U.S. Mobile Marketing Trends To Take Global Stage At 3GSM World Conference
Omnicom agency ipsh! CEO Nihal Mehta to discuss how promotional services and technology can drive content-based services<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

San Francisco & Barcelona - Feb. 3, 2006 - Nihal Mehta, co-founder and CEO of ipsh!, the  North American leader in mobile marketing with over 500 implementations, will discuss "Promotional Tools to Drive the Take-Up & Usage of the Big Content-Based Services" on a panel at the 2006 3GSM World Conference in Barcelona.  

Although mobile marketing is a more recent entry in the U.S., compared with Europe and Asia, the market size and its proximity to global brands and media firms has made the case-studies of ipsh! highly anticipated by mobile marketers worldwide.  Multimedia is quickly becoming part of brand marketing campaigns, in the form of mobile, video, RSS and podcasts.  Mehta will discuss real-world examples of major brands experimenting with the medium and their results and best practices.

Bango powers EMI Music UK mobile portal enabling the music giant to sell its content direct-to-consumer

<?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><?xml:namespace prefix = w ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" />EMI Music UK launches mobile music portal wap.the-raft.com

December 14, 2005 – Bango’s ‘browse and buy’ technology is powering EMI Music UK’s mobile music portal, wap.the-raft.com, as the record company extends ‘The Raft’ online music brand from web to mobile.  Using Bango’s Txt Trigger, consumers text ‘GO RAFT’ to 85080 (free text from all UK networks) or visit wap.the-raft.com to browse a huge array of official, artist approved content especially tailored for mobile.

Bango's ‘browse and buy’ technology enables The Raft’s mobile portal to provide a state of the art user experience and easy customer purchase of paid for content.  Users anywhere in the world pay for EMI music and ringtones on their phone bill, by credit/debit card or by PayPal.  Built and hosted by New-Visions, content on the Raft’s mobile portal includes news, ringtones, realtones, remixable tones, tour information, images and competitions across a broad range of music genres and artists.

To stay fresh and dynamic, wap.the-raft.com includes topical special features kicking off with Christmas realtones and ringtones plus an ‘Essential tracks of 2005’ selection when it launches on December 16^th, 2005.  The site will be promoted via the music community website www.the-raft.com, by mailshot to over 300,000 subscribers, to The Raft online and by search and banner advertising.

EMI Music UK is the latest music label to choose Bango to power its mobile content portal as Bango already powers official mobile content portals from Universal Music and Sony BMG for artists such as Oasis, Girls Aloud, McFly and Westlife.

“We care passionately about giving our customers great content and a good user experience,” commented Danny Van Emden, Digital Media Director at EMI Music UK.  “We want to move away from single-shot text-based purchasing of content as people can be unsure whether they have inadvertently signed up for a subscription service.

“Taking people into our own the-raft.com mobile portal means that they are in control.  They can browse through our great range of content, including many niche areas outside of the UK top 40 such as classical, jazz and comedy that might be hard to find on network portals and then buy and download straight to their phone in a much simpler way.”  In contrast to subscription services, Bango’s ‘browse and buy’ technology provides a safer way for users to buy mobile content.

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Martin Harris, Vice President of Sales at Bango said, “People will visit the Raft.com mobile portal as a result of EMI’s own marketing or by searching from a mobile search engine such as Yahoo! or Google.  By choosing Bango’s ‘browse and buy’ technology, EMI is ensuring people who browse into the mobile portal can then buy without first having to send a text message.”

Bango technology enables content discovery, identification so content providers can customize the user experience, and payment. During 2005, Bango has experienced rapid growth in the number of people using the Bango Service from different corners of the world.  Content was purchased through the Bango Service from 102 different countries in September 2005 from as far afield as South Africa and Taiwan using over 250 different operator networks. 

About Bango
Bango (AIM: BGO) has developed and deployed an open, global infrastructure platform that enables content providers to market, sell and deliver their products and services directly to mobile phone users on all mobile networks using the mobile Internet. This “direct-to-consumer” approach operates alongside the mobile operator’s mobile content portals. Leading mobile operators including Cingular Wireless, Vodafone, Orange, Telefonica and O2 work with Bango to accelerate the growth of their “direct-to-consumer” business.

The Bango platform has given mobile phone subscribers around the world greater access to third-party content. Leading content brands are now adopting the Bango Service to engage with all of their existing and potential mobile customers directly – irrespective of mobile operator. For further information, go to www.bango.com. 

