InfoSpace Mobile Launch Media Downloads for Virgin Mobile UK
Virgin Mobile Taps InfoSpace's Media Content Catalogue and Expertise to Deliver Ringtones, Graphics and Games
WOKING, England & BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 23, 2004--InfoSpace Mobile™, a leading provider of mobile content, data infrastructure, tools and applications and a business of InfoSpace, Inc. (Nasdaq:INSP), today announced it has been selected to provide media downloads for Virgin Mobile UK. This new data service by Virgin Mobile U.K. offers on-demand, entertaining, multimedia mobile content to subscribers.
"We are impressed by InfoSpace Mobile's ability to reliably deliver a media catalogue targeted specifically to our customer's interests," said Nick White, Head of Value Added Services, Virgin Mobile. "When combined with InfoSpace's compelling data infrastructure and content promotions expertise, InfoSpace is an ideal partner for Virgin Mobile's content service."
InfoSpace Mobile's storefront will initially provide consumers monophonic and polyphonic ringtones, graphics, wallpaper and games. The company will soon augment its offering with TruTones™ including songs, artist voice recordings and sound effects, as well as promotional marketing programs featuring artists and other specialized content. In addition to the media downloads component, InfoSpace Mobile is providing the underlying technology for the entire Virgin Mobile Bites mobile entertainment service. In this role, InfoSpace will host and manage the delivery of all content across Virgin Mobile's Bites Web and WAP storefronts, as well as the entire portfolio of messaging services across SMS and MMS. Furthermore, InfoSpace will employ its state-of-the-art image transcoding and handset optimization capability for the initiative.
"A positive user experience is paramount to Virgin Mobile Bites," said Kendra VanderMeulen, executive vice president, InfoSpace Mobile. "We have developed a comprehensive certification process for handset-based applications to ensure that all of the content offered on the service is properly rendered, so subscribers buy the best content for any given handset model."
About InfoSpace Mobile™
InfoSpace Mobile™ is a leading provider and publisher of mobile content and applications that make it possible for media companies and content brands to reach a wide audience of wireless subscribers with compelling content and marketing promotions. InfoSpace Mobile's rich catalogue of entertainment, information and personalization applications is designed to accelerate widespread adoption of mobile data applications by consumers. These applications and services can be managed and delivered through InfoSpace Mobile's platform that provides telco-grade solutions harmonized across all leading mobile technologies, networks, devices and mobile media formats. InfoSpace Mobile's customers include wireless operators, device manufacturers, retailers and entertainment companies.
InfoSpace Mobile is a division of InfoSpace, Inc (Nasdaq:INSP). More information about InfoSpace Mobile can be found at www.infospacemobile.com. More information about InfoSpace Inc. can be found at www.infospaceinc.com.
About Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile Holdings (UK) plc, the UK's largest mobile virtual network operator, is majority owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and uses T-Mobile's network. Since launch in November 1999 the company now has over 4.2 million customers.
In the UK, Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on 0845 6000 600 or on the High Street at approximately 5,000 outlets including Virgin Mobile Specialist Stores, Virgin Megastores, Sainsbury, Tesco, Safeway, Asda, John Lewis, Littlewoods, Argos, The Link, Dixons, Carphone Warehouse, Curry's, Comet, Phones 4 U, TOMO, Woolworths, Toys R Us and Rymans.
Virgin Mobile employs approximately 1,400 staff at three sites, Trowbridge, London and Daventry, and has an outsourced customer service center operated by approximately 200 staff in Middlesbrough. It has been voted one of the top 50 places to work in Britain for two years running in an annual Financial Times survey.
Virgin Mobile's customers are considered the most satisfied in the pre-pay sector according to a recent UK survey by market researchers JD Power and Associates.
This release contains forward-looking statements regarding the InfoSpace's wireless business including its agreement and relationship with Virgin Mobile. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could affect InfoSpace's actual results include future performance of InfoSpace Mobile's media downloads platform and consumer adoption of Virgin Mobile's content and services. A more detailed description of certain factors that could affect actual results include, but are not limited to, those discussed in InfoSpace's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, in the section entitled "Factors Affecting Our Operating Results, Business Prospects and Market Price of Stock." Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. InfoSpace undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
OnPR (for InfoSpace Mobile) Jaimee Minney, 425-454-6843 (US) Mobile: 206-390-6637 [email protected] or Marino Inc. (for InfoSpace Mobile) Jane Gideon, +44 (0)1483 549 035 (UK) [email protected]