Company News & Earnings

MobiTV closes U.K. office

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:01:39 -0400

Mobile television service provider MobiTV is closing its U.K. office. According to New Media Age, MobiTV will terminate its content aggregation service for British operator 3 and no longer provide its downloadable TV Java application to rival carrier Orange, instead focusing on the U.S. mobile operator market.

While some industry onlookers have long suspected MobiTV may face a limited future as operators begin migrating to a broadcast TV model, Pyramid Research senior analyst Nick Holland said the company's exit from the British market does not spell the beginning of the end. "MobiTV may be finding it a little difficult to compete in the U.K. market, but their proposition is still compelling elsewhere," Holland told FierceMobileContent. "But they need to evolve, and they need to work with operators in terms of what they're thinking."

For more on MobiTV's moves:
- read this New Media Age article

Related articles:
- Yahoo, MobiTV team on mobile ads
- MobiTV dials up additional funding

MMA goes international

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:01:38 -0400

The Mobile Marketing Association announced the creation of a Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) chapter, naming a board of directors and executive committee. At launch the MMA EMEA chapter comprises more than 150 brands, agencies and related mobile marketing firms; Richard Saggers, head of mobile advertising for Vodafone Group, was appointed chairman.

Per its charter, the MMA EMEA will work to build a sustainable mobile marketing industry ecosystem, creating guidelines and best practices to protect consumer privacy. "The launch of the EMEA chapter is a significant milestone for the MMA, marking another step in the development of the region's mobile marketing industry," said Mobile Marketing Association president Laura Marriott in a prepared statement. "Our EMEA board of directors represents the leaders in mobile marketing in their respective industries and we look forward to working with them and our EMEA membership to advance the MMA's mission in the region."

Related articles:
- MMA: Mobile marketing participation tripled in '06
- MMA releases guideline updates

MobileMail acquires interest in txtNation

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:01:37 -0400

Premium mobile communication solutions developer MobileMail announced it entered into a letter of intent to acquire up to a 49 percent interest in mobile messaging and billing solutions provider txtNation Limited. Financial terms were not disclosed. According to MobileMail, the txtNation acquisition brings with it significant back-end architecture, ensuring direct ownership of mobile payments and billing as well as immediate delivery of multimedia content.

The txtNation deal follows MobileMail's February 2007 acquisition of mobile game publisher Tracebit. MobileMail said it will aggressively pursue further acquisitions and partnerships throughout the year, increasing revenues by launching a multimedia interactive online and mobile sales portal, a mobile "YouTube"-type portal and a mobile social networking community.

"With more and more forms of mobile entertainment in today's market, there is an increased demand to provide the complete mobile service in one simple offering. In txtNation, MobileMail has identified the perfect partner to help shape the future of mobile service provision in Europe, Asia and North America," said MobileMail CEO Peter Ahman in a prepared statement. "The ability to offer the one-stop shop for all mobile related services--from the provision of mobile content through to interactive payment solutions, distribution and detailed billing--provides companies and brand owners a clear and simple opportunity to generate additional revenue streams using the mobile phone as a payment medium."

For more on the MobileMail/txtNation agreement:
- read this release

AdMob plugs in to mobile blogging

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:01:36 -0400

Mobile advertising service provider AdMob introduced a free mobile plug-in for blogging tool WordPress that promises to enable bloggers to generate revenue from advertising. Mobile web developer Andy Moore of Web2Text created the plug-in, which integrates AdMob code to offer bloggers the opportunity to feature ads in their posts and provides configuration of pages leveraging .mobi and W3C standards. In addition, real-time reporting functionality enables bloggers to track their impressions and earnings. "We aim to reduce the entry level to mobile publishing by making it easy for WordPress users to go mobile and reap the rewards of AdMob's advertising in just a few clicks," Moore said in a prepared statement. "This plug-in lets bloggers adhere to standards without having extra knowledge or getting their hands dirty in any code. It's easy to publish to mobile in a matter of seconds."

