Press Releases
DALLAS, TX Sept. 10, 2008
AT&T LAUNCHES NEW SOCIAL NETWORKING APPLICATION FROM INTERCASTING CORPORATION
Platform Satisfies Growing Demand for Mobile Social Networking, Responds to Trends in Maintaining Multiple and Niche Social Networks
Intercasting Corporation Builds on Leadership in Mobile Social Networking
Keep your sites in sight. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) announced today the launch of "My Communities," a new downloadable gateway that lets users create and manage multiple social networking accounts through a single dashboard view on their mobile phone. My Communities was developed by Intercasting Corporation, a leading mobile social networking company. The launch coincides with recent data showing that a majority of social networking users maintain multiple accounts and that a growing number are maintaining their social networks primarily by using wireless handsets.
Application Features
My Communities currently offers a diverse roster of social networks, including MySpace, the mobile-only community Rabble, blogging sites including LiveJournal and Xanga and the photo-sharing site Photobucket. My Communities also features sites whose members share common characteristics such as ethnicity (AsianAve, BlackPlanet, MiGente), faith (FaithBase) or sexual orientation (GLEE). Subscribers get instant access to additional sites as soon as they are added to My Communities and will be alerted to updates when they launch the application - no upgrade is required. Through My Communities, subscribers can register for social sites directly from their phone without ever having to go to the Web, a feature not common with most other social networking applications.
From an easy-to-use dashboard view, My Communities users can upload photos from their phone, view and respond to new messages, approve and deny friend requests and view and post new comments across multiple sites. Users can alternatively click to enter a specific site for a more customized experience. Updates are synched across mobile and online channels in real time.
Subscribers can also access their phone, camera, media gallery and address book while My Communities is running, which enables them, for example, to upload photos to use on one or more social networks and send site content to phone contacts without closing the application.
"Our social networking applications are among our highest-performing category, and we anticipate sustained interest from consumers as social networks continue to explode in popularity and diversify in purpose," said Mark Collins, vice president of Consumer Products for AT&T's wireless unit. "The My Communities application brings unmatched simplicity, increased functionality and deeper integration to this space, a combination we believe will win over active users and newcomers alike."
John Faith, general manager and vice president of MySpace Mobile, said: "MySpace is dedicated to giving all users access to our global community and creating a deeply engaging mobile experience on AT&T. AT&T's My Communities application from Intercasting provides a new channel for our users to connect with each other in ways that fit their on-the-go lifestyle."
Mobile Social Networking
Mobile social networking is on the rise, with analysts forecasting that more than 800 million people worldwide will access social networks through their mobile phones by 2012, up from 82 million in 2007, according to eMarketer.
"Mobile social networking involves more than just shrink-wrapping social networking sites for the mobile device," says John du Pre Gauntt, senior mobile analyst for eMarketer. "It is one of the best opportunities for the mobile ecosystem to drive mobile Internet use to levels comparable to online Internet use."
The AT&T application builds on Intercasting's robust ANTHEMⓇ platform, which enables wireless carriers the option to provide a host of Web-based community and social networking sites to subscribers. ANTHEM also enables social networking site providers, major brands and entertainment properties to easily create social networking initiatives for the mobile platform. With ANTHEM, AT&T has the ability to quickly launch any social networking site in the future.
"Social networking continues to grow exponentially on the Web, and with so many mobile subscribers, it is clear that we have only seen the tip of the iceberg in mobile social networking," said Shawn Conahan, founder and chief executive of Intercasting. "We are excited to be serving AT&T, MySpace and so many other popular social networking partners to bring a mobile-centric representation of these addictive, popular communities to consumers."
My Communities is available on 23 devices for a monthly subscription of $2.99. It can be downloaded from the AT&T MEdia Mall, accessible via AT&T handsets and online at www.att.com/mediamall.
- Related Fact Sheets:
- AT&T Introduces New Social Networking and Mobile Media Apps
- AT&T Mobile TV - Coming to Your Wireless Phone in May
- AT&T Offers More Music Choices and Customization to Mobile Music Lovers
Technorati Tags: AT&T, Social Networks, Mobile Application
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services.
In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, AT&T again ranked No. 1 on Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list and No. 1 on America's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.
Copyright 2008 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.
Note: This AT&T news release and other announcements are available as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. For more information and detailed disclaimer information, please review this announcement in the AT&T newsroom at http://www.att.com/newsroom.
About Intercasting
San Diego-based Intercasting, a leading mobile social networking company, partners with wireless carriers, social networking companies and major brands & entertainment companies across the globe to drive the growth of personalized mobile media through ANTHEMⓇ, its award winning platform. Founded in 2004, Intercasting was the first company to deploy a carrier-grade mobile blogging and social networking application in North America with Rabble. Mobile carriers, brands and social networking sites interested in partnering with Intercasting please email anthem@intercastingcorp.com.
