Russian Mobile Content News
Newsletter, June 01 - July 13, 2006

IVR mobile translator
Content provider Mobilnye Perevody and a producer of intellectual platforms Vulkan have launched a voice mobile translator. The service allows to translate from Russian into main foreign languages and back with operator's assistance over IVR.
Source: http://www.procontent.ru/news/1613.html

UMC in Ukraine offers mobile TV
Online TV is a new service for UMC subscribers including SIM-SIM and JEANS users whereby they may view TV programs and selected content online. Subscribers can watch the second largest Ukrainian TV channel 1+1 as well as video clips, cartoons, sports. UMC is a 100% subsidiary of the Russian cellular operator MTS serving 14.6 mln subscribers in Ukraine. According to MForum, another Ukrainian operator Astelit (Life brand) started mobile TV service in the spring of 2005. By 2006 250,000 Astelit users have tried the service.
Source: http://www.mforum.ru/sub/content/news/034777.htm

INFON provides exclusive content for "COMEDY CLUB on TNT"
Content provider INFON started exclusive cooperation with TNT TV channel for the "COMEDY CLUB on TNT" TV show. The INFON catalog will include photos of Comedy Club "residents", animated pictures, mobile themes, ringtones, realtones, audio-trailers in MP3 format, Java applications, Java games and video-tones. COMEDY CLUB on TNT is the first Russian TV show in the stand-up comedy format. Over the year the show has become very popular in the country.
Source: http://www.mforum.ru/news/article/034786.htm

Mobile marketing action for SunInterbrew's T beer
Content provider A1 and BTL agency A-COM developed promo action "Flirt" for the T beer brand of SunInterbrew. Buyers of T beer are offered to send by SMS a special code indicated on the beer bottle and participate in the promo campaign. Every sender receives a link to download a Java application T-maTe, an image from T and a chance to win a prize. T-maTe is a colorful Java application to be integrated in user's phone menu. T-maTe allows users to communicate without SMS, get connected to different chats, including private, and flirt with other users.
Source: http://www.mforum.ru/news/article/034873.htm

MegaFon introduces uniform settings for value added services
The third largest Russian cellular operator MegaFon finalized another stage of federal project "Easy access to services", the most important part of development strategy related to innovative services. The most important characteristic of uniform settings is that a unified profile allows handset manufacturers to provide identical correlation between network code and the settings embedded in the handset for the subscribers of this operator. Hence, most handsets will not require the subscriber to apply settings independently: if handset manufacturer has already provided such functionality, the handset will automatically integrate the settings. Two leading manufacturers, Nokia and LG, are already using uniform profile data for embedding in a new line of handsets which will come into the market in a month. All subscribers of MegaFon network currently use unified configuration parameters of handsets when dealing with GPRS/EDGE –based services irrespective of tariff plan and the subscriber's subscription region. Some subscribers need to integrate handset applications prior to work with such value added services as WAP portal navigation. Procedures related to memorizing used parameters have maximally simplified for the owners of such handsets.
Source: http://www.procontent.ru/news/1681.html

i-Free sets up quality control service
Content provider i-Free has set up a testing and quality assurance unit as part of its commitment to delivering top quality. The new unit will put in place a set of proactive measures to further improve subscriber service. Commitment to quality and attention to subscriber needs have always been strategic priorities for i-Free, a provider of cutting-edge content services that has made it its mission to deliver top quality and help subscribers when they run into difficulties trying to download content. The company already runs a 24-hour subscriber support service, an automatic content download directory, and a help website at help.i-free.ru. i-Free also operates a download monitoring system to help subscribers in case of download difficulties.
Source: http://www.procontent.ru/release/76.html

Shamrock Games presented Java game "Sasha+Masha"
Shamrock Games (Next Media Group subsidiary) announced a new Java game "Sasha+Masha". Captivating comic quest game is based on popular distraction format TV-series on TNT-Network. The game reproduces the feel and content of the TV-series. As on TV screen, in the game Sasha and Masha find themselves in everyday situations. The game is a test in human psychology. Development of the game plot and even the future of the characters' relations depend on their behavior. Wrong action and a remark from your partner will immediately follow. Several mistakes, and the whole relationship can be broken. "It is not the first game we make based on popular TV products in alliance with TNT Networks," said Nadejda Antsiferova, Marketing Director of Next Media Group. "We have already developed such successful titles as Dom-2 and Hunger. Gaming products based on TV shows are a wonderful facility for enhancing relations with TV audience, including loyalty increase, interaction with favorite characters between series, brand awareness support." Sasha + Masha's mobilization started long before the game release. In early 2006 Next Media Group developed a series of popular downloadable mobile comic books.
Source: http://www.nextmedia.ru

Astelit's offer for content funs
Ukrainian cellular operator Astelit (Life brand) started a new service Logo-Melo-Man to its subscribers. The service offers hit melodies and original pictures on unlimited to download conditions. Logo-Melo-Man monthly subscription is $1.4 to get selected content for free or download the most popular content with 50% discount.
Source: http://www.mforum.ru/sub/content/news/034997.htm

Nikita Mobile provides train timetable service
Content provider Nikita Mobile and Internet portal www.tutu.ru developed SMS service to deliver timetables of the Moscow suburban trains. Users send a destination name by SMS ($0.25) and receive SMS reply with train timetable for the current date. For travellers Nikita Mobile also offers mobile books.
Source: http://www.mforum.ru/sub/content/news/035009.htm

