OUTBLAZE Powers Official SANRIO Portal Hello Kitty Goes Hi-Tech HONG KONG, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire Asia-AsiaNet/ -- Outblaze(www.outblaze.com), the leader and pioneer of information and communication infrastructure services, today announced that Japan-based Sanrio, maker of highly successful character-branded items including the Hello Kitty line of products, has chosen Outblaze as the official provider of communication and information services for its Sanrio Town (www.sanriotown.com) theme Web site, launched today. SanrioTown.com is the first non-Japanese officially endorsed interactive community portal for Sanrio to date, and includes the advanced 'Powered by Outblaze' e-mail system at the address [email protected], with more addresses to come. Each free user registration includes an e-mail account with 25 Megabytes of storage space. Also included are Flash games, Sanrio branded downloads, calendaring, e-CRM, message boards, polling, chat, and mailing lists, all Powered by Outblaze. As part of its launch promotion, the first 1,000 users to register on the site will be able to download special Hello Kitty and Friends computer wallpapers available exclusively at SanrioTown.com. The site will also offer online and offline promotions such as contests and lucky draws as part of its ongoing campaign. "We are committed to making an official Web destination where fans of Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters from all over the world can congregate online," said Mr. Hiro Nishino, Sanrio Deputy Manager, Asia Pacific. Outblaze is our best partner in this co-operation. They provide friendly and interesting technology for Sanrio fans. The Web site is an ideal online hub to bring together all the Sanrio core fans, where they have a chance to share and exchange the latest Sanrio news and products and meet new fans online." Yat Siu, CEO and Founder of Outblaze, said: "Traditional physical communities of fans are now replicating themselves en masse on the Internet, and this is an important sign of the changing times. As always, Outblaze is at the front of this technological movement, and we are honoured that such a successful and established company as Sanrio chose Outblaze for this important step." Mr. Siu discussed the growing importance of an online presence for even the most steadfast bricks-and-mortar companies: "The online component of traditional companies will continue to become more significant by the day, as established offline companies build up online operations to derive more value, revenues, and brand awareness. Sanrio's strategy is part of the trend of expansion to the Internet, something that Outblaze can facilitate greatly." About Outblaze Outblaze Limited, the developer and provider of information and communication infrastructure services for Wireless platforms and the Web, was founded in May 1998 in Hong Kong, and is Asia's first Internet company to recognise and meet the market demand for online Web site services and solutions. Outblaze enables individuals and organizations to realise their full potential on the Internet, and are provided in a range of cost models. Headquarters are in Hong Kong, with offices in Germany, and Beijing. Hosting and co-location are arranged on a regional basis throughout the world. Outblaze is privately held, with strategic investments from Pacific Century CyberWorks, Hikari Tsushin, and Lotus Asset Management. For more media information, please visit the company's corporate Web site at www.outblaze.com or write to [email protected]. About Sanrio SANRIO develops and distributes a unique line of over 12,000 children's gifts, stationery and accessory items. Hello Kitty is the company's flagship character. Mr. Shintaro Tsuji, the President and CEO of Sanrio founded the company in 1960 and his concept was based on the idea of social communication business. Its slogan is "Small Gift, Big Smile". That means a small gift to your friends or even yourself can bring a big and joyous smile. The Sanrio characters are popular and receive great demand not only in Asia, but also in the US and Europe. SANRIO's worldwide sales exceeded $1.2 billion in 1999. For More Information Ibrahim El-Mouelhy Tel: 852-2534-1234 Fax: 852-2832-7807 [email protected] SOURCE: Outblaze