Media Contacts
- Laura Lazear
- mPRm for Intercasting
- 323-933-3399
- llazear@mprm.com
- Heather Buffington
- Fleishman-Hillard for AT&T
- 314-368-3856
- hbuffington@attnews.us
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. & SAN FRANCISCO September 9, 2008
SOCIAL LIFE FROM VERIZON WIRELESS OFFERS DIRECT MOBILE ACCESS TO POPULAR SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES
Verizon Wireless said today it is offering a brand-new application to give customers one-stop access to multiple popular social networking sites on their mobile phones. Called SocialLife, the mobile gateway was introduced at CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2008 in San Francisco.
SocialLife smartly and simply brings together numerous social networking sites catering to different communities, including MySpace, into one easy-to-use application. With SocialLife, Verizon Wireless customers will be able to view messages, approve or deny friend requests, post comments or update status or profiles on their favorite social networking site, all on their wireless phone while on-the-go.
"Social networking is fast and spontaneous, which makes it a perfect fit for a wireless phone. SocialLife gives people the opportunity not only to get to all of their social networking communities at once, but to update, communicate and stay in touch with friends," said Jennifer Byrne, director, Digital Media at Verizon. "By bringing all of these communities together in one place, SocialLife makes it easier for people to stay connected and up-to-date."
"MySpace is committed to providing our global community with tools to discover, share, connect, and communicate in every way they choose," said John Faith, general manager and vice president of MySpace Mobile. "Our deal with Intercasting and Verizon's SocialLife reinforces our leadership in mobile and furthers our goal in creating a deeply engaging MySpace mobile experience across all Verizon phones."
Take a Picture and Add it to Your Profile
SocialLife integrates the camera on a customer's wireless phone, so pictures can be taken within the application, then uploaded with "one-click" to a user's selected community site. Photos can also be shared with friends found in the phone's address book.
Connect to Popular Social Networking Sites
In addition to MySpace, customers can connect to many other diverse social networking sites, including AsianAve, BlackPlanet, FaithBase, GLEE, LiveJournal, MiGente, Photobucket, Rabble, and MTV tr3s through the SocialLife interface. Verizon Wireless is working with Intercasting Corp, a leading mobile social networking company, and utilizing its award-winning ANTHEMⓇ platform, to provide the SocialLife application.
"We know Verizon Wireless is committed to providing the best user experience, so we are proud they selected Intercasting Corp to give their customers enhanced access to many of today's most popular social networking providers," said Shawn Conahan, CEO of Intercasting Corp. "As social networking becomes a larger part of the mobile consumer experience, it is important to provide consumers easier and deeper engagement with the services they love, and SocialLife accomplishes this on many levels."
SocialLife can be found in the "Community" section of Get It NowⓇ-enabled phones or under the "Browse and Download" section of the Media Center on some handsets. The application is available for $1.49 monthly access. Without an unlimited data feature, airtime or megabyte charges may apply, depending on the customer's plan.
For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia
About Intercasting
San Diego-based Intercasting, a leading mobile social networking company, partners with wireless carriers, social networking companies and major brands & entertainment companies across the globe to drive the growth of personalized mobile media through ANTHEMⓇ, its award winning platform. Founded in 2004, Intercasting was the first company to deploy a carrier-grade mobile blogging and social networking application in North America with Rabble. Mobile carriers, brands and social networking sites interested in partnering with Intercasting please email anthem@intercastingcorp.com.
Media Contacts
- Laura Lazear
- mPRm for Intercasting
- 323-933-3399
- llazear@mprm.com
- Jeffrey Nelson
- Verizon Wireless
- 908-559-7519
- Jeffrey.Nelson@verizonwireless.com
London, UK - 17 June 2008
T-MOBILE AND BEBO ANNOUNCE SOCIAL NETWORKING PARTNERSHIP
UK's leading social networking site added to My Social Sites service
T-Mobile and Intercasting Corporation today announced that they have added leading social networking sites Bebo and Piczo to T-Mobile"s ground-breaking My Social Sites service. UK users can now stay in touch with their favourite social networking sites with just one click. The My Social Sites application also allows users to upload pictures from their mobile phone direct to the sites.
My Social Sites is a mobile application that provides users with a single and easy to use interface, which allows social networkers to manage their most important sites in a simple way, direct from their mobile phone. Customers who always want to keep on top of what their friends are up to no longer have to worry about constantly checking their favourite sites for updates. Every time anything new is added, T-Mobile will send a message updating the user. People can then check their messages for free, keeping fully up-to-date whilst on the move.
