CMVT Comverse Technology, Inc. (MM)

ESPN has announced its latest agreement in the development of ESPN Mobile - the first U.S. national wireless phone services targeted to sports fans. Comverse, a unit of Comverse Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CMVT), and one of the world's leading suppliers of software and systems enabling network-based multimedia enhanced communication services, will provide and support the software and hardware that will enable ESPN Mobile subscribers to interact with data, obtain downloads and browse mobile websites. ESPN Mobile, set to launch in early 2006, will offer fans unique sports programming and entertainment from ESPN on a mobile phone, delivering not only wireless voice service, but applications such as easy access to sports news, information, commentary, analysis, statistics, ring tones, graphics, photos and logos as well as audio and video. ESPN Mobile will sell ESPN-branded handsets, accessories and applications tailored to its target audience of sports fans. "Every step of this process brings the concept of ESPN Mobile closer to reality, and we're really excited to make this announcement today," said Manish Jha, senior vice president, ESPN Mobile. "Serving the fans anytime, anywhere has never been more possible, and working with Comverse will help us get to our fans the content they want, when they want it." Added Ramesh Barasia, President, Comverse Americas, "MVNOs like ESPN are becoming increasingly popular. MVNOs provide a cost-efficient way to reach targeted customer segments and effectively increase ARPU and subscriber loyalty through customized services. We are excited to contribute to ESPN's success in the mobile field by providing our strong marketing and technological expertise." About ESPN ESPN, Inc. is the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of over 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of seven domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU, ESPN Today), ESPN HD, ESPN2HD, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (networks and syndication), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Books, SportsTicker, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses including ESPN360 (broadband), ESPN Mobile, ESPN Video-on-Demand, ESPN Interactive and ESPN PPV. Based in Bristol, Ct., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN. About Comverse Comverse, a unit of Comverse Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CMVT), is the world's leading provider of software and systems enabling network-based multimedia enhanced communication services. These value-added enhanced services solutions, along with the company's real-time billing solutions, comprise the company's Total Communication portfolio. Comverse's Total Communication portfolio addresses four primary categories: call completion and call management solutions; advanced messaging for groups, communities and person-to-person communication; solutions and enablers for the management and delivery of data and content-based services; and real-time billing and account management solutions for dynamic service environments. Other Comverse Technology business units include: Verint Systems, a leading provider of analytic software-based solutions for communications interception, networked video security and business intelligence; and Ulticom, a leading provider of service enabling signaling software for wireline, wireless and Internet communications. Comverse Technology is an S&P 500 and NASDAQ-100 Index company. For additional information, visit the Comverse Web site at www.comverse.com or Comverse Technology's Web site at www.cmvt.com. All product and company names mentioned herein may be registered trademarks or trademarks of Comverse or the respective referenced company(s). Note: This release may contain "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurances that forward-looking statements will be achieved, and actual results could differ materially from forecasts and estimates. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: changes in the demand for the Company's products; changes in capital spending among the Company's current and prospective customers; the risks associated with the sale of large, complex, high capacity systems and with new product introductions as well as the uncertainty of customer acceptance of these new or enhanced products from either the Company or its competition; risks associated with rapidly changing technology and the ability of the Company to introduce new products on a timely and cost-effective basis; aggressive competition may force the Company to reduce prices; a failure to compensate any decrease in the sale of the Company's traditional products with a corresponding increase in sales of new products; risks associated with changes in the competitive or regulatory environment in which the Company operates; risks associated with prosecuting or defending allegations or claims of infringement of intellectual property rights; risks associated with significant foreign operations and international sales and investment activities, including fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, and valuations of public and private equity; the volatility of macroeconomic and industry conditions and the international marketplace; risks associated with the Company's ability to retain existing personnel and recruit and retain qualified personnel; and other risks described in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties, as well as others, are discussed in greater detail in the filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These documents are available through the Company, or its website, www.cmvt.com, or through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov. The Company makes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date any such statement is made.