Sonopress announced as Authorized Replicator for Xbox games

Gütersloh (ots/PROTEXT) - Sonopress has been named asexclusive primary vendor for Microsoft Xbox games, includingdistribution of Xbox software and hardware, replication,packaging and distribution (through Bertelsmann Services) inEurope. Sonopress has also announced it is now a Microsoftauthorized replicator for third-party games for the Xbox console,which the industry is eagerly anticipating this coming Autumn.

The deal has been agreed between Microsoft, Sonopress and theBertelsmann Services Group. Quote from Herman Heemeyer, VicePresident Sales and Marketing Europe at Sonopress: "We have beenchosen as authorized replicators for Europe in view of our trackrecord with Microsoft. We have very large production capacitiesand guaranteed short production times - both of which will proveessential for the success of the new console." Sonopress hasabout 4000 employees worldwide and is able to produce more than72 million DVDs of all formats per year.

Microsoft states "Sonopress has already proven its competenceas an authorized replicator for various other Microsoft productsand business channels. Further, Sonopress has exhibitedoutstanding technical expertise, complete commitment to customercare and a strong focus on the protection of customer content."

Scheduled for release this coming autumn 2001, Xbox(http://www.xbox.com/) is Microsoft's future-generation videogame console that delivers superior graphics, better audio andthe most intense, action-packed gaming experiences available. Allthis is possible because Xbox has at least three times thegraphics performance of the newest generation of game consoles.Features will include a 733MHz CPU, a custom-designed graphicschip capable of processing more than 1 trillion operations persecond, an 8GB hard drive, 64 MB of total memory, a 3-D audioprocessor with 64 audio channels, and broadband connectivity foronline game play. Xbox uses familiar architecture and DirectX(development tools so game developers will be able to createbetter games faster.

Researchers estimate that people spend more than 20 billiondollars per year on videogame consoles and associated games.

Sonopress Background

Sonopress, a Bertelsmann company headquartered in Gütersloh,is one of the world's leading service providers in theduplication of data and information carriers. Founded in 1958 asa press works for vinyl records, today Sonopress has the know-howto replicate all digital data carriers currently available on themarket, such as CD, CD-ROM and DVD, DVDplus, SACD. It offers theentire process of content marketing from beginning to end - frompre-mastering down to distribution. Sonopress is Europe's leadinggames replicator, producing 7 out of the top ten titles in Europelast year. The company can draw on a worldwide network of morethan 3,900 employees. Further information:http://www.sonopress.de.

ots Originaltext: Sonopress GmbH Internet:http://www.presseportal.de Contact: Sonopress GmbH SimoneSchmitt Tel: +49 (0) 52 41-80 19 38 Email:Simone.Schmitt@Bertelsmann.de

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