Bebo and Piczo will be added to the existing My Social Sites - Xanga, LiveJournal, BlackPlanet and Vox and mobile community, Rabble. The technology behind My Social Sites is provided by Intercasting and its award-winning ANTHEM platform. The ANTHEM platform provides social networking category management for T-Mobile through applications, messaging and embedded handset features. Users can add popular new social networking sites as they become available to their mobile devices.
Pauline Lunn, Head of Beyond Voice at T-Mobile said: "More than 800 million people are predicted to use social networks via a mobile phone by 2012, (eMarketer, May 2008) and T-Mobile is tapping into this phenomenon. Our customers have told us that they want to stay in touch with their social networks, wherever they are and My Social Sites allows exactly that. By adding Bebo and Piczo to the service we"ve added two of the industry"s most popular sites."
Ziv Navoth, SVP Marketing and Business Development at Bebo, said: "For an emerging generation the internet and social networking sites in particular are the place where they live their lives out online, but until today, logging off from the Internet also meant logging out of their network. My Social Sites will help our users to extend their Bebo experience by allowing them to converse with one another, share their passions, discover new forms of entertainment and express their identities regardless of where they are."
"Extending the Piczo experience to mobile devices is the next logical step in Piczo's progression as a leading social network catering to the self expression of teens worldwide. With My Social Sites, Piczo members are able to express themselves through photos and stay connected with friends long after they"ve left the comfort of their computer. Our members asked for it - with partners like T-Mobile and Intercasting, we were able to deliver it," Jeremy Verba, CEO of Piczo emphasized in a statement.
"Content creation, communication and managing cost are consistently top on the must-have feature list for mobile social networkers," said Sean Kane, General Manager International at Intercasting Corporation. "My Social Sites delivers on all three with a powerful mobile experience."
My Social Sites allows users to send replies, add comments or post pictures direct from their mobile phone. It costs just 5p to post a comment, send a message or accept a friend request or 20p to add a photo. Users can also search for friends, browse profiles and check out photos for only 20p for 24 hour access.
The My Social Sites application can be downloaded, free of charge, by texting SOCIAL to 49014 from compatible mobile phones. More information can be found here.
About Intercasting
San Diego-based Intercasting, a leading mobile social networking company, partners with wireless carriers, social networking companies and major brands & entertainment companies across the globe to drive the growth of personalized mobile media through ANTHEMⓇ, its award winning platform.
Founded in 2004, Intercasting was the first company to deploy a carrier-grade mobile blogging and social networking application in North America with Rabble. Mobile carriers, brands and social networking sites interested in partnering with Intercasting please email anthem@intercastingcorp.com.
About T-Mobile UK
T-Mobile is one of the world"s largest mobile operators with more than 123 million customers worldwide and is the service provider of choice for 17.1 million customers in the UK, making it one of the largest networks. T-Mobile has a range of innovative products and services, such as Solo, the SIM only option offering market-leading minutes and texts on a 30-day rolling contract; Combi, our best package deal Flext, a unique tariff with a flexible allowance; U-Fix, a tariff that combines pay-as-you-go and a minimum term contract, and web'n'walk, which enables customers to surf the internet on the move.
Competitive high-speed Mobile Broadband tariffs include access to the largest worldwide Wi-Fi network, with more than 1,000 HotSpots in convenient locations in the UK and 27,000 worldwide. Network coverage is among the best in the UK at over 99 per cent of the UK population. T-Mobile operates an advanced 3G HSDPA-enabled network capable of supporting mobile broadband speeds of up 3.6mb per second, rising to 7.2 in the summer of 2008.
For more information about T-Mobile UK, please visit T-Mobile UK.
About Bebo
Bebo is the world's leading global social media network. Building on the notion of traditional social networking websites, Bebo combines community, self-expression and entertainment to enable its users to consume, create, discover and share professional and user-generated content through the Bebo website. Bebo has over 12m unique users in the UK and a total membership of more than 42 million worldwide. Bebo's worldwide users spend an average of 30 minutes a day on the site.
Bebo forms part of AOL's newly created People Networks business unit which combines Bebo, the AIM and ICQ personal communications network, widget technology company Goowy Media and social search and answer service Yedda. People Networks' collection of community platforms reach 80 million unduplicated users worldwide.
Bebo is a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL LLC, a majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX).
* Source for metrics data in this release: comScore Media Metrix, April 2008, except for the Bebo user number, which is internal.
About Piczo, Inc.
