Orange and RIOT-E to launch exclusive “The Lord of the Rings” Products and Services

Innovation to span multi media platform available to over 30 million customers

London, 13 November 2001: Orange, Europe’s second largest mobile operator has joined forces with Riot Entertainment (RIOT-E), the global leader in wireless entertainment to launch a series of The Lord of the Rings services across Europe. The products, which are exclusive to Orange, will be launched across six Orange territories – France, the UK, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands – as New Line Cinema’s trilogy of movies based on the classic Tolkien novel are released.

The new range of products provided by RIOT–E will include three new wirefree™ games, innovative messaging services, ring tones and logos. Included within this diverse portfolio are several innovations, such as a unique multi-player WAP game, personalised services that allow the download of logos, picture messaging, and services that allow names and logos to be translated into the middle earth alphabets of Elven script or Runes.

RIOT-E will also include an “infotainment” element to Orange’s The Lord of the Rings mobile services. Combining information and entertainment, it will consist of an SMS single player quiz on a weekly theme with prizes, a weekly poll for customers on the issues of the week, and a daily detail revealing exclusive and previously unheard information on The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

Tim Robertson, Vice President Life Services & Strategy at Orange comments: “This service is a real innovation for the communications industry, combining the best elements in mobile entertainment for over 30 million Orange customers throughout Europe. Orange, in conjunction with our partners, is continuing to set the standard in wirefree™ gaming and consistently demonstrates innovation in the other services across our multi media platform of voice, WAP, SMS, and the web.”

Jan Wellmann, CEO of RIOT-E comments: “Mobile entertainment is all about interactivity. The Lord of the Rings tie-in is a perfect way for Orange customers to get the most out of it. The Lord of the Rings is already hyped as ‘must-see’ film over the Christmas period. Mobile entertainment is the tool that will really make the Middle-earth adventure a total consumer experience.”

About Riot Entertainment Ltd (www.riot-e.com)

Founded in February 2000, Riot Entertainment immediately established itself as the most innovative publisher, creator and distributor of entertainment in the wireless sector. RIOT-E provides wireless entertainment, communication and commerce to mobile users worldwide. Games created by RIOT-E are promoted and co-branded in parallel with highly visible international media releases such as movies, TV shows and sports events. RIOT-E has successfully launched its Bridget Jones’s Diary and X-Men mobile services with operators in Europe and Asia and has secured exclusive rights to mobile content based on Guinness World Records and New Line Cinema’s The Lord of The Rings film trilogy. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, RIOT-E employs 70 people worldwide.

Information about Orange can be found on the Orange website at www.orange.co.uk and media information can be found at www.media.orange.net