For more on the AdMob plug-in:
- read this release

CellSigns introduces mobile classified platform

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:01:35 -0400

Mobile messaging applications provider CellSigns announced the launch of Cellifieds, a multi-medium solution enabling newspapers to shift their classified advertising services and additional content to the mobile platform. According to CellSigns, the solution enables users to shop their local classifieds and sign up for alerts and breaking news, as well as click on the newspaper's website to send news stories, coupons and ads to their mobile handsets. "Timing is critical for newspapers when delivering mobile content to consumers," said CellSigns president David Geipel in a prepared statement. "Our platform mobilizes content and puts it in the hands of consumers--while they are on the go, when and how they want it."

For more on Cellifieds:
- read this release

Global Mobile files interactive ad patents

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Data delivery service developer Global Mobile Technologies announced patent filings for its Push-It platform, which enables real-time delivery of user-requested interactive advertising content to mobile phones. According to Global Mobile Technologies, Push-It translates web advertising into mobile-ready formats with click-through and call-through capabilities, effectively enabling content providers to deliver any text, image, music or video with embedded advertising to handsets while eliminating conventional mobile web navigation.

"Push-It solves the problem of delivering rich, interactive advertising to any mobile device, while allowing content owners to maintain control over the look and feel of messaging," said Global Mobile Technologies CEO Jeff Harrison in a prepared statement. "We are introducing another dimension and value to the previously limited reach of mobile phone marketing."

Global Mobile Technologies is currently previewing the Push-It platform for advertisers and content providers, with full-scale rollout scheduled for Q3 of 2007. Might FierceMobileContent suggest Salt 'N Pepa as celebrity spokespersons?

For more on Push-It:
- read this release

DoCoMo announces motion-sensing mobile gaming

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:01:37 -0400

Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo announced its new series of 3G FOMA 904i handsets will arrive embedded with motion sensors enabling a kinetic gaming interface. "Games are played using intuitive motion, such as tracing a finger, tilting or waving the handset," said DoCoMo in a statement. "Game content will determine the type of intuitive motion used during play." Initial titles announced by DoCoMo include a boxing game and a maze-like challenge. The handsets in question will hit Japanese retail in May or June; the motion sensors are manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric.

For more on the kinetic games:
- read this Top Tech News article

Related articles:
- NTT DoCoMo in 3G content talks with Smart Communications
- NTT DoCoMo does multimedia development deals

Third Screen, Smaato partner on mobile ads

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:01:36 -0400

Third Screen Media announced a strategic partnership with fellow mobile advertising provider Smaato to sell, manage and deliver advertising for Smaato's Open Mobile Advertising Platform and its turnkey in-application advertising solution to agencies and brands in the U.S. According to Smaato and Third Screen, the partnership will specifically target the growing smartphone segment; SOMA-supported applications soon coming to market include iambic TopStory, SplashNews and Smaato News.

"We are thrilled to add the SOMA platform to our publisher portfolio," said Third Screen Media CMO Jeff Janer in a prepared statement. "This added reach to predominantly smartphone users will help our agency clients and brands target a very attractive consumer demographic via the mobile channel."

For more on the Third Screen/Smaato deal:
- read this release

Related articles:
- AOL in acquisition talks with Third Screen
- VoiceSignal talks ad deal with Third Screen

Fan Text pitches minor-league mobile fan clubs

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:01:35 -0400

Wireless consumer relations and marketing firm Fan Text Mobile announced a partnership with professional baseball's Triple-A and Double-A leagues and their respective minor league teams to create a nationwide network of affinity-based mobile fan clubs. The agreement, which includes the International and Pacific Coast leagues of Triple-A baseball and the Eastern and Southern leagues of Double-A baseball, calls for Fan Text Mobile to provide teams with both ad-supported mobile fan clubs and enhanced premium services--fans will be encouraged to join via in-ballpark promotions between innings.

"The Triple-A and Double-A baseball leagues are the ideal forum for introducing affinity relationship services, and we look forward to the possibility of adding more teams in other leagues in the very near future," said Fan Text Mobile president and CEO Jack Cowie in a prepared statement. "Mobile marketing is a terrific way to reach consumers who have already demonstrated an affinity for baseball and a desire for information. We are enthused about transferring their excitement, loyalty and hunger for information to a mobile platform."

For more on the mobile fan clubs:
- read this release

Related articles:
- Sprint offers MLB live broadcasts
- MLB slides into iTunes

The deck debate--is it finally over?

