Wireless Provider Teams Up with MVPs of the Mobile Gaming Industry
WARREN, N.J., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- If idle hands are the devil's
workshop, then Virgin Mobile USA is making sure its customers have plenty to
keep theirs busy. The nation's top wireless provider to the youth market
today announced the launch of a new suite of downloadable mobile gaming
content.
For its gaming debut, Virgin Mobile's platform will feature more than 20
downloadable games, ranging from sports, racing, puzzles, shooters, action,
casino games and "old school," arcade-style offerings.
"Our debut set of games has Virgin Mobile customers covered, whether
they're serious gamers or just looking to casually pass some time," said
Howard Handler, chief marketing officer of Virgin Mobile USA. "And, we will
continue to add relevant titles to our catalog and take the overall gaming
experience to the next level for our customers."
Virgin Mobile's array of new games takes advantage of the higher-speed and
higher-bandwidth capabilities of its brand new 3G platform, launched at the
end of September. Its newest handset -- the Flasher V7 camera phone -- will
be the first phone in Virgin Mobile's lineup to plug into these 3G network
capabilities, and, therefore, the first to offer users access to all the new
games.
"We've tapped some of the top mobile gaming companies to shape a catalog
that really meshes with the interests of our user base," said Handler.
"Unlike other carriers, we will not be throwing everything, plus the kitchen
sink, into our gaming mix."
Strong Roster of Mobile Gaming Partners
Helping Virgin Mobile get its game on are four of the industry's top names
in mobile gaming: Airborne Entertainment; Digital Bridges; JAMDAT Mobile
Inc.; and THQ Wireless, Inc.
Below is an overview of each partner's initial contributions:
Airborne Entertainment Ltd.:
* Ben Chase, Treasure Hunter - Help Ben face off against poisonous
snakes, ravenous tigers and mummies as you guide him through over a
dozen challenging levels.
* Boulder Dash ME- All the excitement, challenges and physics of the
original game, now on your phone.
* MAXIM To Go Bull Buster - Step into the saddle with MAXIM To Go Bull
Buster, the mobile mechanical bull game that takes MAXIM hotties for
the ride of their lives!
* Skateboard Park Tycoon - Start with an empty parking lot and end with
your master skatepark.
Digital Bridges Ltd.:
* Gauntlet - Experience the magic and mayhem of Gauntlet as one of four
mighty heroes.
JAMDAT Mobile Inc.:
* JAMDAT Basketball - Slam dunk! Dynamic one-on-one basketball action on
your wireless phone.
* BEJEWELED - Popcap's Internet puzzle game puts a wealth of gem-matching
fun at your fingertips.
* JAMDAT Blackjack - Great blackjack action on your wireless phone.
* JAMDAT Bowling - Do you have what it takes to roll a perfect 300?
* Collapse -The popular Internet puzzle game by Gamehouse goes mobile.
* Pitfall! - The wireless version of the classic hit! Guide Pitfall Harry
through more than 200 perilous jungle screens.
* JAMDAT Football - Touchdown! Be the ultimate armchair quarterback.
* JAMDAT Solitaire - The timeless classic is now on your wireless phone.
* Text Twist - Think of as many words as you can with the letters you
have, while you try to beat the clock in this wireless version of the
Gamehouse title.
THQ Wireless:
* Moto GP 2 - The highly-anticipated sequel to one of the most popular
mobile phone games.
* Rootbeer Tapper - Serve them up ice cold, partner! The classic arcade
game available for the first time ever on your wireless phone.
* SpongeBob Darts - Come down to the pineapple under the sea for a game
of darts!
* Snood - Test your intellect by freeing the trapped Snoods.
* Worms - A fun mix of skill, strategy and old-school arcade elements.
* WWE Hardcore - Become one of your favorite WWE Superstars and go for
the pin!
Sweet New "Suite" of Content
All Virgin Mobile customers already have access to VirginXtras -- a suite
of content designed to amuse, distract and amaze. Customers can set up the
Virgin Mobile-pioneered Rescue Ring to get out of a sticky situation. They
can identify a song they hear on the radio with the popular new SongID
feature. And they can browse exclusive content from *MTV and Comedy Central
-- such as TRL Video Voting, the Rock Paper Schizzle game or ringtones from
those wacky "Crank Yankers."
The launch of Virgin Mobile's new 3G network capabilities allows its
customers to access a new high-octane level of content that called "VirginXL."
This sweet new suite of content takes advantage of bigger bandwidth and faster
data speeds to serve up this array of downloadable, full-color games, as well
as wallpapers, screensavers and more. While the Flasher V7 is currently the
only handset in the Virgin Mobile line with access to VirginXL, select new
handsets added to the mix will also have full capabilities.
Virgin Mobile customers with the new Flasher V7 handset can explore and
download all the new features in the VirginXL section of
http://www.virginmobileusa.com. The VirginXL portion of the Web site also
details instructions for downloading games and pricing. Virgin Mobile
customers will pay a one-time fee from $3.99 to $5.99 per each game
downloaded, depending on the title. This fee will be debited directly from
the customer's Pay As You Go balance.
