SHANGHAI, China, March 5 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Giant Interactive Group Inc. (NYSE: GA) ("Giant" or "the Company"), one of China's leading online game developers and operators, today announced its partnership with Huawei Technologies ("Huawei") to research server platforms for online game applications.
By leveraging its extensive experience in the telecommunications industry, Huawei will collaborate with Giant on developing next generation computing platforms to improve maintenance, customer service, as well as the end users' overall game experience. Specifically, Huawei will provide advanced hardware and customizable software, while Giant will leverage its in-depth knowledge of the Chinese online game industry to provide various parameters for game server operation and optimization.
With its strong and advanced R&D capability, Giant has self-developed leading online game and server technology. Giant's advanced server engine is already being implemented in its new game, Giant Online, which will enter open beta testing shortly and which Giant estimates will enable single-shard play by 1 million concurrent users. The research partnership with Huawei will further extend Giant's competitive strengths in terms of server technology, and also signifies the increasing presence of Huawei in the online game industry.
Ms. Wei Liu, President of Giant commented, "technology has always been a competitive advantage for Giant. By partnering with Huawei, we will continue to optimize our gaming technology and differentiate ourselves from our competitors. Going forward, we will continue to seek opportunities to partner with large companies with international presence to gain technological advances that will further improve the services and the overall gaming experience for our end users. We remain committed to our focused strategy, including our emphasis on internal R&D and technology capabilities, optimizing our operating efficiency, and exploring all available avenues to build Giant into a globally influential online entertainment developer and operator."
A representative of Huawei commented, "we are very excited to announce our partnership with Giant, and we especially value Giant's internal research focus and its long term potential in the online game industry. We expect that the research from this partnership will further advance server technology for large scale deployment, enabling both partners to better adapt to the ever changing demands of the online game industry."
About Giant
Giant is one of China's leading online game developers and operators in terms of revenues, focusing on massively multiplayer online role playing games. Giant's game, ZT Online, was voted the most popular online game in China in 2006 according to the International Data Corporation. Giant has three additional online games that it intends to commercially launch, including Giant Online, King of Kings III and Empire of Sports. Giant has built a nationwide distribution network to sell the prepaid game cards and game points required to play its games, which as of December 31, 2007 consisted of over 200 distributors, and reached over 116,500 retail outlets, including internet cafes, software stores, supermarkets, bookstores, newspaper stands, and convenience stores located throughout China. For more information, please visit Giant Interactive Group on the web at www.giantig.com.
About Huawei
Huawei Technologies is a leader in providing next generation telecommunications networks, and now serves 35 of the world's top 50 operators, along with over one billion users worldwide. The company is committed to providing innovative and customized products, services and solutions to create long-term value and growth potential for its customers. For more information, please visit Huawei Technologies on the web at www.huawei.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 relating to, among other things, Giant's ability to pursue successful research partnerships with Huawei or other companies, Giant's ability to obtain advanced hardware and customizable software from Huawei, and Giant's ability to successfully implement its new game server technology or otherwise improve it. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent only our belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of our control. In addition, Giant's industry is highly competitive and it faces a number of risks including those outlined under "Risk Factors" beginning on page 12 of Giant's prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2007. Giant undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release. Such information speaks only as of the date of this release.
Investor Contact: Investor Relations (US):
Eric He, CFO Mahmoud Siddig
Giant Interactive Group Inc. Taylor Rafferty
+86 21 6451 5001 212-889-4350
Investor Relations (HK): Media Contact:
Ruby Yim John Dooley
Taylor Rafferty Taylor Rafferty
+852 3196 3712 212-889-4350
