News Release

SmarTone Welcomes Another Top-branded Japanese Game Provider, Capcom

Further Strengthening SmarTone’s Leading Position in Hong Kong’s Mobile Game Arena

(31 March 2003, Hong Kong) – SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited today announced the joining of another top-branded Japanese game provider, Capcom, to its mobile multimedia portal . This new partnership strengthens SmarTone’s mobile games alliance, which now comprises six top-branded Japanese game providers, including G-mode, Konami, Namco, Sega, Taito and Capcom.

At the same time, SmarTone launches US sports games for Java-enabled colour mobile phones, which is the first of its kind in Hong Kong. has the most powerful mobile games alliance, providing Hong Kong with the most comprehensive portfolio of MIDP and CJSP Java games.

Mr. Douglas Li, Chief Executive Officer of SmarTone said, “Following the recent partnership with Konami, we are excited to welcome Capcom to join us in offering a far superior mobile gaming experience to customers which is made possible by the specialised Java engine of Sharp GX12. We have been receiving widespread interest and enthusiastic response from customers.”

provides the widest variety of mobile games in town. In addition to the exclusive CJSP Java games from six top-branded Japanese providers, offers over 100 mobile MIDP Java games for different brands of mobile phones. As at the end of March 2003, there are over 150 CJSP and MIDP games available on for download to Sharp GX12 and other colour handsets respectively.

Mr. Shunzo Ito, Chief Executive Officer of Capcom Asia Co. Ltd. said, “We are delighted to partner with SmarTone, the leading mobile network operator providing true multimedia services, to offer Hong Kong customers the fun and excitement of Capcom’s popular game titles. We are confident that this partnership promises SmarTone’s customers more and more sensational game titles from us.”

Mr. Masafumi Bamba, Director and General Manager of Konami Marketing (Asia) Ltd. said, “Konami is strengthening and making the most of our brand image and contents as well as promoting well-balanced and diversified businesses. We joined earlier this year, and the customer feedback over the past few months has been very positive, and we look forward to further proliferation of the mobile game market in Hong Kong.”

The initial line-up of the 5 famous game titles of Capcom are <<BioHazard>>, <<1942>>, <<Street Fighter Zero>>, <<Rockman>> and << Makaimura Puzzle>>. The tariffs of the Java games offered by the 4 Japanese game providers: Capcom, G-mode, Konami and Taito, are charged on a per download basis at $18 per download. Once downloaded, customers can play the game as often as they like. On the other hand, Namco and Sega offer game services with a monthly subscription of $28 per month, while subscribers can enjoy unlimited game downloads as often as they like.

As a special introductory offer valid until 31 May 2003, each Capcom game download will go with one free wallpaper. On the other hand, G-mode offers free download of the trial version of the game, <<Monkey Banana>>, while customers downloading the full version of this game to be offered a complimentary wallpaper calendar which is valid until the end of June.

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About SmarTone

Established in 1992, SmarTone is a leading provider of mobile communications services in Hong Kong. It is a customer-oriented company and aims to bring its customers closer to the people, the information and the entertainment that is important to them and, through this, to generate greater shareholders’ value.

With our strong technological heritage and deep commitment to quality service, we intend to bring our customers into the new world of 2.5G/3G mobile infotainment and media. With a clear focus on customer needs, we have marketed numerous compelling services, which deliver substantial benefits to our customers — recent branded offerings include , , , , and .

Our commitment to quality service is well-recognised in Hong Kong, validated by the recent retail and service industry awards.

Hong Kong Retail Management Association’s Annual Service and Courtesy Awards
	Best Team Award	2001 & 2002
	Supervisory Level Award	2001
	Junior Frontline Level Award	2002
Hong Kong Retail Management Association’s Mystery Shoppers Programme
	Service Category Leader	2002 & 2003
	Service Retailer of the Year	2002
Hong Kong Management Association’s Distinguished Salesperson Award
	All five SmarTone-nominated staff members	2002
Hong Kong Call Centre Association's Call Centre Award
	Call Centre Team Leader - Silver & Bronze	2002
	Call Centre Professional - Bronze	2002

We were the first operator to launch GSM mobile services in Asia in 1993 and the first in Hong Kong to introduce automatic international roaming. We were the first in the world to implement Enhanced Full Rate technology in our network in 1997, greatly improving voice quality for our customers. We were the first in Hong Kong to pilot launch GPRS in 1999.

SmarTone (SEHK: 0315) has been publicly listed in Hong Kong since 1996. The Company’s major shareholder is Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (holding about 51%).

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Helen Kwan	Ms. Eleanor Chan
Head of Corporate Communications	Senior Executive - Corporate Communications
Tel: (852) 3128 2255	Tel: (852) 3128 2250
Email: helen_kwan@hksmartone.com	Email: eleanor_chan@hksmartone.com