Swisscom Chooses NewBay to Provide Mobile Blogging and Multimedia Album Service in Switzerland
DUBLIN, Ireland -- NewBay Software, the leading provider of mobile multimedia and social networking products and services, today announced that Swisscom Mobile, the leading provider of mobile communication services in Switzerland, has chosen NewBay to provide UGC services to its 4 million subscribers. Swisscom has licensed NewBay’s FoneBlog solution to provide mobile blogging and multimedia album services. The Swisscom branded service, MoBlog, was launched in March and is available in German, French and Italian at http://moblog.swisscom-mobile.ch.
NewBay FoneBlog was chosen as the mobile blogging and multimedia album platform to enable Swisscom’s new UGC service. Using Swisscom MoBlog service subscribers can publish, share and store images, video, audio and text to personal mobile blogs, and network with other mobloggers. The blog sites can be managed and viewed over WAP and MoBlog is integrated with the Vodafone Live Portal. The hosting and moderation of the mobile blog service will be managed by NewBay.
“We are extremely excited to be bringing new innovative user generated content services to our subscribers. We will now be able to offer users a personal site where they can capture, store and share all their camera phone images and video,†said Daniel Gerber, Head of Media & Entertainment Growth Propositions at Swisscom Mobile. “Following a detailed review of a range of competitive offerings we found NewBay to offer the most flexible mobile blogging and multimedia album solution with a compelling user experience across multiple handsets and potential to develop the proposition over time. NewBay’s ability to deliver within our aggressive time to market schedule made them the perfect strategic fit for Swisscom.â€
“Swisscom are definitely one of the most forward looking Operators so it came as no surprise that they fully recognize the huge opportunities to be gained from UGC and see the camera phone as a powerful production and publishing device rather than solely for communication. We are delighted that Swisscom share our vision to provide a website for every mobile phone and we look forward to working with them in enabling 4 million subscribers to securely upload, store and share their memories,†said Dr Nagappan Arunachalam, Chief Marketing Officer at NewBay Software.
Swisscom customers can post to their personal MoBlog by sending an MMS or SMS to 878 at a cost of CHF 50 per MMS or CHF 20 by SMS to publish content. MoBlogs can also be read and commented on from any mobile phone. The service is integrated in the Vodafone live! portal under 'Chat, Mail & MMS' > 'MoBlog'.
About Swisscom Mobile
With a market share of 63%, Swisscom Mobile is the market leader in the Swiss mobile communications sector. In fiscal year 2006, Swisscom Mobile generated net revenue of CHF 3,79 billion and now has more than 4.6 million NATEL subscribers. Swisscom Mobile is a public limited company with Swisscom Ltd holding a 100% stake. The company operates a nationwide GSM network (900/1800 MHz), which was enhanced with EDGE in spring of 2005. With HSDPA, Swisscom Mobile is the first network carrier in Switzerland to roll out a turbo network. Launched in February of 2006, it is already about five times faster than a UMTS network. This means its speed is comparable to that of an ADSL connection. Already today, Swisscom Mobile provides coverage of around 90% of the populated area of Switzerland through its UMTS network as well as wireless LAN-Internet access through more than 1000 hotspots.
This unique technology mix is the basis for a comprehensive mobile broadband network that enables high-quality mobile communication services. Swisscom Mobile launched UMTS-based services in November 2004, including live TV and video telephony. Its Mobile Unlimited PC Card supports automatic, seamless and high-speed mobile connections to the Internet.
By the way, Natel® subscribers are not only reachable anywhere within Switzerland but, with over 400 roaming partner networks, all over the world.
www.swisscom-mobile.ch
About NewBay Software
NewBay Software develops mobile multimedia products and services to deliver Mobile 2.0. Solutions include FoneBlog, mobile blogging and multimedia album solution; PIXOTA, mobile imaging handset client; UGC Gateway, to power mobile social networking; and FonePIM, carrier grade mobile synchronization.
NewBay sells to mobile operators worldwide enabling them to increase messaging, data and content revenue, strengthen customer loyalty and build mobile communities and social networks based on user generated content. Customers include T-Mobile USA, O2, Alltel Wireless, Orange, Vodafone, Swisscom, Bell Mobility, Maxis and SETAR NV. NewBay Software is based in Dublin, Ireland, London, UK and Bellevue, USA. NewBay was founded in 2002 and is privately held. Investors include Benchmark Capital.