Piczo empowers teenagers worldwide to express themselves creatively, build personal communities, and share ideas and experiences with their friends in a safer online environment. Piczo"s customizable content, colourful graphics, glitter text, video, music, and photo editing tools spotlight member creativity without requiring technical knowledge of any kind. Piczo has over 30 million registered user accounts. According to comScore Media Metrix, Piczo had over 8.9 million Monthly Unique Visitors and generated over one billion monthly page views in April 2008. Piczo has offices in San Francisco and London.
Media Contacts
- Laura Lazear
- mPRm for Intercasting
- 323-933-3399
- llazear@mprm.com
- T-Mobile Press Line
- +44 (0) 7017 150 150
- Brands2Life
- +44 (0) 207 592 1200
San Diego - April 22, 2008
INTERCASTING CORP. LAUNCHES THE ANTHEMⓇ GATEWAY USING PHOTOBUCKET'S OPEN API
Intercasting's ANTHEMⓇ Enables Easy Wireless to Web Photo Transfer for Users of World's Leading Photo and Video-Sharing Web Site
Intercasting Corp., a leading mobile media company, today announced the launch of a unique wireless-to-web photo-sharing Photobucket mobile application utilizing its ANTHEMⓇ platform. Built using Photobucket's just-released API, the new ANTHEMⓇ-based application provides Photobucket's nearly 40 million users* with a seamless way to share photos they've captured on their mobile phones and easily upload and transfer them for use anywhere within Photobucket.
Intercasting works with wireless carriers to provide a bevy of web-based community and social networking sites for subscribers through its ANTHEMⓇ platform, which connect mobile carriers with social networking communities and entertainment companies. ANTHEMⓇ is also available to major brands and entertainment companies interested in developing mobile social networking communities.
The Photobucket API enables companies, including Intercasting, to create applications that let users access their Photobucket photos and videos from environments outside Photobucket.com. Since the Photobucket API works on any device with an Internet connection, those environments might include other Web sites, Web applications, desktop applications, browser plug-ins, mobile phones, home-entertainment systems, digital photo frames and digital cameras.
"The Photobucket API lets us tap into a valuable audience of millions of people who store, share and search billions of photos and videos on the Photobucket site," said Shawn Conahan, founder and CEO, Intercasting Corporation. "With more and more people using their mobile phones as an everyday camera, our ANTHEMⓇ application offers an easy way for people to quickly and easily share digital photos with their friends cross platform."
The Photobucket API enables developers to create applications that let users:
- Securely log into their Photobucket accounts
- Create, edit and access albums
- Upload new content to their albums (photos, images and videos)
- Share content from albums via email
- Search through publicly available content on Photobucket
- Access and update metadata (titles, descriptions, tags, etc.)
"Our mission at Photobucket has always been to give people the power to upload and share photos and videos -- whether on blogs, social networks, auction sites, or consumer devices," said Alex Welch, president, Photobucket. "The broad release of our API offers new opportunities for people to illustrate their lives and share what they create with others. We're excited to see what a community of talented developers will do to extend our photo and video platform and tap into the creativity and passion of our users."
Coincident with the opening up of its API, Photobucket has launched an Application Gallery on its Web site where developers can showcase their products and users can find and download applications and discover devices that support the API. At the Application Gallery, Photobucket users can bookmark and share their favorite applications on their Photobucket profile, allowing other Photobucket users to try them out as well. To view the Photobucket Mobile Application Gallery, visit: the Mobile Application Gallery.
For more information about the Photobucket API, please visit http://developer.photobucket.com.
About Intercasting
San Diego-based Intercasting, a leading mobile social networking company, partners with wireless carriers, social networking companies and major brands & entertainment companies across the globe to drive the growth of personalized mobile media through ANTHEMⓇ, its award winning platform.
Founded in 2004, Intercasting was the first company to deploy a carrier-grade mobile blogging and social networking application in North America with Rabble. Mobile carriers, brands and social networking sites interested in partnering with Intercasting please email anthem@intercastingcorp.com.
About Photobucket
Photobucket is the Web's most popular creative hub, with nearly 40 million unique users around the world linking billions of personal photos, graphics, slideshows and videos daily to hundreds of thousands of Web sites, including Bebo, Blogger, Craigslist, eBay, Facebook, Friendster, Hi5, MySpace, Orkut, Xanga and many others.
In addition to linking content, Photobucket users share their personal digital media by email, instant messaging, and mobile devices. Every day, over 7.5 million personal photos, graphics and videos are uploaded to Photobucket for sharing with family, friends and the online world. The company actively moderates content to create a safe environment for its users, partners and advertisers.
Photobucket has offices in Palo Alto, California and Denver, Colorado and is located online at http://www.photobucket.com. For the latest feature announcements and news, please visit the Photobucket blog at http://blog.photobucket.com.
