Neven Vision's Biometric Face Recognition Software Deployed by Sharp on Sharp FOMA™ SH902i Mobile Handsets; Cell Phone Data/Transaction Security Using Biometric Face Recognition

Business Wire, March 14, 2006

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Neven Vision, a leading developer of mobile machine vision technology, announced that its biometrics face recognition software has been adopted by NTT DoCoMo, the world's leading mobile communications company, to enhance the privacy and security of personal data and transactions on cell phones. Neven's software enables convenient, automated authorization of cell phone users by comparing registered facial images with the face captured by phone's camera.

The NTT DoCoMo application is based on Neven Vision's patented facial recognition technology, which is uniquely designed to work within mobile devices without having to communicate with a central server system.

On NTT DoCoMo's FOMA(TM) SH902i by Sharp, face recognition operates automatically when the user attempts to access a protected application, such as sending emails or initiating credit card transactions. When the user initiates an action, the automated authentication process completes correctly and then executes the chosen application, all without any additional action by the user, such as having to manually enter a password. Designed as replacement of access control by password or PIN number, the technology supports i-mode FeliCa, PIM data protection, and device lock function.

Neven Vision's biometric access control provides multiple security levels to enable multiple user access. The FOMA(TM) SH902i offers 3 different security levels in which the mobile phone owner can manually select the level depending on their needs, such as "casual security" for normal private use, or "high security" for business use. To ensure the highest accuracy and stability, users can register multiple images taken of the face under different conditions such as indoor, outdoor or night-time environments.

About Neven Vision

Neven Vision is changing the way the people interact with the world by providing innovative tools for mobile devices. These tools use pioneering image & facial recognition technology, creating a feature rich suite of mobile applications that enable images to become the interface to digital content. The average camera phone can now help transform the real world into a series of hyperlinks that connect people everywhere, virtually to information, offers, contests, transactions, digital content, and more. By equipping customers with this intuitive visual interface that anyone can use, the technology is unlocking vastly untapped market opportunities in Mobile Content, Marketing and Commerce, Personal Device Security, and Biometric Identity Verification. Neven Vision is headquartered in Santa Monica, California and has sales offices in Japan, Germany and the U.K. For more information please visit www.nevenvision.com.

About NTT DoCoMo

NTT DoCoMo is the world's leading mobile communications company, serving more than 50 million customers. The company offers a wide variety of leading-edge mobile multimedia services, including i-mode(TM) which provides e-mail and Internet access to over 45 million subscribers as the world's most popular mobile Internet service, and FOMA(TM), launched in 2001 as the world's first 3G mobile service based on W-CDMA. In addition to wholly owned subsidiaries in Europe, North America and Asia, the company is expanding its global reach through strategic alliances with mobile and multimedia service providers in Asia-Pacific and Europe. NTT DoCoMo is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM) and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. For more information, visit www.nttdocomo.com.

"FOMA" and "i-mode" are trademarks or registered trademarks of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan and other countries.

NTT DoCoMo's FOMA service is only available to subscribers in Japan.

FeliCa is a trademark of Sony Corporation.

FeliCa is a contactless IC card technology developed by Sony Corporation.