Planned mobile virtual network operator Amp’d Mobile signed a mutually exclusive agreement with talent agency William Morris Agency to secure strategic and marketing partnerships, as well as content deals in entertainment, music, sports, lifestyle and literary. To date, WMA has been instrumental in developing marketing partnerships and securing content deals with studios, networks, music labels, artists, sports leagues, Internet portals and advertisers. Amp’d Mobile is expected to launch service later this year using Verizon Wireless’ network and targeting 18- to 35-year-olds.
Mobile Assets Corp. said it plans to form an operating division focused on global mobile entertainment content acquisition and distribution. “It would be a mistake to assume that mobile gaming is the only entertainment game in town,” said Garth Douglas, vice president of marketing at Mobile Assets. “It is a giant market, but in the strategic time frame, it will be dwarfed by other entertainment venues such as videos and music.” Douglas noted the company plans to build a portfolio of products and services around all major entertainment market segments.
World Entertainment Corp. and Media5 L.L.C. have formed a deal to tap into the mobile games market by developing and promoting bingo-related mobile marketing, entertainment and information services and products. The companies said they will work together on a variety of offerings, including alerts, ringtones, wallpapers, games and chats. Media5 will host the mobile services and products.
Mobile-phone distributor Brightstar Corp. will get into the U.S. wireless data market through a newly announced deal with Orion Information Services. Brightstar’s wireless data play, Brightcontent L.L.C., will work with OIS to sell Spanish ringtones, Java games, news updates and other wireless downloadables. Brightstar’s Alvento content business currently sells Spanish content in Europe, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela. Brightstar isn’t the only mobile-phone distributor getting into the content market. Brightpoint Inc. is also playing in the wireless data arena.
