Overloaded - Pocket Media, an Amsterdam-based newcomer in the telecommunications market, will soon launch a comprehensive content range for the latest generation mobile phones. Independently as well as through the help of various partners Overloaded formulated and developed a number of concepts currently marketed in partnership with Universal Music, Sanoma Puzzelsport, 10VoorTaal, GlamaGo, Spinnin Records, SportPlaza and De Volkskrant. With its unique entertainment and infotainment content Overloaded focuses on the European market. The Netherlands is considered as a pilot market. Germany and the UK will follow in the third quarter of this year.

Ashu Mathura, founder and director of Overloaded: “The latest generation mobile telephones, such as the XDA by O2, offers a number of unique features. Overloaded wants to optimise these features as soon as possible so that the consumer can benefit from the phone’s unique interactive capabilities directly following the launch of the new product.

Subsequent to KPN (with iMode), other telecom players are also introducing their version of mobile internet to the consumer market. On a provider-independent basis Overloaded offers consumers a wide range of products and services for all Java phones, Microsoft PocketPCs and Microsoft Smartphones connected to GPRS. Towards
the end of this year, Overloaded content will also be available to iMode users.

Ashu Mathura: “Even at this early stage it has become clear to us that the iMode telephone has been well received by consumers in the Netherlands and Germany. Sales figures are very much in line with expectations and there clearly is demand for such multimedia telephones. I am convinced that in the coming months other
providers of mobile telephones and mobile networks will be poised to launch their new-generation telephones and networks. In partnership with these parties Overloaded is committed to providing the consumer with useful, relevant and entertaining content. Next to their keys and wallet everyone carries a mobile phone nowadays. So why not carry Overloaded content in the bargain?

Puzzles and Games
In collaboration with Sanoma Puzzelsport and 10VoorTaal, for example, puzzle and language enthusiasts are challenged with quizzes, linguistic problems and other knowledge games on, e.g., the XDA from O2 and forthcoming devices by Vodafone (V-mode, Orange and T-Mobile. Payment takes place on a per-game basis.

Ashu Mathura: “We expect that consumers will be prepared to pay 35 eurocent per game (pay-per-play), given that we succeed in providing clear added value by way of an always-on connection, multi-player games, competitions, real-time high scores (contests), real prize money and new content and games on a daily or weekly
basis.”

Mobile Multi-player Games
In addition to puzzles, Overloaded will launch home-grown game products for the mobile gamer as early as this year. This makes Overloaded one of the first companies in Europe to enter the mobile multi-player game market with new levels every week, real-time high scores and real (money) prize opportunities. The first concepts to be introduced include exciting games such as Magnets, Fraxxon, MeltDown and Astrox.