LPWire: Disney Branded Wireless Available to French Consumers for First Time
Walt Disney Internet Group and Bouygues Telecom Enter into Content Distribution Agreement for i-mode Content
Walt Disney Internet Group and Bouygues Telecom have entered into a content arrangement that brings Disney Mobile branded wireless content to French consumers for the first time. The Disney content is now available on the Bouygues Telecom i-mode(TM) service.
Disney Mobile will initially include two services, ring tones and graphics, based on Disney's lineup of classic characters, which include Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, as well as on modern Disney classics, such as "Beauty and the Beast," and "The Lion King." The services will be available to users on a monthly subscription basis within the i-mode menu. The Disney Fan Magazine, a free information service on the latest products and events from Disney, will also be offered.
The Disney Mobile service will be accessible directly from i-mode(TM) handsets, with a simple and easy to use interface. Over time, the companies plan to expand the content offering to take advantage of enabling technologies allowing them to offer advanced games and utilities.
"We are very pleased to be working with Bouygues Telecom on the French launch of i-mode(TM)," said Mark Handler, executive vice president and managing director, International, Walt Disney Internet Group. "We have had great success offering Disney content on the i-mode(TM) platform in Japan. This allows us to bring the magic of Disney to consumers in France where and whenever they want it."
Attila Gazdag, managing director of the Walt Disney Internet Group, Europe, remarked: "i-mode(TM) offers many opportunities for advanced mobile content, especially given the ease of access and navigation for the consumer."
"We are proud to be partnering with the Walt Disney Internet Group to make available Disney content via i-mode(TM)," said Benoit Louvet, i-mode(TM) director, Bouygues Telecom. "The extremely high-quality standard of the Disney content is well suited to the exciting opportunities provided by i-mode(TM) handsets, and we look forward to allowing the Disney Magic to be experienced over a mobile phone."
About Walt Disney Internet Group
Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) provides strategic leadership and operational management for The Walt Disney Company's (NYSE:DIS) Internet properties including category leaders Disney.com, ESPN.com, and ABCNEWS.com. WDIG has led the way in developing new forms of interactive content, such as its Enhanced TV service which showcases the convergence of video and interactive programming, and is a market leader in developing and distributing entertainment and informational content to new platforms. Through relationships with some of the world's largest wireless carriers, WDIG distributes content and services to wireless users under the Disney, ESPN and ABC brands. Steve Wadsworth is president of WDIG, which is headquartered in North Hollywood and has operations in Seattle, New York, Orlando, Fla., Tokyo and London.
About Bouygues Telecom
Created in 1994, Bouygues Telecom has made a name for itself in the mobile phone market by pursuing one ambition: to become the industry standard in personal communication by offering its customers -- whether individual consumers or companies -- useful, simple, high-quality products at an accessible price. Recognised as an innovative player on the market, with its invention of the contract and free voicemail, Bouygues Telecom is now one of the world's leading operators and has extended its international coverage to 160 countries. In 2001, it posted sales of 2.7 billion euros, up 32%.
In November 2002, Bouygues Telecom launched i-mode(TM), the "Internet in your pocket," offering e-mail and over 80 different, practical and easily accessible services, provided by major brands. i-mode(TM), which offers its customers continuous access to Internet sites while on the move with just a few button clicks as well as colour screens, has been a major success in Japan with 35 million customers and has already been adopted by several countries in Europe. i-mode and the logo i-mode are trademarks or registered trademarks of NTT DoCoMo, Inc. in Japan and other countries.
--Posted December 18, 2002
Source: Walt Disney Internet Group