MACAU, China, June 7 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- PacificNet, Inc.
(Nasdaq: PACT), a leading provider of gaming and mobile game technology, e-
commerce, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) in China, announced today
that it will launch a new mobile Mahjong game for the "2007 World Series of
Mahjong." The three-day World Series of Mahjong tournament to be held at Wynn
Macau on June 15-17 is expected to gather the most skilled Mahjong players in
the world, competing for the Mahjong World Championship with the guaranteed
minimum purse of US $1 million. The champion is guaranteed to pocket
US$500,000 single-handedly, the largest cash prize in the history of
tournament Mahjong. PacificNet has been designated as the official telecom and
mobile provider for the World Series of Mahjong.
PacificNet's newly launched "Mahjong Mobile Pact" is a java-based mobile
game designed to help players better understand the rules of the game and to
allow them to practice their Mahjong skills anywhere on a Java-enabled mobile
phone. Players may download the free trial version of "Mahjong Mobile Pact"
from various PacificNet subsidiaries, affiliates and partner companies,
including PactGames, Guangzhou Wanrong (www.my2388.com), Clickcom
(www.Clickcom.com.cn), MOABC (WAP.Moabc.com), iMobile (www.iMobile.com.cn and
www.18900.com ), among others. PacificNet will work closely with the World
Series of Mahjong and other partners to promote the game of Mahjong via the
internet and mobile internet portals.
Tony Tong, Chairman and CEO of PacificNet, commented, "Being the
designated telecom and mobile provider for the Mahjong competition with the
largest purse in the world, PacificNet is trying to push this game in every
possible way in an attempt to attract players of all skill levels. With an
estimated 100 million Mahjong players worldwide, Mahjong is considered to be
the national pastime game of China and is the most widely played gambling game
in the world, especially in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and most Asian
countries."
According to industry forecasts, mobile online games will become vastly
more popular with the advent of 3G networks in China. Forecasts frequently
note that online and offline mobile gaming differs greatly in terms of their
service models. Online gaming uses a telecom service model earning revenues
from traffic fees during play, while offline mobile gaming is simply a game
application downloaded onto a handset for a small fee. The forecasts predict
strong growth for WAP, JAVA and BREW, while the proportion of SMS-enabled
games will drop. With over 400 million mobile phone users, China has already
become the largest mobile population in the world. Moreover, the number of
mobile users is still growing rapidly and has far exceeded the number of PC
based internet users, which is about 120 million, in China.
About the World Series of Mahjong
The World Series of Mahjong is a 3-day, single-elimination format
tournament. Please visit the official website www.world-series-mahjong.com for
rules, format, scoring system and schedule of play. The registration fee is a
non-refundable sum of US $5,000. Payment of the fee will guarantee a player's
seat at the tables and a chance to win one of the cash prizes. Prizes will be
awarded to the top 32 players. The tournament will be held at the fabulous
Wynn Macau Hotel and Casino on June 15-17, 2006. All tournament functions will
take place in the hotel's Grand Ballroom and function rooms on the second
floor.
About PacificNet
PacificNet, Inc. (http://www.PacificNet.com) is a leading provider of
gaming and mobile game technology, e-commerce, and Customer Relationship
Management (CRM) in China. PacificNet's gaming products are specially designed
for Chinese and Asian gamers with focus on integrating localized Chinese and
Asian themes and content, advanced graphics, digital sound effects and popular
domestic music, with secondary bonus games and jackpots. PacificNet gaming
products include: Multi-player Electronic Table Games - Baccarat, Sicbo, Fish-
Prawn-Crab, Mahjong, and Roulette machines, Server-Based Games (SBG) with
multiple client betting stations, slot and bingo machines, Video Lottery
Terminals (VLTs), Amusement With Prizes (AWP) machines, gaming cabinet and
client/server system designs, online i-gaming software design, and multimedia
entertainment kiosks. PacificNet's gaming clients include the leading hotels,
casinos, and gaming operators in Macau, Asia, and Europe, while ecommerce and
CRM clients include the leading telecom companies, banks, insurance, travel,
marketing and business services companies and telecom consumers in Greater
China such as China Telecom, China Mobile, Unicom, PCCW, Hutchison Telecom,
Bell24, Motorola, Nokia, SONY, TCL, Huawei, American Express, Citibank, HSBC,
Bank of China, Bank of East Asia, DBS, TNT, China and Hong Kong government.
PacificNet employs about 1,200 staff in its various subsidiaries throughout
China with offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Macau
and Zhuhai China, USA, and the Philippines.
PacificNet's Major Operation Subsidiaries:
PacificNet Games Limited (PacGames), is a leading provider of Asian multi-
player electronic gaming machines, gaming technology solutions, gaming related
maintenance, IT and distribution services for the leading hotel, casino and
slot hall operators based in Macau, China and other Asian gaming markets.
Take1 Technologies (www.take1technologies.com), is in the business of
designing and manufacturing electronic multimedia entertainment kiosks, coin-
op kiosks and machines, Electronic Gaming Machines (EGM), bingo and slot
machines, AWP (Amusements With Prizes) games, server-based downloadable games
systems, and Video Lottery Terminals (VLT) such as Keno and Bingo machines,
including hardware, software, and cabinets.
Pacific Solutions Technology, is a CMM Level 3 certified software
development center with over 200 software programmers located in Shenzhen,
China, and specializes in the development of client-server systems, internet
e-commerce software, online and casino gaming systems and slot machines, as
well as banking and telecom applications using Microsoft Visual C++, Java, and
other rapid application development tools.
PacificNet Epro (www.EproTel.com.hk): CRM Call Center and Customer
Services Outsourcing
PacificNet Clickcom (www.clickcom.com.cn), MOABC.com : VAS,SP,( SMS, WAP)
Guangzhou Wanrong (www.my2388.com): VAS, SP, (SMS,MMS,IVR,WAP, Java Games)
PacificNet Communications Limited, iMobile, (www.imobile.com.cn,
www.18900.com, wap.17wap.com)
Safe Harbor Statement
This Company's announcement contains forward-looking statements. We may
also make written or oral forward-looking statements in our periodic reports
to the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, etc., in our annual report to
shareholders, in our proxy statements, in press releases and other written
materials and in oral statements made by our officers, directors or employees
to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including
statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements.
These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and
therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking
statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution you that a
number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially
from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, PacificNet's historical and
possible future losses, limited operating history, uncertain regulatory
landscape in China, and fluctuations in quarterly and annual operating
results. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in
PacificNet's Form 10K and other filings with the SEC.
Contact:
PacificNet USA office:
Jacob Lakhany, Tel: +1-605-229-6678
PacificNet Beijing office:
Ada Yu, Tel: +86 (10) 59225000
23rd Floor, Building A, TimeCourt, No.6 Shuguang Xili, Chaoyang District,
Beijing, China 100028
PacificNet Shenzhen Office:
Tel: +86 (10) 33222088
Room 4203, JinZhongHuan Business Center, Futian District, Shenzhen, China
518040
PacificNet Macau office:
Tel: +853 28704154
Unit A-C, 12th Floor, Edificio Commercial I Tak, No. 126, Rua Da Pequim,
Macau, China