About EMI Music UK
EMI Music UK is part of The EMI Group, one of the largest music companies in the world and listed on the London Stock Exchange. EMI Music was the first major record company to establish a dedicated Digital Media division in 1998. The division, headed up by Danny Van Emden, the Digital Media Director, is responsible for the digital activity of EMI Music UK and Ireland and its individual music labels. In addition, each of EMI Music’s record labels - EMI Records, Innocent, Parlophone, Virgin and the catalogue division - has a Digital Media Manager responsible for developing artist specific new media opportunities, promotions and web presence.

The Digital Media division develops many of the company’s digital cross-marketing and artist promotions; providing exclusive content; managing data capture and eCRM systems; and monetising EMI Music’s assets across the digital media. The division is also responsible for the EMI Music aggregate site, www.the-raft.com and mobile portal wap.the-raft.com.  The website has been running for 11 years and won multiple awards.

About New-Visions
New-Visions is a leading specialist mobile marketing company launched in 1999 by Julia McNally and Caroline Walton. Over the past few years New-Visions have specialised in launching mobile portals for the likes of Robbie Williams, Coldplay, Stereophonics, Kylie, Gorillaz. Currently having over 60 wap sites live in the market today.

For further information, please contact:
Sarah Keefe, Marketing Manager
Bango
Tel: +44 7786 932016
s[email protected]

Peter Rennison/Alison Andrews
Peter Rennison PR
Tel: +44 1442 245030
[email protected]

Charlotte Hanson
immediate future Ltd.
Tel: 0845 408 2031 / 0796 894 9746
[email protected]

Bango enables mobile phone users worldwide to pay for mobile content using their PayPal accounts

12th September 2005 - Bango, the mobile content enabler, has announced today that it now provides mobile phone users with the ability to pay for mobile content using their PayPal accounts. 

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Bango has entered into an agreement with PayPal, to enable content owners to deliver low cost, direct-to-consumer mobile content, paid for to a PayPal account through one-click purchasing from Bango.

For the first time, mobile phone users can approve purchases of content such as ringtones, games, wallpapers and videos using pre-approved PayPal payments.  Existing PayPal users activate their accounts to pay for mobile content with a one-time visit to www.bango.net on a personal computer.  They register their phone with Bango and make purchases through Bango, and funds are then pulled from their PayPal accounts. 

“Bango is continuously enabling more users worldwide to access and pay for mobile content and services,” said Anil Malhotra, VP of Alliances at Bango. “The agreement with PayPal opens-up mobile content to tens of millions of new users, in many new markets for mobile content.” 

Content providers who sign up for the Bango Service at www.bango.com can market, sell and deliver their products and services directly to mobile phone users on all networks.  Bango enables a fast-track to market, avoiding the need for individual short-codes to be processed on a carrier-by-carrier basis. In addition, Bango implements and manages content standards and acceptable usage policies from PayPal and the carriers.

Bango gives content providers the services to ensure easy access to their branded content, collection of micro-payments, detailed tracking of user spending patterns and the tools for viral marketing. 

To ensure a streamlined user experience, the Bango system automatically presents the best payment option depending upon the user’s network, territory and previous payment history.  Payment options include on the phone bill (using the carrier’s own billing system or Premium SMS), PayPal, IVR or retail PIN. 

About Bango
Bango (AIM: BGO) has developed and deployed an open, global, infrastructure platform that enables content providers to market, sell and deliver their products and services directly to mobile phone users on all mobile networks using the mobile Internet. This "direct-to-consumer" approach operates alongside the mobile operator's mobile content portals. Leading mobile operators including Cingular, Vodafone, Orange, Telefonica and O2 work with Bango to accelerate the growth of their direct-to-consumer business.

The Bango platform has given mobile phone subscribers around the world greater access to third-party content. Leading content brands are now adopting the Bango service to engage with all of their existing and potential mobile customers directly - irrespective of mobile operator. For further information, go to www.bango.com

For further information, please contact:
Sarah Keefe, Marketing Manager
Bango                                                              
Tel: +44 7786 932016                                       
s[email protected]                                             

Peter Rennison/Alison Andrews
Peter Rennison PR
Tel: +44 1442 245030
[email protected]

Laurie Riedman
Riedman Communications
Tel: 585-396-3100
[email protected]

                      

Sun Microsystems and Bango simplify delivery of Java-based games and other mobile content on Java.com
Millions of mobile phone users worldwide can now try and buy Java-based games on Java.com

SAN FRANCISCO, CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & ENTERTAINMENT 2005 -- September 26, 2005 -- Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW) and Bango (AIM: BGO), a leading mobile content enabler, today announced an agreement to deliver mobile Java(tm) technology-based games and applications to millions of mobile phone users on more than 250 wireless carrier networks worldwide. The new service from java.com and Bango provides a streamlined user experience and simplifies the payment process to make locating and downloading mobile Java technology-based content easier for users and network providers.

