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Mforma Group and Index Corporation Form Strategic Alliance
Alliance offers world’s largest mobile content catalogue and
world’s most extensive carrier reach
Kirkland, Wash., USA, and Tokyo, Japan — December 16, 2002 — Mforma Group, the leading wireless content supplier in the U.S. and Europe, and Index Corporation, the leading wireless content supplier in Japan, announced today the establishment of a strategic alliance. The agreement provides for the two companies to combine their content libraries as well as share resources and access to each other’s customers, which currently include more than 60 of the world’s leading mobile operators. The alliance effectively creates the world’s largest wireless content source and gives mobile operators cost-saving access to virtually any available content for SMS, MMS (Multimedia), WAP, Java, iMode, BREW, and others.
Although Japan has been leading the world in the delivery of wireless data, carriers in the rest of the world are now reporting strong sales of new content, including Java, BREW, and MMS applications. In forming their alliance, Mforma and Index are acting to take full advantage of the strong worldwide market growth and are solidifying their position as world leading content providers. Additionally, Mforma and Index are cooperating to bring both companies’ know-how to the worldwide market for wireless internet services. The innovative applications they are contributing to the marketplace include Index’ Smode remote monitoring system, and Mforma’s SMS/MMS based mobile concierge service.
“We are very pleased that this alliance with Mforma benefits all our customers,” said Masami Ochiai, Index chairman and CEO. “It brings new content from several hundred companies around the world to our customers in Japan and other Asian countries, and allows us to deliver our content to service providers in the U.S., South America, and Europe.”
“This alliance is a reflection of the growing demand for wireless data around the world,” said Daniel Kranzler, Mforma chairman and CEO. “We create great efficiencies by working together with Index. Our worldwide service providers benefit because we now provide them a single source for all of the world’s best content, at a lower cost and at a much faster time to market.”
Mforma and Index have also agreed to share each other’s distribution licenses for branded content. The companies have established unique agreements with some of the largest branded content companies in the world, such as Paramount, Sony Pictures, and Hallmark, to bring their movie titles, brands and images, songs and games to the mobile consumer.
About Index
Index is Japan's leading wireless content provider, serving every major carrier including NTT DoCoMo, KDDI, and J-Phone. Index has distinguished itself with a customer centric approach to superior technology and content development. By harnessing its expertise in such technologies as Java, i-mode, FOMA, and ezweb, Index has provided games, information resources, and other wireless content to millions of subscribers in Japan. In addition, Index aggressively develops cutting edge wireless applications such as Smode, a remote monitoring system, along with other innovative wireless technologies and services. Index is a publicly traded company on the JASDAQ and investors include Asahi National Broadcasting, Fuji Television, Matsushita Communications, and Mitsubishi Corporation.
About Mforma
Mforma provides content, technology and wireless data management services to the world’s leading operators reaching over 300 million subscribers. Mforma is the first company to drive over 1 billion game transactions for its operator customers, which include Cingular Wireless, AT&T Wireless, Verizon, Telefonica, Vodafone, T-Mobile, Sprint PCS, Nextel, Alltel, Telstra, Telus, Bell Mobility, Airtel Movil, Radiolinja, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom and Orange. Mforma operator customers collectively serve 90 percent of wireless subscribers in the U.S. and 70 percent of wireless subscribers in Europe. Mforma’s content catalog includes over 250 of the most compelling SMS, MMS, WAP and Java games and entertainment applications, selected from over 300 leading content developers in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Mforma Group offers Java, SMS and MMS Quick Start programs that include best-of-breed titles, a proven platform, total content management services, companion Web sites and branded content such as Spiderman®, Rat Race®, Top Gun® and Britney Spears Crossroads™ titles.
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