£1.4m Investment in Purple Technologies

NewMedia SPARK PLC
16 May 2000

                              
  NewMedia SPARK plc invests £1.4m in Purple Technologies,
     Leading Software Developer of Wireless Applications
                              
    Purple Technologies to lead UK/Europe wireless games
development with £5.4m venture funding from, NewMedia SPARK,
              Quester and Emerging Technologies


NewMedia  SPARK plc, the AIM-quoted technology and  internet
investment  company, today announced that  it  has  invested
£1.4m in Purple Technologies Limited, the software developer
specialising  in wireless applications and a leader  in  the
development of artificial intelligence engines.

The investment forms part of a £5.4 million round of venture
capital  funding from NewMedia SPARK, Quester  and  Emerging
Technologies.  Michael Whitaker, CEO of NewMedia  SPARK,  is
also investing.

The   new   funding  coincides  with  Purple   Technologies'
acquisition of Oxford Softworks, widely recognized as one of
the world's leading developers of strategy games software.

These  significant steps will allow Purple  Technologies  to
accelerate its growth and secure its position as one of  the
leading  independent  software designers  for  the  wireless
device  industry.  Gartner Group research indicates that  in
2005,  mobile  telephones will be  the  most  common  client
device used to access the Internet worldwide.

Commenting  on  the  investment, Andrew  Carruthers  COO  of
NewMedia SPARK plc, said:

'We  are very pleased to be investing in a company which  is
clearly   at  the  cutting  edge  of  wireless  applications
development, particularly in the games arena. It is apparent
that  there  is huge market potential for gaming  on  mobile
devices and we hope to work with Purple Technologies  -  and
our  other  portfolio companies in the wireless field  -  to
realize this.'

Julian Swallow, Purple Technologies' Chief Executive, said:

'Purple  Technologies  has  secured  funding  from  Quester,
Purple's existing venture capital investor, New Media Spark,
the   technology   investment   specialist,   and   Emerging
Technologies,   a   leading  investor  in  mobile   internet
businesses.

'With  the acquisition of Oxford Softworks and the expansion
of  our  investor  base,  Purple Technologies  is  now  well
positioned  to  capitalise  on  the  growth  in  the  mobile
internet  and  wireless industries,' added  Julian  Swallow.
'We will now be developing the group rapidly with a view  to
an IPO during the course of 2001'.

Simon  Acland,  who  heads  Quester's  investment  team  for
Information  and Communication Technologies and an  existing
Purple Technologies board member observed, 'This deal  is  a
major  milestone for Purple.  We are delighted to be  joined
as shareholders by New Media Spark and Emerging Technologies
and  I  am  pleased  that  these specialist  investors  have
recognised the same potential that we saw in the company.'

__________________________________
For further information, please contact:


Andrew Carruthers, COO, NewMedia SPARK
Tel [phone]
[e-mail]

Tim Anderson, Director, Buchanan Communications
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]

Gunnar Larsen
Purple Techologies
[e-mail]
Voice: [phone]


Notes for Editors

About Purple Technologies

Purple  Technologies is one of Europe's leading  independent
software   designers  for  the  emergent   wireless   device
industry.  Focusing predominantly on the market for  leisure
and   lifestyle   applications,  the  Group   develops   and
distributes client / server software solutions for  handheld
computers,  smart phones and communicators.  The Group  also
specifies,   designs   and   develops   wireless    software
technologies  for  leading wireless partners  and  blue-chip
corporate customers.

In  addition, the Group designed and operates Go32.com,  the
leading  web portal for wireless information devices powered
by  the  EPOC  operating system.  Go32.com is  sponsored  by
Symbian Limited, the developers of EPOC.

Quester                  www.quester.co.uk
New Media Spark          www.newmediaspark.com