TOM Online Announces Cisco, Macromedia Acquire Strategic Stakes in Indiagames

    HONG KONG, April 29 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- TOM Online Inc. (Nasdaq:   TOMO;
 Hong Kong GEM stock code: 8282), China's leading wireless Internet company,
 announced today that Cisco Systems Inc. and Macromedia Inc. will acquire
 strategic share interests in Indiagames Ltd., a leading global publisher of
 mobile games majority owned by TOM Online. This move enhances the India-based
 mobile games publisher's position for global growth.
     Cisco and Macromedia will pay a total of US$4 million for a combined stake
 of 18.2% in Indiagames through subscription of new shares. In view of Cisco
 and Macromedia's investments, TOM Online will not subscribe for new shares
 worth US$4 million in the company as stated in its announcement on December
 17, 2004.
     Following Cisco and Macromedia's investments, TOM Online's share in
 Indiagames will be diluted to 62.42% from 76.3%. Indiagames' original
 shareholders and management, including its founder Vishal Gondal, will
 continue to hold a 19.4% stake in the company.
     "The strategic investments are beneficial to all parties," said Wang Lei
 Lei, TOM Online Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. "I have
 confidence Cisco and Macromedia will bring significant value to Indiagames
 going forward given their strength and leading position in their respective
 business areas."
     "I am delighted to have Cisco and Macromedia as investors in Indiagames,"
 said Gondal, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Indiagames. "We now have
 Chinese, Indian and American investors, all leaders in their respective
 verticals. This combination is really very unique and will surely help
 accelerate our global growth plans, keeping us on the cutting edge of mobile,
 broadband and Internet technology. "
     Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, is an
 innovator in Internet Protocol (IP)-based networking technologies and works
 closely with major telecom and wireless carriers around the world. Macromedia
 is a major independent software company whose Flash technology is viewed as
 one of the hottest wireless applications.
     The Directors of Indiagames envision synergy coming from better visibility
 to future technology developments related to Internet and wireless
 applications, the investors' existing client network and relationships
 globally, and their marketing expertise and resources. Indiagames will also
 publish and support all its content on the Macromedia Flash Lite(TM) platform
 which is already having a big share in Japan and is expanding worldwide.
     The global wireless games market is expected to grow 50% per year in the
 next three years, reaching US$8.4 billion in 2008, according to industry
 estimates. Indiagames, the owner of one of the largest wireless content
 development facilities in the world with more than 200 highly experienced
 professionals, is well placed to benefit from that growth.
     Founded in 1999, the company has distinguished itself as a high quality
 and creative games developer and now counts top tier Hollywood studios,
 handset manufacturers, and more than 100 distribution channels among its
 partners around the world, including Orange, Verizon, Sprint, Singtel, Airtel
 and Vodafone.
     A global publisher with a strong reputation and track record, the company
 also has successfully established diversified revenue streams from mobile
 games publishing and third-party development. Indiagames has been profitable
 for the past two years.
 
     About TOM Online Inc.
     TOM Online Inc. (Nasdaq:   TOMO; HK GEM stock code: 8282) is a leading
 wireless Internet company in China providing value-added multimedia products
 and services.  A premier online brand in China targeting the young and trendy
 demographic, the company's primary business activities include wireless
 Internet services and online advertising. The company offers an array of
 products such as SMS, MMS, WAP, wireless interactive voice response services,
 content channels, search and classified information, free and fee-based
 advanced email and online games. As of December 31, 2004, TOM Online is the
 only portal in China that enjoyed a top three ranking in every wireless
 Internet service segment.
     TOM Online is a subsidiary of TOM Group Limited ("TOM Group"), one of the
 leading Chinese language media groups in the Greater China region. TOM Group's
 diverse operations span five media sectors: the Internet (through TOM Online
 Inc.), outdoor (through TOM Outdoor Media Group), publishing, sports and TV &
 entertainment.
 
