Verizon Wireless announced an agreement with Clear Channel Entertainment Properties to broadcast concert footage of Velvet Revolver, Avril Lavigne, the Moody Blues and other artists. The carrier added a channel to its Vcast service that will feature rotating performances from shows around the nation during the summer concert season. Clips from about three dozen acts will be broadcast on the new Encore Channel in the days following concerts and will be available for a week.
Sprint PCS said its Sprint PCS Vision customers have purchased more than 500,000 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit screensavers, which are provided by Summus Inc. Other “Gold” status screensavers on the Sprint PCS network included SpongeBob SquarePants, BlingPix, Graffiti-style art, Socially Hazardous and Devil Art.
Nokia Corp. and the National Basketball Association announced an agreement that expands their U.S. relationship into China. Nokia will become the official mobile phone of the NBA in Greater China and will provide access to embedded NBA video highlights for the most recent season as well as the 2005 All-Star Game, according to the agreement. During the second half of this year, Nokia will begin offering NBA team logos and NBA Java games on its phones.
Mobile marketing company m-Qube will power a mobile storefront offering ringtones, images and other content from tennis players Venus and Serena Williams. Content for the online store will be provided by TWI Interactive, a subsidiary of sports agency IMG. Plans call for the offerings eventually to be expanded to include voice ringers, games and text messaging programs, the companies said.
Brine Inc., which provides lacrosse and soccer equipment, is working together with mobile games developer SkyZone Entertainment to develop an interactive lacrosse game for mobile phones. The game features Mikey Powell, a professional lacrosse player who is endorsed by Brine and also works for the company as a marketing specialist. The game is scheduled to be available this summer through North American carriers.
