subscribers, businesses and
other licensed clients. PCI also operates a significant wholesale
distribution business serving smaller cellular and automotive
retailers, car dealers and cellular service providers throughout the
country. More information about PCI and Hawk Electronics can be found
at www.hawkelectronics.com.
About Teletouch Communications
Teletouch offers a comprehensive suite of telecommunications
services, including cellular, two-way radio communications,
GPS-telemetry and wireless messaging services throughout the United
States. TLL acquires, bills and supports a large, primarily commercial
business and government base of subscribers, under its own network of
FCC licensed spectrum in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma,
Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Florida. Teletouch's
common stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange under stock
symbol: TLL. Additional information about Teletouch can be found at:
www.teletouch.com.
All statements in this news release that are not based on
historical fact are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the
provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(which Sections were adopted as part of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995). While management has based any
forward-looking statements contained herein on its current
expectations, the information on which such expectations were based
may change. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of
assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of
risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of
our control, that could cause actual results to materially differ from
such statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include,
but are not necessarily limited to, those set forth under the caption
"Additional Factors That May Affect Our Business" in the Company's
most recent Form 10-K and 10-Q filings, and amendments thereto. In
addition, we operate in a highly competitive and rapidly changing
environment, and new risks may arise. Accordingly, investors should
not place any reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction
of actual results. We disclaim any intention to, and undertake no
obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statement.