SEATTLE, WA -- (Marketwire - March 24, 2009) - Realizing the importance of delivering a world-class user experience, Digital Five, a subsidiary of Astro All Asia Networks (AAAN), selected Artefact Group, a Seattle-based design consultancy, as its newest global partner. Through the partnership, Artefact will be responsible for designing the user experience for the future products for Maxis, Malaysia's leading mobile service provider.
Digital Five chose Artefact because of its experience in designing rich and engaging mobile experiences within the constraints of small form factors. Artefact's experience in product strategy, as well as researching and designing software experiences for different markets around the world was also a key consideration.
"We selected to partner with Artefact on this project for Maxis because of its superior track record developing innovative, breakthrough user experiences for a number of well-known and respected brands," said Terence Dorairaj, Digital Five's Chief Operating Officer. "By integrating Digital Five's development expertise and Artefact's user-centered design methods, we've been able to help create an informed design for Maxis that will engage and delight their customers."
"This is a great opportunity for Artefact to establish a new global partnership; Malaysia is a country with a rich and diverse culture with a great passion for technology," said Gavin Kelly, Principal and co-founder of Artefact. "Digital Five's great depth in software development, coupled with Artefact's expertise in next generation user experiences will enable us to deliver a new breed of products that will enable Malaysian subscribers to stay connected to people and content on the go."
The first release is scheduled for the second quarter of 2009; Artefact is looking forward to being a strategic partner throughout 2009 as Digital Five develops new products throughout the year.
About Artefact
Artefact (www.artefactgroup.com) is a design consultancy that works with a variety of high tech consumer electronics, communications, and computer software clients to research user needs and design breakthrough software and technology products.
Since 2006, Artefact has partnered with major industry players like Microsoft, SONOS and Intel to deliver innovation to mobile systems, gaming and entertainment systems (xBox 360, SONOS Multi-Room Music Player), natural user interfaces (Microsoft Surface), client applications (Microsoft WorldWide Telescope), and productivity solutions (Office Live), just to name a few. Artefact is a young company, but with rapid growth, it is becoming a prominent player in user experience design.
About Digital Five
Digital Five, formerly Multimedia Interactive Technologies (MIT), is the multimedia arm of ASTRO ALL ASIA NETWORKS plc (AAAN). A wholly owned subsidiary of AAAN, Digital Five provides content and interactive services across multiple digital platforms of mobile, interactive TV and online services to over 2.2 million TV homes, 10 million mobile users and 1.2 million internet users. Digital Five manages, among other services, 11 entertainment Web sites, provides 22 TV and radio channels via mobile phones, and enables a host of interactive TV formats and applications including community chat, games and stock channels.
Media Contact
Katie McFadzean
MWW Group for Artefact
206-505-8333
kmcfadzean@mww.com