Now more than 14 million monthly java.com visitors easily can access exciting Java technology-based titles on virtually any carrier network with easy billing powered by Bango. Customers can either charge their mobile downloads to their carrier bill, PayPal account or credit card. The Bango Service also enables content providers to market, sell, and deliver their Java-based mobile content to users all over the world through Bango's “browse and buy” capability.

“We’re delighted to be working with Sun to deliver mobile applications based on the industry standard Java environment,” said Anil Malhotra, Bango vice president of strategy alliance. “Java powers over 700 million mobile devices and is a core technology for content providers who deploy applications to end users through Bango. This relationship will give many more Java developers a go-to-market opportunity and cell phone users a destination web portal for browsing and buying the best mobile Java content.”

“Java.com has become the destination for Java-based games, applications and music for PCs and mobile devices,” said Mark Herring, director of Java Brand and Community Marketing, Sun Microsystems. “By bringing Bango's browse and buy capability to java.com we are making it easier for more than 14 million monthly visitors to get the games and content they love.”

For the first time, java.com visitors can “try before they buy” and easily obtain mobile versions of the Java games they love. With Bango technology, it is simple to get a java.com game delivered to a cell phone. Bango's Web Trigger provides the vital link between the java.com website and the java.com user's cell phone, by simply entering their cell phone number into a web form on java.com. A WAP Push message is sent to their cell phone and opens up the mobile site automatically. From their phone, they can easily browse and buy their favorite game. The Bango platform seamlessly collects micro-payments for the purchases. <?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" />

Orange awards RAZZ™ "Best Entertainment Product"
RAZZ honored at Orange Code Camp in Opio, France.

San Francisco, CA - January 3rd, 2006 - Phonebites, Inc., a global publisher of entertainment software for mobile phones, announced today that the Company's RAZZ software has been awarded "Best Entertainment Product" at the Orange Code Camp in Opio, France. The RAZZ is a unique audio distribution channel that provides mobile phone users with the ability to insert sound clips into live conversations, voicemail and outgoing messages. Orange is one of the world's largest mobile operators with operations in 17 countries and over 56M subscribers. This award from Orange recognizes Phonebites' commitment to drive innovation in mobile entertainment.

"Phonebites is a fun and innovative company and RAZZ is fun technology that everyone on the judging panel thoroughly enjoyed and was fascinated by," said Steve Glagow, Director of Orange Partner and Operations. "Additionally, we have 17 countries in our operations, all with cultural differences, so Phonebites' ability to quickly localize their RAZZ sound packs is critical for Orange."

"We are honored to take home this prestigious award," said Jeff Malkin, Phonebites CEO. "Three years ago, we had a concept for interactive audio. Today, Orange has confirmed that RAZZ is one of the most exciting new content platforms in mobile entertainment."

Industry pundits consider the RAZZ to be the next hot category in the exploding mobile entertainment market. Ringtones were the catalyst and have quickly developed into a $4B industry. Next came ringbacks and they too are enjoying immediate and explosive growth. Now the RAZZ has raised the bar to an entirely new level. Designed as an interactive audio publishing platform, the RAZZ enables content owners to monetize their branded assets, provides mobile operators with a compelling new product offering and gives consumers a new fun application to enhance their voice communications.

ABOUT PHONEBITES, INC.
Based in San Francisco, California, Phonebites, Inc. is a global publisher of entertainment software and services for mobile phones. Its proprietary mobile audio distribution channel, the RAZZ™, offers content providers new revenue streams, while giving consumers the ability to mix their favorite audio content into their phone conversations. For more information on Phonebites’ products and services, visit www.phonebites.com.

Media Contact:
Steve Haney, VP of Marketing
Phonebites, Inc.
[email protected]
+1 415-692-0953

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dynetic's emoveo UAP™ platform hits the 2500 worldwide supported mobile devices barrier!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

20.12.2005-The emoveo UAP™ Platform supports more than 2500 mobile devices worldwide today! emoveo UAP™ enables businesses to provide their mobile applications on a global scale and eases the access to the international telecommunication data markets which are to grow rapidly within the next 5 years. "The mobile Internet is the mobile media trend of the next years to come", says Michael Neidhoefer, managing director of dynetic. "We see dramatic increases in traffic on our mobile Internet systems. With emoveo UAP™ our customers are able to provide seamless mobile applications working on all mobile devices and standards. With this concept we are able to reduce cost for our customers in development and maintenance of mobile services highly."