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:01:40 -0400

The off-deck vs. on-deck debate may never be completely resolved, but it looks as if most players (content companies, aggregators and carriers) have decided that the two distribution channels can co-exist and operators can profit from both. This was certainly evident at a networking event I attended last night in Reston, Va., hosted by the Washington, D.C., chapter of MoMeMo (a group that brings together wireless and media industry executives).

At a panel held in conjunction with the meeting, Chris Brozenick, vice president, general manager for mobile at WeatherBug Mobile, said the company offers on-deck and off-deck content and both are doing well. Of course, it's widely known that weather is one of the most popular applications downloaded by wireless consumers. In fact, stats from the Online Publishers Association indicate that 53 percent of U.S. mobile web users access their wireless device for weather information. Brozenick says that the firm has one application, in particular, that costs $2.99 per month and is doing very well--attracting around 200,000 users per month.

Like WeatherBug, Gannett Digital also has both on- and off-deck content. However, Matt Jones, director, mobile strategy and operations at Gannett, credits the company's success with off-deck content to its powerful brands, such as USA Today. Nevertheless, Jones believes that for off-deck to grow, consumer education is necessary.

"I think there needs to be more consumer education around deck vs. off-deck," Jones says. "On-deck is not going away." The firm has seen very strong success from an on-deck mobile Sudoku game. Jones says that the game costs $3.99 per month and attracts about 100,000 users. He noted that much of the game's success is attributed to the fact that it's available on the top deck of several operators and because it is based on the very popular puzzle game.

Interestingly, Will Buss, group manager, business development at Sprint Wireless Data, says that the company expects to see growth in both on-deck and off-deck content but he believes that on-deck will continue to be a big focus for Sprint. Specifically, Buss noted the carrier's commitment to original content development, such as sports footage its mobile crew produced at the Super Bowl. - Sue

AT&T reports Q1 wireless data gains

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:01:39 -0400

AT&T reported first-quarter profits of $2.8 billion, an increase credited in part to mobile data service revenues generated by text messaging, web browsing and content downloads. AT&T's total wireless revenues grew 11.2 percent in the first quarter to $10 billion, with wireless data revenues increasing 66.8 percent over Q1 2006 to $1.5 billion. The former Cingular's wireless operations counted more than 33 million active data customers, up more than 30 percent over year-ago numbers, and delivered close to 230 million multimedia messages and 14 billion text messages.

AT&T also posted year-over-year growth in wireless service ARPU for the third consecutive quarter. First-quarter ARPU was $49.21, up 1.4 percent versus the year-ago quarter; data ARPU was $7.88, up $2.66, or 51 percent, over Q1 2006. "I am very pleased to report that in the first full quarter following our acquisition of BellSouth, we kept our focus on customers and grew the business," said AT&T chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre in a prepared statement. "Wireless service revenues increased at a double-digit pace."

For more on the AT&T earnings report:
- read this release

Related articles:
- AT&T, MediaFLO announce mobile TV deal
- AT&T's Hyatt: Napster freebie will drive usage

Motorola acquires Terayon

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Manufacturing giant Motorola announced its acquisition of video processing solutions developer Terayon Communication Systems. Per terms of the $140 million deal, Motorola will acquire all outstanding shares of Terayon common stock for $1.80 per share in cash; on completion of the merger, Terayon will become a wholly-owned Motorola subsidiary and integrated into the Motorola Connected Home Solutions business.

Terayon's processing solutions promise to optimize bandwidth and enable delivery of video content based upon viewers' regional and local interest. According to Motorola, the integration of Terayon's software solutions will enhance its video infrastructure and seamless mobility core, enabling digital ad insertion, motion and graphical overlays, channel branding and channel line-up applications.

"Operators around the world are looking for a digital video core that will maximize bandwidth and enable the delivery of revenue-generating services," said Motorola Connected Home Solutions president Dan Moloney in a prepared statement. "The acquisition of Terayon will enhance Motorola's end-to-end portfolio for the delivery of next-generation services such as targeted advertising and program insertion solutions."