(*) comScore Media Metrix, February 2008. For more information on comScore Networks, please go to http://www.comscore.com.
Media Contacts
- Laura Lazear
- mPRm for Intercasting
- 323-933-3399
- llazear@mprm.com
- LEWIS PR for Photobucket
- Chris Ulbrich
- 415 992 4400
- photobucket@lewispr.com
New York/Hong Kong/San Diego - February 21, 2008
XANGA GOES MOBILE IN HONG KONG WITH CSL
#1 Hong Kong Social Network and #1 Hong Kong Mobile Operator Launch Xanga Mobile Application and Messaging using Intercasting's ANTHEMⓇ Platform
Xanga, the most visited social network in Hong Kong*, and CSL, the largest Hong Kong mobile operator, announced today that they have launched Xanga Mobile to CSL customers through Intercasting's award-winning ANTHEMⓇ platform. For the first time in Hong Kong, CSL customers will have direct access to Xanga through a dedicated mobile application.
The Xanga Mobile on-phone application allows CSL customers to keep in touch with friends, upload pictures directly with their handset's camera, post to their Xanga Weblog and more under one easy-to-use interface, with all screen pages optimised for mobile use. CSL is offering one-month free Xanga Mobile service to its customers upon subscription. The monthly service fee is HK$20, which is inclusive of all data charges. The service is supported by selected handsets and CSL will also pre-install the application software on its popular handsets to make Xanga Mobile available right out of the box.
In addition, the messaging features of Xanga's website will be fully connected to CSL's network through text and multimedia messaging soon.
"CSL is dedicated to providing exciting mobile entertainment to our trend-setting customers," said Christina Teo, Chief Marketing Officer at CSL. "We are delighted to become Hong Kong's first mobile operator to launch Xanga Mobile. The advanced Xanga Mobile application is ideal for bringing the online social network to handsets."
"Our Hong Kong users blog and network like crazy on Xanga's website. Now they can use their cellphones and Xanga Mobile to blog and keep in touch, from anywhere on the CSL mobile network," said John Hiler, Chief Executive Officer of Xanga.
"Social networking is a leading online activity in Hong Kong, but users have been blocked from taking it mobile in large numbers by price, service and technology barriers," said Sean Kane, General Manager International for Intercasting. "It is an honor that CSL and Xanga have chosen the ANTHEMⓇ mobile social networking platform to break these barriers."
Intercasting currently works with wireless carriers to provide a bevy of web-based community and social networking sites for subscribers through its ANTHEMⓇ platform. ANTHEMⓇ is also available to major brands and entertainment companies interested in developing mobile social networking communities.
* Source: comScore World Metrix December 2007.
About Intercasting
Intercasting, the leading mobile social networking platform provider, partners with wireless carriers, social networking companies, major brands and entertainment companies across the globe to drive the growth of mobile social networking through its ANTHEMⓇ platform. ANTHEMⓇ provides application, mobile Internet, device integration and messaging-based solutions. Entities interested in working with Intercasting please email anthem@intercastingcorp.com.
About CSL
CSL is the largest operator in the mobile communications market in Hong Kong. The Company launched its mobile services in 1983, and today operates a world-class GSM / WCDMA network. In April 2006, a joint venture company, CSL New World Mobility Limited to own Hong Kong CSL Limited and New World PCS Limited, was formed. The Company markets its services to various segments through its mobile brands: 1O1O, One2Free and New World Mobility.
CSL introduced its 3G and Wi-Fi services in 2004 and HSDPA in 2006. and has pioneered the launch of HSCSD, GPRS, MMS, EDGE, Video Sharing and "3G Mobile TV" in Hong Kong. For more information about CSL, please visit www.hkcsl.com.
About Xanga
More than 30 million users have started their own free Xanga site to write weblogs, share photos and videos, and meet new friends. www.xanga.com
Media Contacts
- Laura Lazear
- mPRm Public Relations for Intercasting Corp.
- 323-933-3399
- llazear@MPRM.com
- For Xanga:
- Bob Hiler
- bob@xanga.net
- For CSL:
- Rebecca Lee / Tract Tsoi
- AQ Communications Limited
- (852) 2137 9707 / 305 2037
- rlee@aqcomm.com
- ttsoi@aqcomm.com
Barcelona, Spain - February 14, 2008
INTERCASTING PLATFORM TO DELIVER LEADING MOBILE SOCIAL NETWORKING COMMUNITY MOKO TO CARRIERS WORLDWIDE
Barcelona, Mobile World Congress - February 14, 2008
Loop Mobile Limited ("Loop") and Intercasting Corp., which provides ANTHEMⓇ to connect mobile carriers with social networking communities and entertainment companies, announce today they are working together to make MOKO, one of the world's leading mobile communities, available to ANTHEM mobile operators. Loop Mobile and Intercasting plan to make the MOKO mobile community available to subscribers of carriers that have adopted ANTHEM in North America and Europe.
