Nokia entering games, media market [CTIA IT 04]
Oct 24 2004 - 08:27 PM ET | Nokia
The Wall Street Journal is
reporting [Subscription req.] in tomorrow's issue that cell phone giat Nokia will begin to offer carriers a list of Nokia approved games, ringtones, screensavers, images and videos. In exchange, Nokia will get a commission on each sale. Vodafone and AT&T Wireless are both interested.
bq. Nokia's move highlights how the company, facing its third year of declining revenue, is seeking to expand beyond its core handset and network-equipment business. Nokia forecasts the global market for media and entertainment cellphone content will be valued at €70 billion, or about $89 billion, in 2008 compared with €12 billion last year. But the company's previous attempts to take on a central role in the fast-growing market haven't gone according to plans.
Update: Nokia has launched the service, dubbed Preminet. Full press release after the jump.
*Nokia to Deliver Branded Content From Mobile Media Publisher Starcut as Part of New Preminet Solution*
New Mobile Content Distribution and Transaction System to Make Universal Studios and Warner Music Group Content Available to Operators and Consumers
Nokia, the global leader in mobility, and Starcut Ltd., a leading mobile media publisher, today announced that premium, branded entertainment, life-style and sports content from Starcut will be available as part of the new Preminet Solution, an end-to-end mobile content distribution and transaction service for mobile network operators.
Under the new agreement, Preminet and Starcut will provide operators with branded content such as ringtones, graphics, games and video. Starcut will bring key content to Preminet in the form of well-known music, artist and motion picture brands from its content partners. Universal Studios and Warner Music Group (WMG) are among the first companies working with Starcut to provide content, services and applications for inclusion in the Preminet Master Catalog.
"We have seen throughout the early stages of the mobile media industry that major brands are a key driver for consumer uptake," said Lee Epting, vice president, Forum Nokia. "Starcut brings some of the most prestigious entertainment and life-style brands to the Preminet catalog, which will serve as a key attraction for operators and consumers."
Announced today by Forum Nokia, Nokia's global developer support program, Preminet sources premium Java(TM) and Symbian OS(TM) software from leading developers and content aggregators around the globe to give operators a master catalog of certified applications, games and other mobile content. Preminet content is available as part of an complete end-to-end offering that includes the Preminet Master Catalog, Preminet Service Delivery Platform and Preminet Purchasing Client, an innovative software application that make it easy for end-users to discover, try and buy mobile applications, content and services. Operators can integrate Preminet content into their own download delivery systems or have Nokia provide a complete hosted solution.
"Universal Studios sees the co-operation with Starcut and Nokia through Preminet as a great way to widen its reach in offering operators and their movie-going audiences a possibility to enjoy our movie-related content through mobile devices," said Jeremy Laws, vice president, Media Licensing & Strategy, Universal Studios Consumer Products Group.
"New content delivery solutions such as Preminet are strategically important to WMG as we extend our distribution of mobile music formats to carriers worldwide," said Michael Nash, senior vice president, Internet Strategy & Business Development, Warner Music Group. "We are excited about this opportunity to work with Starcut and Nokia to broaden the market for new products and services developed with our labels and artists."
Working with Starcut, Nokia will provide appealing branded content that will generate revenue for operators and content partners, positioning Preminet as the leading solution for operators to access the best mobile content and applications.
"We are happy to extend our co-operation with Nokia and our content partners to deliver world-class mobile media services to operators. Starcut has the expertise to translate entertainment brands into powerful mobile experiences that support operators in their efforts to increase the use of mobile data," says Juha Tiihonen, CEO of Starcut.
