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Moviso Introduces Mobile Media to Retailers With First Prepaid Ringtone Cards
Secures Distribution in More Than 6,000 Nationwide Retail Outlets Including 7-Eleven, Wherehouse Music and Major Wireless Carrier Stores
LOS ANGELES, Nov 20, 2002 - Moviso LLC, the leading provider of mobile media products and services in North
America and a wholly owned subsidiary of Vivendi Universal Net USA, is the first company to take prepaid phone cards beyond air time to
sell ringtones at retail.
Moviso has secured initial distribution through more than 6,000 stores nationwide, including 7-Eleven, Wherehouse Music, other regional
retailers and leading wireless carriers. Universal Music and Video Distribution (UMVD) and Delconn Wireless will handle sales and
distribution for the prepaid ringtone cards.
It is estimated that more than 1.5 million ringtones are purchased on the Internet each month in North America, with the youth market driving
much of this demand. Ringtone usage will explode in the youth mobile market, which is expected to double in size in 2003, to more than 49
million subscribers. Several trends point to tremendous growth in U.S. revenues, including the more than $1 billion spent on ringtones last year
in Europe, advanced handsets reaching the U.S. market, and new retail distribution nationwide.
"Building on the familiarity of retail distribution and prepaid cards to deliver mobile content is an important tactic in helping drive demand for
mobile media here in the U.S., a possibility that should make the wireless carriers and media companies happy," said Mike McGuire,
research director in the Media group with GartnerG2. "Providing consumers with ways to personalize their mobile phones goes beyond
revenue - it can assist the carrier in strengthening their brand equity with the customer."
Revenue Builder for Retailers, Carriers and Media Companies
Moviso prepaid ringtone cards bring added revenue to retailers, carriers and media and entertainment companies looking for additional ways
to reach mobile consumers. Following early product trials Moviso found that consumers purchase and change ringtones twice as often - from
an average of three purchases per month to more than seven - when they are familiar with the products at retail. The release of prepaid
ringtone cards brings the retail industry into the exploding market for mobile data services and further drives consumer interest in mobile media.
"7-Eleven has become a prepaid destination, providing a broad assortment of prepaid services, replenishment time and accessories for
convenience-minded consumers," said Tim McCallum, product director of services for 7-Eleven, Inc. "Moviso prepaid ringtone cards are
such a unique new product addition, prior to our January launch we decided to include free samples of the product in our AT&T Free-2-Go
Wireless/Nokia 3361 holiday gift boxes while supplies last at participating 7-Eleven stores during December."
The new retail product offers strong marketing and promotional opportunities, such as cross-promotion with Web site content, and distribution
through a range of media such as stickers, CD jewel cases, playing cards, bottle caps, cereal boxes and more.
"Prepaid ringtone cards are a logical and complementary extension to a retailer's current music and entertainment product line," said Cliff
O'Sullivan, senior vice president of marketing and artist development at UMVD. "Consumers do not purchase music in a vacuum, they buy the
CD, t-shirt and tickets in one place, and ringtone cards are a great offering for that purpose. We expect to see these cards sell along side
existing music products and included in retail promotions, including holiday gift packs, artist tours and new album releases."
Easy 1-2-3 Access to Ringtones
Ringtone cards let consumers personalize their mobile phone to ring with favorite songs and are offered in five different genres - Pop,
Hip-Hop, Rock, Disco and Movie & TV Themes (see attached graphic). Each prepaid card purchase gives consumers three ringtones, which
they can select from a catalog of over 40 compositions in each genre - or from Moviso's catalog of more than 2,000 licensed ringtones.
Consumers can browse the library of content on Moviso's consumer site, the leading mobile media destination, YourMobile.com.
Like other prepaid products, the card is ready for use immediately after purchase. Each prepaid ringtone card contains simple 1-2-3
instructions and a unique PIN for accessing the content. Consumers dial the 1-800 number or visit the Web site listed on the card, enter the
PIN number, select the content they want and the ringtone is immediately sent to the phone.
Pricing, Availability and Phone Requirements
Moviso ringtone cards will be available at more than 1000 wireless carrier stores and 150 Wherehouse Music stores nationwide in
November 2002. The products will be available in up to 5,800 participating 7-Eleven stores nationwide in January 2003. Prepaid cards are
$4.99 each and available on most handsets from AT&T, Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile.
Moviso will announce additional retail partners and prepaid entertainment products next year, including cards featuring graphics and celebrity
voicemail greetings. Retailers can order Moviso prepaid ringtone cards from Mike Davis at UMVD, (818) 777-4120,
mike.davis@umusic.com; and Marlon Harris at Delconn Wireless, (714) 978-9330, mharris@delconn.com.
About Moviso LLC
Moviso LLC is a leading provider of mobile media products and services worldwide. Moviso is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vivendi
Universal Net USA - the U.S. arm of VUNet, Vivendi Universal's Paris-based Internet and technology unit. The company delivers complete
mobile media solutions to wireless carriers, device manufacturers, retailers and entertainment companies worldwide, including Bell Mobility,
Cingular Wireless, Rogers/AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Kyocera, Yahoo! Music, AOL, Boost Mobile, Sony Ericsson, Sony Music
Entertainment, Yamaha Corp. and Vivendi Universal. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles with representatives in Miami, Paris,
Sydney, Hong Kong and Tokyo. For more information on Moviso, visit http://www.moviso.com.
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