dynetic launches emoveo UAP™ vertical industry solutions for music labels, TV-stations, MVNOs and more<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

29.12.2005-dynetic launches new emoveo UAP™ solution packages which are tailored for businesses in special industry sectors that are planning to enter the mobile space. "We have add a complete range of end-to-end vertical solutions to our existing product portfolio", says Michael Neidhoefer, Managing Director of dynetic. "With these solutions our customers receive a complete software and services package, optimally designed for their needs which enables them for mobile in no-time."

emoveo UAP™ industry solutions are available for television, cable & TV companies, the music industry, MNOs and MVNOs, search engine providers, mobile marketing & advertising companies, software companies, service providers, mobile application developers as well as content owners & distributors.

For example TV companies receive a mobile video platform with all facilities to reuse existing TV or produce new mobile video content and deliver it to thousands of phones worldwide as stream or downloads. MNOs and MVNOs can use one complete solution to manage, deliver and bill their content to their customers. Music companies can expand their business of music downloads to a huge market of mp3-capable phones. Software and service providers open their applications and software for the mobile world.

INTERSCOPE RECORDS AND UNIVERSAL MUSIC MOBILE APPLAUD EMINEM'S "CURTAIN CALL" <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

LOS ANGELES, CA, December 21, 2005 - Interscope Records and Universal Music Mobile, a division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, have created a comprehensive mobile music campaign surrounding the global release of "Curtain Call," the new greatest hits package from multi-platinum selling, chart-topping superstar, Eminem.

In conjunction with Interscope Records, Universal Music Mobile has launched the following mobile initiatives to support the artist's new release, which was #1 in sales (according to Soundscan) in its first week, selling well over 440,000 units in the US alone.

Exclusive Mobile Personalization Products: Voicetones, Ringbacks, Wallpapers and never before released Mastertones will be displayed in featured positions across all US wireless operator partners, including Sprint Nextel, Cingular Wireless, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile and AMP'd Mobile as well as local mobile service providers around the world;

Global Television Marketing Campaign: Large-scale television marketing campaign featuring an exclusive mobile music television commercial created by Interscope Records and powered by mobile content retailer 9 Squared's subscription service "The Mob." The spot has been customized for global markets by Universal Music Mobile on a world-wide basis and will be aired domestically on networks such as MTV, BET and VH1;

Exclusive Content Only Available Online: A globally accessible website powered by Universal Music Mobile and mobile content retailer Moderati in the US, and by Universal Music Mobile International outside of the US, features Mastertones, Wallpapers and Exclusive Explicit Eminem Voicetones not available anywhere else. The site can be found at www.eminem.com/mobile.

Gift Eminem Tones To Friends: Mobile consumers may for the first time also "gift" Mastertones to a friend by visiting www.eminem.com/mobile or by text messaging keywords to the Eminem SMS code 63422. For example, text the keyword "EMGIFT10" to 63422 to send Eminem's hit Mastertone "My Name Is" to a friend. The "gifting" application is powered by Telescope, Inc. and 9 Squared;

About Universal Music Group Universal Music Group is the world's largest music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's largest global music publishing operations.

Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca Music Group, Deutsche Grammophon, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Geffen Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor Records, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Records Group, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, a new media and technologies division.

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company.

Reno-Tahoe Takes Advantage of Text Messaging to Connect with Visitors

Visitors to Reno Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place Can Now Receive Current Information on Snow and Road Conditions and Participate In Promotions – All from Their Mobile Phones<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Reno, NV- Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place is establishing and enhancing relationships with destination visitors through SMS text messaging. Those traveling to the area now have the opportunity to receive snow and road conditions and enter to win valuable vacation giveaways all from their mobile phones. Anyone interested in taking advantage of Reno-Tahoe text messaging can choose the type of messages they want to receive and opt-out at any time.

The Reno Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA) is interacting with visitors in two different ways. Adventure commercials, which are being shown primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area, invite travelers to text “WIN” to RTAAP (Reno Tahoe America’s Adventure Place) or 78227 to be entered into valuable vacation giveaways. Additionally, visitors to the website www.VisitRenoTahoe.com can customize the type of mobile notifications they wish to receive.

“Text messaging is a tool that we can use to further enhance the level of service we provide visitors to the Reno-Tahoe area,” said Deanna Ashby, executive marketing director for the RSCVA. “With the exception of outbound calls, which tend to be expensive and intrusive, SMS generally has the best chance among all channels of reaching customers instantly, regardless of location, and with the best of all possibilities for immediate response.”