About Virgin Mobile USA, LLC:
Launched nationally in July of 2002, Virgin Mobile USA, LLC has redefined
and set the pace for the entire prepaid wireless category. More than two
million wireless users have chosen Virgin Mobile's Pay As You Go service with
no contracts and no hidden fees. In addition, J.D. Power and Associates has
recognized Virgin Mobile for providing "An Outstanding Customer Service
Experience" under its Certified Call Center Program(SM).
The nation's first mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), Virgin Mobile
is a joint venture between Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Sprint,
which operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless
network in the United States. It is the first wireless provider to focus
exclusively on the needs and desires of the youth. All Virgin Mobile customers
have access to VirginXtras -- a host of music, entertainment and fun lifestyle
features, including exclusive content from strategic partner MTV: Music
Television. Customers with 3G-enabled phones also have access to VirginXL --
the high-octane version of VirginXtras featuring picture messaging,
downloadable games and more.
Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on the Web at
http://www.virginmobileusa.com; at 888-322-1122; or, at more than 14,000
locations, including Amazon.com, Best Buy, Coconuts, CompUSA, F.Y.E., Media
Play, Rite Aid, Safeway, Sam Goody, Sprint Stores, Strawberries, Target
Stores, Wal*Mart, Virgin Megastores and select college bookstores. Top-Up
cards are also available at more than 48,000 locations, including Circle K,
CVS and 7-Eleven stores.
About Airborne:
Airborne Entertainment is a leading publisher of entertainment content for
mobile phones. The company creates, packages, and distributes games, lifestyle
applications, messaging services, ringtones and graphics in conjunction with
the world's most recognizable media and consumer brands. Airborne's
distribution network comprises all tier-one North-American mobile operators,
reaching nearly 100% of enabled mobile subscribers, as well as a growing
number of mobile subscribers in foreign markets. For more information, please
visit http://www.airborne-e.com.
About Digital Bridges:
Founded in 1998, Digital Bridges is a world leader in the creation and
distribution of mobile entertainment solutions. An industry pioneer, Digital
Bridges provides the best in mobile entertainment to a global distribution
network of operators, portals, retailers, interactive TV channels and other e-
commerce outlets, representing over 400 million subscribers worldwide. The
company possesses a unique combination of mobile technology, development and
publishing expertise, and works with many of the world's leading media and
entertainment brands including Crash Bandicoot(TM), Rollerball(TM),
Robocop(TM), The Pink Panther(TM), Platoon(TM), The Fast and the Furious(TM),
Weakest Link, Space Invaders(R), EA SPORTS(TM) FIFA Football 2004 Mobile
International Edition and EA SPORTS(TM) Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R) 2004. UNITY,
the company's best-in-class technology platform, supports all current and
future mobile standards, protocols, technologies and operating systems.
Digital Bridges' investors include Apax Partners, Argo Global Capital and
Openwave Systems Inc. Digital Bridges has its commercial and publishing
headquarters in London, with technology & production divisions in Dunfermline,
Scotland, as well as sales offices in Paris and New York.
For more information, please call +44 (0)20 7901 1760 or visit us at our
corporate site http://www.digitalbridges.com , our games publishing site
http://www.dbigames.com or our mobile games retail packs site
http://www.dbiplay.com
About JAMDAT MOBILE:
JAMDAT Mobile Inc. (Nasdaq: JMDT) is a global publisher of wireless
entertainment applications, including games, ring tones, images and other
content. JAMDAT's application portfolio is based on original and licensed
intellectual properties and includes JAMDAT Bowling, Lemonade Tycoon(TM),
Bejeweled, The Lord of the Rings(R), Tony Hawk's(R) Underground and
Scrabble(R). JAMDAT distributes its applications through wireless carriers,
including AT&T Wireless, China Mobile, Cingular, mm02, Nextel, NTT DoCoMo,
Orange, Sprint, Telefonica Moviles, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Virgin Mobile
and Vodafone. For more information, please visit http://www.jamdat.com
About THQ Wireless:
THQ Wireless(TM) Inc., a subsidiary of THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI), is a
pioneer in mobile entertainment with an expansive catalog of licensed and
original content including products based on the WWE(TM), professional sports
leagues, MotoGP, Worms(R) and popular Nickelodeon properties. Headquartered
in Los Angeles, THQ Wireless has offices in London, Zurich, Madrid, Germany,
Helsinki, Singapore and Beijing with distribution agreements through wireless
carriers, operators, device manufacturers and retailers worldwide. Further
information can be found at http://www.thqwireless.com.
SOURCE Virgin Mobile USA
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Related links:
http://www.virginmobileusa.com
CONTACT:
Anne Green, +1-212-455-8017,
agreen@cooperkatz.com, or Faye Nikolaidis, +1-212-455-8078,
fnikolaidis@cooperkatz.com, both of CooperKatz & Co., for Virgin
Mobile USA
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