     About Indiagames
     Indiagames, founded by Vishal Gondal, the current CEO, in 1999, has
 quickly grown to become one of the global leaders in mobile games publishing
 business. With over 200 professionals based in Mumbai and an office in
 Hollywood, Indiagames is primarily engaged in publishing and developing games
 across various platforms like the Internet, PC, broadband, mobile phones,
 PDAs, handheld gaming devices and consoles. Indiagames has a leading edge in
 wireless games in various formats like Java(TM), BREW(TM), I-Mode(TM), Flash
 Lite(TM) and Symbian(TM). As the No.1 gaming developer and publisher in India,
 Indiagames controls a 60% share in India's game-related wireless value-added
 services market.
     Indiagames was the first to launch mobile games in India in Feb 2003. It
 has established partnerships with all major mobile operators in India and over
 100 channel partners globally. Major global distribution channels include
 Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile, Orange, Verizon, Sprint, Singtel, Airtel, Tata, China
 Mobile, Optus, Hutch, Amena, Telefonica, O2 and Wind. Although based in India,
 the bulk of its sales this year came from Europe, Asia Pacific, United States,
 Middle East and South Africa.
     Indiagames is among the first to obtain branded licenses for mobile
 products with the launch of one of its best selling mobile games, Spider-
 Man(TM) Classic, in 2003. In the past 12 months Indiagames has licensed
 several key brands including Bruce Lee(TM), Predator(TM), Buffy The Vampire
 Slayer(TM), The Mummy(TM), Scorpion King(TM), Jurassic Park(TM) 1, Jurassic
 Park(TM) 2, Jurassic Park(TM) 3, Garfield(TM), The Day After Tomorrow(TM), Spy
 Kids(TM), Indian Idol, Singapore Idol, Malaysian Idol, Indonesian Idol and
 Phantom(TM).  Information about Indiagames can be found at
 http://www.indiagames.com .
 
     About Macromedia, Inc.
     Macromedia, Inc. (Nasdaq:   MACR) is an independent software company
 providing software that empowers designers, developers and business users to
 create and deliver effective user experiences on the Internet, fixed media and
 wireless and digital devices. The Company's integrated family of technologies
 enables the development of Internet solutions, including Websites, rich media
 content and Internet applications across multiple platforms and devices.
 Macromedia serves three markets: the Designer and Developer, the Business User
 and the Consumer. Information about Macromedia can be found at
 http://www.macromedia.com .
 
     Forward-looking Statements
     The Press Release of TOM Online Inc. (the "Company"), contain statements
 that may be viewed as "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
 Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Such forward-looking statements
 are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties that may
 cause the actual performance, financial condition or results of operations of
 the Company to be materially different from any future performance, financial
 condition or results of operations implied by such forward-looking statements.
 Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements that
 are not historical fact relating to the financial performance and business
 operations of the Company, the expected benefit of any acquisition, the future
 prospects of and our ability to integrate the acquired business, the continued
 growth of the telecommunications industry in China, the development of the
 regulatory environment, and the Company's latest product offerings and the
 Company's ability to successfully execute its business strategies and plans,
 including its ability to expand its market share and revenue through
 acquisitions.
     Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company
 with respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance.
 Actual results may differ materially from information contained in the
 forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including,
 without limitation, any changes in our relationships with telecommunication
 operators in China, the effect of competition on the demand for the price of
 our services, changes in customer demand and usage preference for our products
 and services, changes in the regulatory policies of the Ministry of
 Information Industry and other relevant government authorities, any changes in
 telecommunications and related technology and applications based on such
 technology, and changes in political, economic, legal and social conditions in
 China, including the Chinese government's policies with respect to economic
 growth, foreign exchange, foreign investment and entry by foreign companies
 into China's telecommunications market.  Please also see the "Risk Factors"
 section of the Company's registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-
 112800), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
      For enquiries:
 
      Rico Ngai, Corporate Communications (International)
      TOM Online Inc.
      Tel: +86 (10) 6528-3399 Ext 6940
      Mobile: +86 139-118-95354
      E-mail: ricongai@bj.tom.com
 
      Rajiv Shankar (Indiagames)
      India Relations
      Tel: +91 (22) 2445-6116
      Mobile: +91 9820-145-165
      E-mail: rajiv@india-relations.com
 
 

SOURCE  TOM Online Inc.