"This initiative is another step in the continued globalisation of the MOKO community and we are pleased to be working with Intercasting to enable a simple way for carriers to connect with the MOKO service," outlined Mr. Martin Hoffman, Loop's CEO and Managing Director. "We are confident that the full integration of the MOKO community on the Intercasting ANTHEM platform, will provide a compelling mobile community networking experience with the advantage of deep integration into the carriers messaging and billing systems."
"ANTHEM's flexibility means that we can help the MOKO mobile community expand its distribution and reach alongside the large web communities already on the social networking platform," said Sean Kane, General Manager International of Intercasting. "Delivering the MOKO mobile community to more carriers and driving MOKO functionality further into core handset capabilities is a win all around."
Loop's MOKO mobile community has already generated over 4.5 million MMS, over 76 million instant messages, over 3 million private messages and over 35 million video downloads. In the last 12 months, the average user session time has doubled to reach 75 minutes per user session.
Intercasting works with top wireless carriers to provide a bevy of web-based community and social networking sites for subscribers through its ANTHEM platform. ANTHEM also currently serves major brands and entertainment companies that wish to deploy mobile social networking communities.
About Intercasting
San Diego based Intercasting, a leading mobile social networking company, partners with wireless carriers, social networking companies and major brands & entertainment companies across the globe to drive the growth of personalized mobile media through its ANTHEMⓇ platform. Founded in 2004, Intercasting was the first company to deploy a carrier-grade mobile blogging and social networking application in North America with Rabble. Mobile carriers, brands and social networking sites interested in partnering with Intercasting please email anthem@intercastingcorp.com.
About Loop Mobile Limited
Loop Mobile Limited is an international provider of mobile communities, targeting the youth and young adult demographic. The company's flagship mobile community product, MOKO, is implemented across the 3 Mobile Australia and Virgin Mobile Australia networks with Optus Communications going live early 2008. MOKO is also available worldwide via mobile internet at www.moko.mobi. Loop also provides white-label mobile community services to major brand and content owners including Telstra Australia and ITV PLC, the United Kingdom's largest commercial television broadcaster.
Loop was founded in 2004 in Perth and is today headquartered in Sydney. Its proprietary platforms enable the uploading and viewing of pictures and videos, personal profiles, live chat threads, private messaging, search facilities and additional features. Loop was the winner of the 2007 Best User Generated / Social Networking Service "MEFFY" international award by the Mobile Entertainment Forum for MOKO. MOKO mobile community was also the winner of the 2008 National Association of Television Program Executives' (NATPE) Mobile++ Top 12 Awards for excellence in the mobile content marketplace. www.loopmobilelimited.com.
Media Contacts
- Laura Lazear
- mPRm Public Relations for Intercasting Corp.
- 323-933-3399
- llazear@mprm.com
- For Loop Mobile:
- Cathryn van der Walt
- Einsteinz Communications
- T:+61 402 327 633
- cathrynvanderwalt@einsteinz.com.au
Barcelona, Spain - February 13, 2008
BEBO EXPANDS ITS MOBILE OFFERING WITH INTERCASTING CORP
Bebo's 40 million users to have extended access to mobile operators on ANTHEMⓇ social networking gateway
Easier to view photos; send and receive messages; post messages and search profiles
Barcelona, Mobile World Congress, February 13, 2008: Bebo www.bebo.com, the global Social Media Network, and Intercasting Corp., which provides ANTHEMⓇ the leading platform connecting mobile carriers with social networking sites and entertainment companies, today announce a new partnership to allow Bebo's 40 million plus members to produce and share content on their mobile phones.
Bebo.com will now be available through ANTHEMⓇ on a dedicated mobile application, as well as via text and picture mobile messaging. The mobile application gives users deeper integration to carrier phone cameras and phone directories, as well as the Bebo online site. More importantly, ANTHEMⓇ will offer Bebo mobile users a simple but powerful user interface that makes it easy to view photos; send and receive messages; post comments; search profiles and more.
Welcoming the partnership Ziv Navoth, VP Business Development & Marketing, Bebo, said: "Bebo users increasingly want to be able to connect on the go. This partnership will extend Bebo's mobile offering and benefit our members by giving them access to the site anytime, anywhere. We are constantly looking for ways to enhance our users experience and increasing our mobile offering will create a greater platform for self-expression for Bebo users.
