Miles
16-06-2003, 05:35 AM
Walt Disney, the US entertainment group, is teaming up with Vodafone to offer Disney-branded cartoons, games and music through the world's largest mobile phones operator.
The deal, due to be announced on Monday, aims to exploit growing demand for themed ringtones, picture messaging and movie clips on the latest generation of phones. It follows several months of talks between the two companies.
Up to now, demand for such services has been constrained by the slow roll-out of third-generation mobile technology. But several leading media groups expect 3G services, boasting wire less broadband connections, to generate additional subscription sales.
The Vodafone link-up marks a new phase in Disney's attempts to lift internet sales. It is the largest mobile operator to agree terms with the US group, which has wireless distributio n deals in 18 countries.
Disney executives hope to emulate the success of mobile content sales in Japan, where the group has won 3.4m subscribers since launching wireless internet services two years ago.
Disney is also preparing to announce several broadband partnerships with European internet service providers, aimed at capturing a share of the interactive gaming and education market .
Read More (http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1054966121678&p=1012571727108)
The deal, due to be announced on Monday, aims to exploit growing demand for themed ringtones, picture messaging and movie clips on the latest generation of phones. It follows several months of talks between the two companies.
Up to now, demand for such services has been constrained by the slow roll-out of third-generation mobile technology. But several leading media groups expect 3G services, boasting wire less broadband connections, to generate additional subscription sales.
The Vodafone link-up marks a new phase in Disney's attempts to lift internet sales. It is the largest mobile operator to agree terms with the US group, which has wireless distributio n deals in 18 countries.
Disney executives hope to emulate the success of mobile content sales in Japan, where the group has won 3.4m subscribers since launching wireless internet services two years ago.
Disney is also preparing to announce several broadband partnerships with European internet service providers, aimed at capturing a share of the interactive gaming and education market .
Read More (http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1054966121678&p=1012571727108)