Internet Technology - Re Joint Venture Agreement

RNS No 8382w
INTERNET TECHNOLOGY GROUP PLC
18th December 1997

                 INTERNET TECHNOLOGY GROUP PLC
                            ("ITG")

MAJOR STEP FOR ITG SUBSIDIARY, GLOBALWAVE, AS WAVE SYSTEMS AND
   IBM COLLABORATE TO DEVELOP ELECTRONIC COMMERCE TECHNOLOGY
                               
Internet Technology Group plc ("ITG"), through its subsidiary,
Global  Internet, is one of the UK's leading Internet  Service
Providers  ("ISPs").   On  17  July  1997,  ITG  (AIM:  ITH.L;
www.global.net.uk) announced the formation of a joint  venture
with  Wave  Systems  (Nasdaq - WAVX), to be named  GlobalWave,
giving  ITG the opportunity to participate in one of the  most
exciting new technologies to provide secure content delivery -
on  a  rental  and pay per use basis - over the  Internet  and
other digital media delivery platforms.

The  Board  of  ITG is delighted to announce  that  its  joint
venture  partner, Wave Systems Corp. (OTC BB: WAVX;  wave.com)
has  reached  agreement with IBM Corporation (NYSE:   IBM)  to
find ways to incorporate inexpensively Wave Systems' WaveMeter
chip  into  PC  products.  Wave and IBM will work  on  product
ideas  to allow users to access digital content directly  from
their desktops through a variety of purchase models, including
rental, pay-per-use and rent-to-own. Wave and IBM have  agreed
to  support each other in achieving industry-wide adoption  of
the  WaveMeter  technology by systems manufacturers.  Detailed
terms of the relationship were not disclosed.

The  Wave  System is a unique turnkey solution for  electronic
content distribution and transaction processing that can  turn
PCs  into  digital  cash  registers  for  secure  renting   or
purchasing  of  software.   The  system  combines  triple  DES
encryption to secure content being sold with a local WaveMeter
chip  that  accomplishes content decryption and metering,  and
records   user  credit  and  transaction  data.   Triple   DES
encryption   is  currently  the  most  advanced   commercially
available encryption technology.

Wave  and  IBM  intend to offer media-independent technologies
that  will  enable leading entertainment, education and  other
content providers to distribute content and other products  in
CD-ROM, DVD and emerging broadband technologies such as  cable
and satellite.

Trey  Smith,  Chief  Technology  Officer  for  IBM's  Personal
Systems Group, said:

"Wave   Systems'  technology  supports  IBM's  commitment   to
providing  the  best  solutions  on  a  global  scale.    This
agreement represents an initial step in an expanding effort to
exploit new ways of delivering electronic content."

Steven Sprague, president of Wave, said:

"  IBM's  global position in the marketplace makes it  ideally
suited  to  help  drive  the WaveMeter as  a  technology  that
belongs  on  every  motherboard across  the  industry.  Wave's
WaveMeter  chip  is  the culmination of  over  nine  years  of
research,  development and marketing, and the  centrepiece  in
our technology.

"Our  relationship  with IBM creates an exciting  new  content
distribution channel that will benefit consumers  and  content
providers  alike.   Consumers will  be  able  to  quickly  and
conveniently  access  and rent, rent-to-own  or  purchase  top
entertainment,  education and software  titles  directly  from
their  PCs.  Content providers will benefit from the security,
distribution efficiency and new consumption models enabled  by
the Wave System."

Laurence Blackall, Chief Executive of ITG, commented:

"This agreement is of tremendous importance to our subsidiary,
GlobalWave.  The involvement of a company like IBM,  with  its
impressive  pedigree  in  electronic  commerce,  is   a   very
important step forward in establishing the Wave System as  the
standard e-commerce system for digital media.  GlobalWave  has
already  started  developing relationships with  a  number  of
leading  European  information and media companies,  who  have
been  attracted  by  the  business  models  supported  by  the
WaveMeter".
                                                              
ENQUIRIES:

Internet Technology Group plc Tel:  0181 957 1180
Laurence Blackall          Email: lb@globalnet.co.uk
Richard Brocksom           Email: rb@globalnet.co.uk

Wave Systems Corp.         Tel:  001 408 261 9510
Mark Marinovich            Email: mmarinovich@wavesys.com

College Hill               Tel:  0171 457 2020
Nicola Weiner              Email: nicola@collegehill.co.uk


END

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