UrbanWorld expands mobile media business

UrbanWorld Wireless added new distribution partners for both its on-deck and off-deck offerings.
The Los Angeles-based content provider inked a deal to offer its UDub!MNews from the deck of Boost Mobile, a division of Sprint Nextel Corp. The offering, which is available to Boost’s 4.6 million customers for $5 a month, delivers daily text alerts with updates with news in hip-hop, technology, sports and fashion as well as social and political issues.
UWW also unveiled a new text alert service available from Jamster, a direct-to-consumer joint venture between News Corp. and VeriSign Inc. Jamster, which offers a menu of mobile content for a $10 monthly fee, has added several UrbanWorld offerings including an urban dictionary and celebrity hip-hop news to its portfolio.
“This is a great partnership; it’s great to be able to further expand into new and exciting markets and expose the hip-hop culture,” said Liz Lee, UrbanWorld’s director of content.
The distribution agreements underscore UrbanWorld’s expansion from traditional mobile content such as ringtones into broader, subscription-based services. The company last year announced a high-profile advisory board in an effort to move into the broader world of digital media.