Throughout the year the Reno-Tahoe area maintains a full schedule with events occurring almost constantly. Coupled with the fact that it is well-known destination for skiers, golfers, gamblers and adventure seekers, means Reno-Tahoe attracts a wide array of visitor types with varying interests and preferences for how they receive information.  Mobile communication is an excellent form of customer service for those that are comfortable obtaining information outside of the more traditional modes of communication such as email, web, voice and print.

Mobile Communication for Travelers on the Go
“Mobile text messaging is especially useful for regional travelers who come to the Reno-Tahoe area in search of adventure,” said Lynnette Bellin, Internet Marketing Manager for the RSCVA.  They are not the type of visitor that spends their vacation sitting around surfing the web, watching television, or reading travel brochures. They are constantly on the go with no single reliable conduit for information and communication except for their mobile devices.”

Many travelers do exhaustive online research before they go on a trip because they want to make the most of their vacation. The problem is once they arrive at their destination it becomes much more difficult to take advantage of timely information. “The ability to sign up for text messaging services on our website extends and enhances its primary purpose, which is to serve as a source of information for visitors to the Reno-Tahoe area,” said Bellin. “Combined with our regular monthly email newsletters, adventurers who want to take advantage of the best conditions and the best deals in Reno-Tahoe have every opportunity to stay informed.”

Communication Provider
The RSCVA multimodal campaign and text messaging was developed by Twelve Horses. In addition to strategic and creative web services, Twelve Horses helps America’s Adventure Place forge more direct customer connections and brand loyalty through multimodal messaging.

Text messaging is quickly becoming a widely used channel of communication with more than 165 million Americans now using mobile phones capable of sending and receiving SMS messages. MessageMaker^TM, Twelve Horses’ integrated web-based messaging platform, enables dynamic electronic communications via email, fax, voice and mobile text (SMS) with consolidated tracking, reporting and permission management. For more information visit www.twelvehorses.com.

About Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA)
The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority was established in 1959 as the Washoe County Fair and Recreation Board. The RSCVA acts as a marketing organization for the county to promote convention and tourism business. For more information about the RSCVA, or to sign up for text messaging, logon to www.VisitRenoTahoe.com.  Standard text messaging rates apply.

CBS Partners with GoldPocket Wireless on Mobile Campaign for “Big Brother 6”<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

GoldPocket Wireless’s mobile technology platform powers second “America’s Choice” vote on Thursday, August 25

Los Angeles, CA  – GoldPocket Wireless, the leader in mobile technologies for entertainment and media companies, is powering a fully integrated mobile campaign for the latest installment of CBS’s hit reality show, “Big Brother.”  Featuring both text messaging-based voting and downloadable wireless applications related to the show, the aptly named “America’s Choice” campaign allows wireless subscribers to participate in events that will, undoubtedly, alter the final outcome of the show…namely who walks home with the $500,000 prize.

The latest America’s Choice vote will be announced by host Julie Chen during the Thursday, August 25 broadcast of “Big Brother” (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).  Viewers will be informed of the outcome of the vote on the Tuesday, August 30 episode (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).

“With the America’s Choice campaign, CBS is breaking new ground in integrating mobile applications into live programming,” said Cyriac Roeding, Vice President of Wireless at CBS Television/Digital Media. “We knew we needed a trusted partner to enable a campaign of this magnitude.  GoldPocket Wireless has both the technology solutions and the distribution channels in place to deliver an exciting and innovative experience for our viewers.”

GoldPocket Wireless provides both the direct connections to the major wireless carriers and the content management platform underlying the campaign. Positioning itself at the forefront of off-deck mobile content distribution, CBS is also utilizing GoldPocket Wireless’s WAP push technology to sell viewers exclusive mobile content tied to the show. Through GoldPocket Wireless’s premium billing integrations with carriers, CBS is able to deliver its viewers a seamless mobile experience; both the $0.49 charge per SMS-based vote and the $1.99 charge for show-related content appear on users’ regular wireless bill.  Consumers are fully informed on air and in the text messages of any charges before and while they use the wireless services.

“CBS is in a unique position to help drive this industry forward,” added Stephen Leonard, President of GoldPocket Wireless, “and we are delighted to be part of their ground-breaking initiative. The America’s Choice campaign makes creative use of the GoldPocket Wireless platform, featuring premium SMS, WAP push content, and carrier billing integration.”

The first America’s Choice vote, announced on the August 4, 2005, episode of “Big Brother,” generated over 500,000 text messages from viewers voting via their wireless phones to bring one of three previously evicted candidates back to the house.  With an overwhelming 82% of the vote, Kaysar was brought back into the house for a short-lived return; he was evicted a second time by a majority of the houseguests the following week.