Business Briefs

Entertainment publisher Jamdat Mobile Inc. said it has acquired mobile casino game developer Downtown Wireless L.L.C. Downtown Wireless’ portfolio includes video slots and roulette titles, as well as its flagship game, “Downtown Texas Hold `Em.” Both companies are headquartered in Los Angeles. “The acquisition of Downtown Wireless is consistent with Jamdat’s strategy to build value from a slate of owned intellectual properties,” said Mitch Lasky, Jamdat’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Through this acquisition, we will broaden our portfolio of casual games that have proven to be popular with consumers.” Jamdat made headlines three months ago when it became the first exclusively mobile gaming publisher to go public. The company raised $63 million in two rounds of financing last summer, with $20 million more available to acquire smaller players. Jamdat’s shares were down nearly 3 percent on the news to $18.75.

Dobson Communications Corp. expanded its relationship with distributor CellStar Corp., adding two direct-to-consumer logistic solutions to streamline the carrier’s inventory management and customer fulfillment. Dobson’s multiple call centers will be electronically integrated with CellStar, which will house and manage the inventory and its order fulfillment. The second program will help Dobson create a Web sales offering, allowing Dobson’s customers to order handsets and accessories online. CellStar will fulfill orders and manage the inventory.

BellSouth Corp. launched a new promotion offering up to $125 cash back to residential customers subscribed to its FastAccess DSL, DirectTV, unlimited long distance and Cingular Wireless L.L.C. bundles. New subscribers signing up to the service between Jan. 1 and April 30 will receive $75 cash back for the FastAccess and DirectTV package, $25 cash back for Unlimited long distance, and $25 cash back for a Cingular plan of at least $40 per month. BellSouth, which owns 40 percent of Cingular, noted that more than 4 million customers are signed up for one of its bundles.

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