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Optus & Macquarie 1st to launch cellcasting & live radio

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Announcement Companies & Industry
New Delhi, 8th September, 2006: Optus and Macquarie Radio Network (MRN) today announced a partnership to offer content to Optus' 6.4 million mobile customers via Optus' innovative new mobile pod-casting style service termed - 'Mobile Cellcasting'.
 
Optus and MRN are first-to-market in Australia with this new mobile cellcasting service, utilising technology from mobile platform provider - OnMobile.
 
While traditional podcasts require users to first download the podcast clips to their iPod's or their Computers, Cellcasting enables people to access this content from ANY mobile phone. There is also no waiting for the clip to download.
 
By simply dialling 955 on their handset, Optus mobile customers get access to 'On Demand' and 'Event Based' content. Customers are presented with a suite of content which is updated throughout the day. Customers can control the service through voice-activated commands.
 
The content is simple to access, swift and convenient, data connection is not required and customers do not require any special handsets, software or connection technology.
 
"Our Optus partnership means MRN's diverse range of content will be available to millions of Optus customers Australia-wide," said MRN CEO, Angela Clark. "In phase one, Optus mobile phone customers will be able to access a selection of our audio podcast menu including Ray Hadley's "Continuous Call Team" coverage of the rugby league finals' series, and speciality cellcasts in the categories of entertainment, lifestyle and travel."
 
"The mobile phone is increasingly becoming a key entertainment device. Partnering with Macquarie Radio Network to provide this audio service is another step in providing all Optus mobile customers with a wide range of lifestyle, sports, news and general entertainment services. 955 is free to trial for all Optus mobile customers until 15 October," Chris Lane, Group Director, Products and Delivery, Optus Consumer said.
 
Examples of the available Cellcasting Content (Phase One);
 
Ray Hadley's "Continuous Call Team" - coverage of rugby league finals' series "Continuous Call Team Highlights" - archived radio segments of 2006 Lifestyle "� updated weekly Travel & Leisure "� updated weekly Entertainment content
 
"Cellcasting opens up to a significantly larger audience for podcast content where consumers with even the most basic mobile handsets can get access to it. Live Radio and Sports coverage on all mobiles offers exciting opportunities to the program producers and the advertisers alike" said Pratapa Bernard, Director & Country Manager, OnMobile Australia.
 
About OnMobile:
 
OnMobile, the leader in telecom Value Added Services (VAS) leader, was spun out of Infosys Technologies (NASD: INFY) in 2000. OnMobile offers its proven and successful MMP2500 Multimodal Platform that offers an integrated mobile applications environment integrating SMS, WAP and Voice interactivity. With many innovations like Live Audio Streaming, Interactive media programming, Karaoke and m-Commerce, OnMobile enables telecom operators and media houses to deploy and operate high-margin, high revenue telecom Value Added Services. Headquartered in Bangalore, India OnMobile has a large development centre and a research and testing lab. It has offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Singapore and Sydney. www.onmobile.com

 

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First Published: Sep 08 2006 | 12:00 AM IST

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