BEIJING, September 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today SINA, China's leading online media company, announced that they have joined as a sponsor in Nokia's ongoing mobile multiplayer games competition to support the global search for new game developer talent and bring a new breed of innovative, connected mobile games to the Chinese market. As a result of SINA joining the competition, Nokia announced that the deadline for accepting mobile game concepts based on the SNAP Mobile platform has been extended to September 24. Selected concepts based on SNAP Mobile will receive free development support and preparation for market deployment.

"SINA will provide the winners of the multiplayer competition with a fast track opportunity to distribute games in China. This competition encourages developers and publishers to raise the bar on mobile game innovation, and developers located anywhere in the world, can compete," said Terry Tian, Network Business Dept Director, SINA. "We are keen to add more SNAP Mobile based games to our portfolio, and see this competition as a unique way to speed deployment of innovative games to market."

Antoine Doumenc, head of SNAP Mobile, continued, "Based on our experience, many game developers and publishers are lacking global channels to bring their best innovative, connected mobile games to market. With SINA joining there will be attractive distribution channels in China. SINA offers a rare chance for developers to gain access to one of the largest mobile markets in the world. Together with the publicity that winners will receive in Mobile Game Development Magazine, among other great prizes, and this all cooks up into one attractive contest."

Developers interested in joining the Mobile Rules! Multiplayer Competition and receiving free developer support should submit concepts based on SNAP Mobile by September 24. Beta versions of multiplayer games based on any platform can also be submitted by January 25, 2008 as long as they include fully working multiplayer gaming functionality and backend technology. More details on the competition, prizes, and submission form can be found at http://www.mobilerules.org/multiplayer.

About SNAP Mobile

SNAP Mobile by Nokia is an industry leading mobile Java(TM) gaming solution that covers middleware and technology, hosting, maintenance, and online community management. It is available to 3rd parties for connected mobile game development and publishing, and also offers mobile game community development to operators. The SNAP Mobile platform currently supports a wide variety of Java(TM) MIDP2.0 compliant phones and has a rapidly growing selection of connected mobile games with the variety and level of challenge that appeals to players of all ages. For more information about SNAP Mobile, please visit http://www.snapmobile.nokia.com/

About Nokia

Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. Nokia makes a wide range of mobile devices and provides people with experiences in music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games and business mobility through these devices. Nokia also provides equipment, solutions and services for communications networks.

About SINA

SINA Corporation (Nasdaq GS: SINA) is a leading online media company and value-added information service provider for China and for global Chinese communities. With a branded network of localized web sites targeting Greater China and overseas Chinese, the Company provides services through five major business lines including SINA.com (online news and content), SINA Mobile (mobile value-added services or "MVAS"), SINA Community (Web 2.0-based services and games), SINA.net (search and enterprise services) and SINA E-Commerce (online shopping). Together these business lines provide an array of services including region-focused online portals, MVAS, search and directory, interest-based and community-building channels, free and premium email, blog services, audio and video streaming, online games, classified listings, fee-based services, e-commerce and enterprise e-solutions.

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