SMS-Media: magazine subscription by SMS
Content and service provider SMS-Media and a magazine Mobile GAMER released a service allowing to subscribe to a print magazine by SMS. The service user sends SMS with his name and delivery address. The SMS price covers post delivery and the magazine issue price.
Source: http://www.mforum.ru/sub/content/news/035016.htm

SMS voting "The most stylish in Russia"
Celebrity magazine HELLO! and content provider iNMotion Interactive launched SMS voting "The most stylish in Russia". HELLO! readers will vote for their idols by SMS.
Source: http://www.mforum.ru/sub/content/news/035050.htm

LuchsheNET partnering with Zindell Technologies
Content provider LuchsheNET signed an agreement with Zindell Technologies, an Israeli developer of mobile content and Java applications. According to the agreement LuchsheNET will represent interests of Zindell Technologies in Russia and distribute its glamour and premium mobile content in the country.
Source: http://www.procontent.ru/

Fresh-Media started SMS TV services in Kazakhstan
Russian company Fresh-Media, a specialized provider of TV services based on mobile technologies, entered the Kazakhstan market. The company launched SMS TV shows on a new interactive channel Fan Club TV produced by Alma-TV, the largest operator of cable TV newtworks in Kazakhstan.
Source: http://www.mforum.ru/sub/content/news/035142.htm

COOES.COM will distribute GAMEPROM's content in China
Russian developer of mobile content GAMEPROM and a leading content provider in China Republic COOES.COM have declared of long range mutual cooperation. Within this cooperation COOES.COM will distribute and promote Java games by GAMEPROM in the Chinese market.
Source: http://www.mforum.ru/sub/content/news/035156.htm

First mobile information agency in Belarus
Streamline, the largest VAS provider in Belarus, has received an official status of mobile information agency. On June 15 the Ministry of Information of Belarus has registered the first agency of mobile information in the country. Previously Belarus had seven official information agencies. Streamline has been offering information and entertainment services since 2002. Among its mobile services are SMS-Info 511, SMS-Subscription, SMS-Table, MMS-Info 511 and Inform-Bureau. The services are available to 4.8 mln people; a number of daily requests is exceeding 35,000. Recently Streamline offered to its subscribers mobile content services from INFON, the leading Russian content provider.
Source: http://www.sotovik.ru/news/news_23176.html?type=dispatch

Celltick launches LiveScreen Media
Celltick Technologies launched LiveScreen Media, the first platform to turn a phone's idle screen into an interactive mobile marketing channel. LiveScreen Media delivers 'teaser' messages directly onto the phone's idle screen when - and only when - it is not in use. The teasers can take the form of sponsored content, brand campaigns or promotional messages. Users can select to receive news headlines, traffic reports, games, sports updates or alerts about sales. When subscribers see anything that interests them, all they have to do is click once to access associated content or services. Celltick Technologies is headquartered in London, has an R&D center in Israel and offices in China, India and Russia.
Source: http://www.celltick.ru

VimpelCom releases mobile entertainment cards
Cellular operator VimpelCom (Beeline brand) has announced mobile entertainment cards. The cards are payment cards to purchase mobile content including ringtones, images, games, theme subscriptions. The cards are for the prepaid type of Beeline subscribers and at the first stage will be available in the Moscow region. The company has released eight types of cards (For her, For him, Music-Cinema, Assorti, Superhit, Hit-parade, Games, Fun-subscription) and launched a WAP site for mobile content: fun.beonline.ru.
Source: http://www.cforum.ru/news/article/035369.htm

i-Free published first mobile book on business
i-Free has released the mobile book Games of Marketing by Anton Popov - Russia's first ever book on business published in mobile format. Games of Marketing has taken a shortcut to its readers as the mobile book was released earlier than its print version. Games of Marketing starts a new mobile book series - Literature for Business, planned by i-Free. The series will supplement i-Free's already bulging catalogue of mobile books spanning many different genres of modern and classical literature, listing hundreds of bestsellers, books for children, school cheat sheets, directories, traffic rules.
Source: http://www.i-free.ru

Mobile subscribers in Russia & Ukraine in June 2006
AC&M research and consulting company has released the latest statistics for the Russian and Ukrainian cellular markets. Russia: a number of mobile users has reached 140 mln (2.8 mln growth in June 2006 and 42.6 mln gain since June 2005); penetration rate is 97% (2% gain over June 2006 and 29% growth since June 2005). Ukraine: a number of mobile users has reached 36 mln (1.3 mln increase over June 2006 and 16.3 mln gain since June 2005); penetration rate is 76% (3% gain over June 2006 and 34% growth since June 2005).
Source: http://www.acm-consulting.com

------------------------------------------------------------
ADVERTISEMENT
3rd Nordic Mobile Media Conference "How to Make Money in the Mobile Media Markets?"
September 6-7, 2006, Riga, Latvia
Conference discusses the Mobile Media strategies from different perspectives - mobile operators', media's, content providers', etc. Real life cases are being presented by the media companies. Conference addresses the following topics:
- What are the key success factors in the Mobile Media markets?
- What strategies are available for media firms and mobile operators in this new market?
- Which content and services are in demand today, tomorrow?
- What partnerships are needed for success in the Mobile Media market?
More information on www.mmconference.com
------------------------------------------------------------

To subscribe to this newsletter, please, send e-mail to: michael (at) adminltd.com