"Serving Bebo as its mobile platform enabler is a great opportunity for Intercasting," said Sean Kane, General Manager International of Intercasting. "We are confident that ANTHEMⓇ will provide a compelling mobile social networking experience for both the carriers and their subscribers." Bebo has recently signed a deal with T-mobile in the UK where it has an existing partnership with operator Orange. In Ireland, Bebo is currently partnered with O2.
Intercasting currently works with wireless carriers such as 3 UK, Virgin Mobile Boost Mobile and Sprint to provide web-based community and social networking sites for subscribers through its ANTHEMⓇ platform.
About Bebo
Bebo (www.bebo.com), founded in 2005 by Michael and Xochi Birch, is the world's leading global Social Media Network. Building on the notion of traditional social networking websites, Bebo combines community, self-expression and entertainment to enable its users to consume, create, discover and share professional and user-generated content through the Bebo website. Bebo has more than 40 million users worldwide. Bebo also ranks as the UK's most engaging website with the most page views per usage day amongst the top 100 most popular sites *.
*Source: comScore World Metrix
About Intercasting
San Diego based Intercasting, a leading mobile social networking company, partners with wireless carriers, social networking companies and major brands & entertainment companies across the globe to drive the growth of personalized mobile media through its ANTHEMⓇ platform. Founded in 2004, Intercasting was the first company to deploy a carrier-grade mobile blogging and social networking application in North America with Rabble. Mobile carriers, brands and social networking sites interested in partnering with Intercasting please email anthem@intercastingcorp.com.
Media Contacts
- Laura Lazear / Zella Panossian
- mPRm Public Relations for Intercasting Corp.
- 323-933-3399
- llazear@mprm.com / zpanossian@mprm.com
- For Bebo
- Claire Thom or Verity Williams
- Portland PR
- T:+44 (0)20 7404 5344
- claire.thom@portlandpr.co.uk / claire.thom@portlandpr.co.uk
San Francisco - December 11, 2007
PICZO GOES MOBILE
Largest Teen Destination for Self Expression Announces Partnership with Intercasting Corp. Enabling Creativity While on the Move
Piczo (www.piczo.com), the leading teen destination for self expression, and Intercasting Corp., which provides ANTHEMⓇ, the leading platform connecting mobile carriers with social networking sites and entertainment companies, announced that they are working together to enable Piczo members to produce and share content on their mobile phones.
The new partnership will extend Piczo users' creative self expression beyond the bounds of their computers and into the mobile environment. Intercasting's ANTHEMⓇ platform will allow Piczo to offer compelling mobile services including a mobile application, SMS/MMS messaging and a Piczo mobile Internet site. These user-friendly interfaces will give Piczo users the ability to upload images directly from their phone cameras, send and receive messages, post comments onto their Piczo pages and more, all while on the go. The mobile experience will be fully integrated with the Piczo online site.
"This is a big step forward, putting Piczo into the pockets of teens everywhere and enabling the Piczo generation to exercise their creative self expression whenever and wherever they are. We are delighted to be partnering with Intercasting,"said Chris Seth, Managing Director for Europe of Piczo Inc. "Piczo is creating a service that taps into the habits of the Piczo generation who want to be in control of their content and communication in a safer environment, and at the same time extending self-expression onto the devices that matter most to them in their lives."
"Our carrier partners count on us to enable popular communities for their subscribers through ANTHEMⓇ,"said Sean Kane, General Manager International, at Intercasting Corp. "We are thrilled to bring together Piczo and our carrier partners to launch the Piczo mobile experience."
For the Piczo generation, mobile content is a key component in connecting to a social networking site and communicating with friends. More than 50% of 13-to-17-year-olds are engaging in mobile social networking, with revenues expected to reach $2.8b by 2012, according to Jupiter Research.
Intercasting currently works with wireless carriers, including 3UK, Boost Mobile, Sprint and Virgin Mobile, to provide a bevy of web-based community and social networking sites for subscribers through its ANTHEM platform. ANTHEMⓇ is also available to major brands and entertainment companies interested in developing mobile social networking communities.
Piczo content showcases the creative talents of 13-to-18 year olds worldwide. They now have the means of sharing and updating their content on the move within Piczo's safe environment.
About Piczo, Inc.
Piczo empowers teenagers worldwide to creatively express themselves, build personal communities, and share ideas and experiences with their friends in a safer online environment. Piczo's customizable content, colourful graphics, glitter text, video, games, and photo editing tools spotlight member creativity without requiring any technical know-how. Piczo has offices in San Francisco, New York, and London.
