Smith Micro Software Signs Definitive Agreement Acquiring e frontier’s 3D Graphic and Animation Software Solutions
World-Class 3D Solutions Bolster Smith Micro’s Growing Multimedia and Consumer Product Lines
ALISO VIEJO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Smith Micro Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMSI) today announced that it will add the popular e frontier 3D graphic and animation solutions Poser®, Anime Studio™ and Manga Studio™ to its growing lineup of consumer-focused products. Smith Micro will acquire ownership and distribution rights of certain e frontier assets for $6 million in cash and anticipates the deal to be immediately accretive upon close of transaction, expected in the fourth quarter of 2007. e frontier had total revenues in excess of $7 million for their fiscal year ending March 2007.
“The rapid advancement of technology has made computer animation and 3D modeling available to everyone and the animation industry is one of the hottest growth segments within the consumer marketplace,” said William W. Smith, Jr., President and CEO of Smith Micro Software, Inc. “We are excited to significantly broaden our consumer portfolio with the addition of Poser, Manga Studio and Anime Studio. These popular products not only compliment our current multimedia offerings, but positions Smith Micro as a leading player in this space.”
Mr. Smith concluded, “As a part of this transaction we also acquired all the rights for the Aquazone product line. This includes the new Aquazone Mobile Edition that is available exclusively in Japan to NTT DoCoMo and Softbank mobile subscribers. Our goal is to capitalize on our strong presence in the wireless marketplace and introduce the Aquazone Mobile Edition to our wireless partners and mobile users throughout the world.”
The fast-growing global animation and 3D market reached nearly $60 billion in sales in 2006 and is expected to pass the $80 billion sales mark by 2010.(a) The Poser’s 3D figure design and animation program has a strong following of more than 500,000 users and is growing. Manga Studio, originally created in Japan as ComicStudio, has become the number-one selling Manga software worldwide. Anime Studio is a complete animation solution for creating 2D movies, cartoons, anime or cut-out animations and is ideal for animators of any caliber.
About Smith Micro Software, Inc.
Smith Micro Software, Inc., headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, with offices in Europe and Asia, develops and markets wireless multimedia and communications solutions, mobile device management products, image and data compression solutions and many award-winning software products. Smith Micro’s complete line of products is available through Smith Micro’s Enterprise, Channel and OEM Sales Groups, and direct from its websites, retail and value-added resellers (VARs) partners. Smith Micro’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol SMSI.
Safe Harbor Statement: This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation forward-looking statements relating to the company’s financial prospects and projections, the company’s ability to increase its business and the anticipated timing and financial performance of new products and potential acquisitions. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are new and changing technologies, customer acceptance of those technologies, fluctuations or cancellations in orders from customers, new and continuing adverse economic conditions, and the company’s ability to compete effectively with other software companies. These and other factors discussed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, could cause actual results to differ materially from those presented in any forward-looking statements. Smith Micro assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.
(a) Information taken from the Roncarelli Report
Smith Micro and the Smith Micro logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Smith Micro Software, Inc. All other trademarks and product names are the property of their respective companies.
Feeed-mE! 
Sounds like a great move however, it is my hope, as with many, that SmithMicro software does not ignore nor leave out the everyday poser hobbyist for the professional application. There are many that use Poser and like software that are hobbyists and it would be a shame to pass them by. Other than that it's exciting to see what direction SmithMicro takes poser and the other 3D software.
As a Poser user, I don't have a good feeling about this latest development, as far as the interests of the hobby user and small-shop free-lancer are concerned. Smith Micro has a great reputation in a very different domain from 3D art. From their official announcement, they give the impression that the Aquazone product line is of greater strategic interest. I don't see the synergies for Poser itself.
11/15/07
Where (at what WebSite) will Poser users receive support, news, udate downloads, etc.
The Smith Micro site contains only the announcement of their purchase. One cannot expect E-F to continue to host support for products that they do not own.
LMK
This is something I did not want to hear. I feel that with this move that Poser is now dead in the water for further development. My knowledge of Smith Micro is limited to a few products and these products are not the best. I hope that Smith Micro continues what EF had started.
How will this impact the release the PoserPro? Will we see Poser Pro in 2007?
-K
11/15/07
Steve:
Glad to hear that the E-F pages will stay up, and that support will still be provided for Poser through those pages. I guess that most of the American E-F staff will still be there to run things.
I am also glad to hear that SMSI will be getting and keeping Content Paradise. Will the folks there be staying on also? I have become attached to Scarlet, Ratcloset and Stewer. Surely SMSI will need people to run this new asset.
You will probably get more people viewing here and commenting here as people find their way here from the forums. You might add the link to your signature (at Renderosity, etc). Also, it is not evident how to actually make comments, at least not for people inexpereinced with blogs.
LMK
Can you tell us if Smith Micro will be distributing Manga Studio 4.0 (which is already released in Japan by Celsys)?
What does this mean for other eF offerings like Shade and Motion Artist?
OK, I keep seeing people asking questions and commenting about Poser's purchase but I'm not seeing any questions being answered. That's not good. I'd ask a few question myself but I'm afraid they wouldn't be answered either.
11/16/07
Cherokee:
Steve has kindly answered several of my questions, which I appreciate. It will obviously take time for him to answer everything, but I think we can take him at his word that he will tell us what he can.
Most of what I have read on other forums has been speculation, but very few questions have been asked. My imagination is limited, so I for one would like to hear what questions you might have.
LMK
smith micro? makers of stuffit? ha. enough said.
just throw it the dogs.
I'm a Poserowner from version 2.0. My gutfeeling says this is not a good move. I've seen this quick ownership-change happen on Metacreations Painter and Bryce (which has happily submerged in Daz3d after almost drowning). Most of the time the new owner has a complete vacuum on the product bought and the community behind it and is only interested in a quick profit :(
I only hope I'm terribly wrong and will be ashamed for the years to come.
Dreamtwister
I am a hobbiest and a new user. I am hoping that with the changes I will still be able to find the help that I have found at both efrontier and content paradise to help me learn and grow with what I have been doing in Poser. I have fallen for this program and am finding many uses for these wonderful figures.
I just hope that they don't forget the little people who contribute to this wonderful product.
This is a huge disappointment. I have a feeling that ef has sold us out. I don't expect to see much of a future for Poser at this point. Smith Micro has a history of buying products and providing minimal support only to keep them working. But don't expect any huge innovations from here on. They are good at repackaging products, but from the looks of their QA hirings, it's likely they have a very small R&D department. This would be an indication as to how much new development they're able to introduce or support across a very mixed bag of software offerings.