For more on the Motorola/Terayon deal:
- read this release

Related articles:
- Motorola planning DVB-H handsets
- Motorola invests in Chinese mobile TV

OZ scoops up Thumbspeed

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:01:37 -0400

Mobile messaging solutions provider OZ announced its acquisition of messaging, photo sharing and personalization applications developer Thumbspeed from wireless entertainment publisher and distributor Hands-On Mobile. Financial terms were not disclosed. According to OZ, it will integrate Thumbspeed's products, technology and services into its mobile messaging solutions, which operate across a variety of operating platforms including, Java, BREW, Symbian and Windows. Thumbspeed's operator partners include AT&T, Rogers Wireless and TeliaSonera.

"Joining forces with Thumbspeed will allow OZ to fulfill our vision: to give consumers what they want--easy and affordable access to their existing and favorite IM, e-mail and social networking services on their mobile phones," said OZ founder and CEO Skuli Mogensen in a prepared statement. "As consumers expect and demand more from their mobile phone, together we will fulfill this demand with easy-to-use mobile clients, and offer an unique integrated messaging experience that includes next-generation SMS, IM, e-mail and social networking with rich-media and personalization capabilities."

For more on the OZ/Thumbspeed agreement:
- read this release

Related article:
- Hands-On Mobile acquires Thumbspeed

Vodafone Egypt snaps up Kamera mobile TV content

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 20:01:35 -0400

Mobile video service provider Kamera announced an agreement with Vodafone Egypt to provide content for the operator's pending mobile TV network. Kamera will provide a suite of channels created specifically for Vodafone Egypt subscribers, including the Arabic news channel ShortCut, the sports channel SportCall and the entertainment channel WOW! TV. Kamera will also deliver highlights from the upcoming EURO2008 football championship qualifiers. In addition, Kamera's Egyptian subsidiary SweGypt will oversee the distribution of third-party content to Vodafone's customers.

"Mobile phone usage in the pan-Arabic region is booming and we look forward to bringing quality content to Vodafone's customers," said Kamera CEO Henrik Eklund in a prepared statement.

For more on the Vodafone Egypt/Kamera partnership:
- read this release

Related article:
- Telefonica, Vodafone, Amena may team for TV

FierceWireless announces Fierce 15

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 20:01:40 -0400

After you finish with today's edition of FierceMobileContent, please click here for the 2007 edition of FierceWireless' annual Fierce 15. Evaluated and selected by the editors of our sister publication, the Fierce 15 spotlights privately held wireless firms that promise to advance the North American wireless industry--in short, companies that epitomize what it means to be fierce. - Jason

Napster launching OTA music service via DoCoMo

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 20:01:39 -0400

Digital music service provider Napster announced the imminent launch of its over-the-air music subscription service through Napster Japan, a joint venture between the company and Tower Records Japan. Japanese mobile operator NTT DoCoMo will be the first carrier to deploy the service, which promises subscribers unlimited listening and downloading access as well as full integration with Napster's PC-based subscription service.

The new Napster OTA service will be available to DoCoMo's iMode subscribers as a free extension of the carrier's existing Napster to Go service. When consumers download tracks to their handsets, the content will be "bookmarked" and added to their PC playlists as well. In addition, OTA subscribers may download their PC playlists directly to their handsets.

For more on the Napster OTA service:
- read this release

Related articles:
- Circuit City, Napster team on download service
- Napster Mobile officially launches
- Napster Mobile goes live on KDDI

Telcordia, mPortal team on MVNO content solution

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Telecom software and services provider Telcordia Technologies announced a partnership with mobile content and applications provider mPortal, bolstering its hosted services for MVNOs with mPortal's Springboard content delivery manager platform and related content catalog. Promising its MVNO customers an efficient and cost-effective solution for launching mobile content services, Telcordia will also add mPortal's smart client, which resides on subscriber handsets to improve content access and discovery.

"The partnership with mPortal helps us broaden our hosted services offer," said Telcordia's executive director of global solutions marketing Patrick McCarthy in an interview with FierceMobileContent. "The more we can put in the tin, the easier it is for MVNOs to work with us."

Telcordia now boasts 13 hosted MVNO customers worldwide, delivering prepaid and post-paid mobile services. Its off-the-shelf content catalog includes ringtones, wallpapers and games, as well dynamic content like real-time news feeds. "With this partnership, we're reducing MVNO complexities by offering a single point of contact," mPortal founder and CEO DP Venkatesh told FMC. "From a provider perspective, we have the entire mobile content solution you need."

