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SANRIO Global Consumer Products Introduces iPhone/iPod touch(R) Applications Through Global Partnerships

Posted on: Tuesday, 16 June 2009, 11:00 CDT

TORRANCE, Calif., June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanrio Global Consumer Products is pleased to announce the arrival of several new iPhone/iPod touch applications featuring pop icon Hello Kitty(R). The applications were created in conjunction with Sanrio Co, Ltd. (Tokyo), Sanrio Digital (Hong Kong) and in partnership with AITIA Corporation (Tokyo). Select products are available now through Apple's iTunes App Store and the agreements are effective immediately.

"Hello Kitty entering into the iPhone/iPod touch space connects our consumer to the fast-paced, on-the-go world of today," says Janet Hsu, President of Sanrio Global Consumer Products. "We are thrilled to offer our tech-savvy fans fun and relevant ways to personalize their iPhone and iPods with interactive content and accessories. We are confident that our global partners, with their understanding of the Hello Kitty brand, will together offer a complete mobile experience."

In celebration of Hello Kitty's 35th Anniversary this year, AITIA Corporation has developed a series of iPhone/iPod touch applications that launched in 77 countries last week, including the U.S. & Japan. iHelloKitty Tokyo is inspired by the cultures of Tokyo and offers users the chance to dress Hello Kitty in street fashion items from various locations in Tokyo (Harajuku's Gothic Lolita and Akihabara's Maid). Hello Kitty Camera uses a unique facial recognition feature to automatically create fun and customized photos featuring supercute Hello Kitty designs. Hello Kitty 35th Anniversary allows fans to join in the celebration of her anniversary with a special screening of the Hello Kitty Colors video (the theme of this anniversary), an anniversary countdown clock and a Hello Kitty design museum - plus it provides the user with instant news & updates on Hello Kitty's anniversary. Hello Kitty 35th Anniversary is free to users for download; the other applications retail for $2.99 and are available now at Apple's iTunes App Store.

Sanrio Digital will be introducing the first iPhone game application based on Hello Kitty and other SANRIO characters. The game will include an interactive application combined with a fun and exciting video game. Players can score points, collect special items, and create wallpapers featuring Hello Kitty and other popular SANRIO characters like Badtz-Maru(R), Keroppi(R), and Pochacco(R). This game will be the first of many game apps planned by Sanrio Digital and will be available for download on Apple's iTunes App Store this summer.

In related news, Sanrio Global Consumer Products has signed a new licensing agreement with Power Support USA, to produce a collection of Hello Kitty hard cases for the iPhone and iPod. The hard cases feature signature Hello Kitty graphics and are designed for use on the iPhone 3G as well as the iPod touch 2G and the iPod nano 4G. Prices range from $29.95 to $39.95 for the cases, which will be available in July 2009 at the Apple online store and www.PowerSupportUSA.com.

About SANRIO

SANRIO's signature brand Hello Kitty celebrates 35 years of fun & friendship in 2009. With fans around the world, Hello Kitty will mark the year with special co-branded partnerships, unique products, retail promotions & year-end exhibition events. SANRIO develops, distributes and licenses a collection of gift, stationery and fashion accessory items for women of all ages. SANRIO was founded in 1960 based on the concept that a small gift can bring a big smile to a child of any age. Today, over 50,000 SANRIO-branded items are sold in over 70 countries around the world. In the Western Hemisphere SANRIO character-branded products are sold in upwards of 12,000 locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 85 SANRIO boutiques. For more information, please visit www.sanrio.com.

About Sanrio Digital

Sanrio Digital is a joint venture between Typhoon Games (HK) Ltd. and Sanrio Wave Hong Kong Co., Ltd. Sanrio Digital is responsible for the expansion of Sanrio intellectual property assets into various digital and online media, leveraging an extensive library of original material that includes world-famous brands such as Hello Kitty, Badtz-Maru, My Melody and others. For more information please visit www.sanriodigital.com.

About AITIA Corporation

AITIA Corporation, founded in 2006 is a leading CrossMedia communications company that provides interactive advertising system solutions and entertainment contents softwares. (Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; President: Hiroko Mugibayashi). AITIA specialize in the integration of media art, design, information technology, and communications. AITIA is at the forefront of the digital media revolution with flagship interactive solutions. For more information, please visit http://www.aitia.co.jp.

About Power Support USA

Power Support is a global leader in iPhone/iPod/Mac accessories. With its products selling around the world, Power Support is known for its original designs, superior quality, and advanced manufacturing techniques for the entirety of its product line. Power Support (USA), Inc. can trace its roots back to 1994 when Ryoichi Mase started Power Support Ltd. in Tokyo, Japan. In 2004, Keiko Mase Napier, brought the company to the United States and opened offices in Burbank, California. Since the release of the Crystal and Anti-Glare film sets, Power Support has grown to become a protective staple for today's portable electronic devices. The company strives to ensure great quality, customer satisfaction, and innovative protection technologies. For more information, please visit: www.PowerSupportUSA.com

* iPhone and iPod touch are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Inc, US.

SOURCE Sanrio Global Consumer Products

Source: PR Newswire

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