For more details:
- check out the release

Related article:
- mPortal, Roundbox power TV Guide Mobile

InfoSpace extends AT&T partnership

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 20:01:37 -0400

Mobile services platform provider InfoSpace announced the extension of a partnership with AT&T to power the carrier's MEdia Net service. InfoSpace will also continue to provide AT&T with customized mobile search and messaging solutions, as well as professional hosting and management services. InfoSpace first partnered with AT&T (the former Cingular Wireless) on MEdia Net in 2003.

"We're seeing an explosion of mobile services in the market and forward-thinking carriers like AT&T are starting to capitalize on the opportunity to offer customers a more streamlined, relevant and personalized user experience," said InfoSpace's mobile business unit executive VP Steve Elfman in a prepared statement. "AT&T has definitely been at the forefront of this movement and we look forward to expanding our longtime partnership as consumer demand continues to grow."

For more on the InfoSpace/AT&T partnership:
- read this release

Related articles:
- InfoSpace teams with Fast on mobile search
- InfoSpace launches mobile search for Sprint

Tribeca Film Festival goes mobile

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 20:01:36 -0400

The Tribeca Film Festival announced it will deliver trailers, shorts and full-length features to handsets via Verizon Wireless, heralding the annual event's first venture into the mobile content arena. The festival, which begins April 25 and continues for 12 days around New York City, will distribute to wireless devices three current festival full-length features, three short films, 49 movie trailers and three additional short films created exclusively for mobile consumption. Tribeca will also alert attendees of private screenings by sending wireless barcode tickets to their phones, and will launch text-based mobile movie reviews.

The Tribeca Film Festival was founded in 2002 by actor Robert DeNiro and producer Jane Rosenthal in an effort to celebrate New York City as filmmaking center and to contribute to the recovery of lower Manhattan following the events of 9/11. This year's featured events include the U.S. premiere of "Spider-Man 3" and the world debut of Antonio Ferrera and Albert Maysles' documentary "The Gates." In all, Tribeca will screen 157 feature films and 88 shorts from 47 countries and territories.

For more on the Tribeca Film Festival:
- read this Variety article

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Songs in the key of "we"

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:01:40 -0400

Performing rights organization BMI last month issued its annual projections for U.S. ringtone sales, and the forecast wasn't promising. According to BMI, ringtone sales will decline to $550 million in 2007, down $50 million from a year ago--at the same time, however, ringback revenues will rise to about $65 million in 2007, making up the difference and then some. This week, fledgling media technology and services provider Emotive announced an even newer spin on the ringtone phenomenon, stating it will introduce a mobile prototype of its Push Ringer at next week's IMS World Forum event. The Push Ringer, already available via Skype's VoIP service, effectively turns the traditional ringtone mode inside-out, enabling callers to push outgoing ringers to the receiving handset in place of the subscriber's pre-set tone. If the recipients like what they hear, they may purchase the clip for their own phones.

For years we've heard that ringtones represent the quintessence of mobile phone personalization, so the gradual move away from conventional ringtones into ringbacks and now push ringers suggests a significant shift in the way consumers view mobile content as a whole. If ringtones are about the individual, then ringbacks and push ringers are about the group: No longer is the general thinking "Dig how unique my phone is," but rather "Listen to this clip--this is music you should hear." Call it social networking or just old-fashioned word-of-mouth, but either way it's a conscious effort by the consumer to share with friends and family a new favorite song or an old favorite band--perhaps at the expense of a ringtone with deep personal meaning. It also forces consumers to program ringbacks and push ringers with widespread appeal to pique the interest of as many callers as possible.

If all this sounds like something that was once the imperative of a DJ or a record store clerk…well, it should. In an era when commercial radio playlists are more limited than ever before and record stores are an endangered species, the new mobile music paradigm isn't about personalization--it's about recommendation. In the growing absence of traditional promotional channels, ringbacks and ring pushers are our most effective means of exposing the music we like to the people we know. Thanks to mobile, we are all tastemakers. - Jason