Piczo facts
- More than 28 million registered user accounts
- 10.6 million Monthly Unique Visitors generating 750 million monthly Page Views
- Created for teenagers worldwide, Piczo users are typically 13-to-16 years old
- Third largest teenage community site worldwide
About Intercasting
San Diego based Intercasting, a leading mobile social networking company, partners with wireless carriers, social networking companies and major brands & entertainment companies across the globe to drive the growth of personalized mobile media through its ANTHEMⓇ platform.
Founded in 2004, Intercasting was the first company to deploy a carrier-grade mobile blogging and social networking application in North America with www.Rabble.com Mobile carriers, brands and social networking sites interested in partnering with Intercasting please email anthem@intercastingcorp.com.
Media Contacts
- Laura Lazear
- mPRm Public Relations for Intercasting Corp.
- 323-933-3399
- llazear@mprm.com
- Piczo, Inc.
- Joan Lockwood
- 415-263-3485
- jlockwood@piczoinc.com
New York, NY/San Diego, California - November 14, 2007
MTV NETWORKS LAUNCHES MOBILE SOCIAL NETWORK "CON3XION" FOR MTV TR3S COMMUNITY ON INTERCASTING CORP.'s ANTHEMⓇ PLATFORM
Marking an Industry First, the Partnership Signifies the First Entertainment Company to Launch a Mobile Social Network Tied to On-Air Channel
Fast Growing Latino Youth Population Leads in Usage of Mobile Data Technology
MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), today announced it is working with Intercasting Corporation, the leading mobile social networking company, and its award-winning platform, ANTHEMⓇ, to develop a mobile social network around MTV Tr3s. The Latino focused mobile social network - to be called Con3xion - also marks the first time Intercasting has partnered with a major entertainment company to develop a mobile social networking initiative. MTVN and Intercasting will work together in the coming months to develop and launch mobile social networking initiatives for additional MTVN properties.
MTV Tr3s is the most-widely distributed TV network dedicated to super-serving today's bicultural Latino youth. The ANTHEMⓇ platform will enable MTV Tr3s to launch the mobile social network and offer an incredibly functional and simple user interface for users to easily view photos, send and receive messages, post comments, search profiles and more, all while on the go. MTV Tr3s plans to extend its community functionality to the web in the near future.
"We have seen huge consumption of mobile content in the Latino community with over 60% growth in video streams for the MTV Tr3s mobile channel every month in the last quarter," said Greg Clayman, Executive Vice President of Digital Distribution and Business Development for MTV Networks. "MTV Tr3s is a great property for us to kick off our mobile social networking push, as we continue to wrap social networking around more MTVN properties on the ANTHEMⓇ platform."
"All of our carrier partners have asked us to provision key vertical communities that are in high demand by mobile consumers, so we are happy to serve MTVN and its mobile social networking strategy with our ANTHEMⓇ platform," said Shawn Conahan, founder and CEO, Intercasting Corporation. "As MTV further expands its presence in the mobile space, its powerful brand and content will undoubtedly tie people together."
For the MTV Tr3s audience, mobile content is a key component in connecting with the brand beyond the television set given that 63% of Latinos own a media-capable cell phone compared to 46% of non-Latinos and are 23% more likely to use their cell phones to watch video content according to MTV Networks' Slivered Screen research.
"Young Latinos are highly engaged with media that is relevant to them and have proven to be extremely enthusiastic users of mobile technology. Our audience is looking to MTV Tr3s to provide them with greater opportunities to connect and share and a mobile social network fits their lifestyle perfectly," said Lucia Ballas-Traynor, Senior Vice President and General Manager of MTV Tr3s.
In addition to enabling entertainment properties to easily create social networking initiatives for the mobile platform, ANTHEMⓇ also enables wireless carriers the option to provide a bevy of web-based community and social networking sites for subscribers. It is available to social networking site providers, major brands and entertainment companies interested in developing mobile social networking communities.
MTV Networks is the world's leading provider of short-form and full-length video for mobile devices. The company's iconic music, comedy, kids and pop culture brands offer a wide range of mobile content, from SMS to games, applications and graphics, to major-label ringtones and voicetones. MTVN has achieved significant growth in mobile video in 2007, on pace for more than 90 percent growth over 2006. The company has also increased traffic to its mobile websites (WAP), by 400 percent since the sites for MTV, VH1 and COMEDY CENTRAL launched in March.
About MTV Networks
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 140 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC,MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 300 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
About Intercasting
San Diego based Intercasting, a leading mobile social networking company, partners with wireless carriers, social networking companies and major brands & entertainment companies across the globe to drive the growth of personalized mobile media through its ANTHEMⓇ platform. Founded in 2004, Intercasting was the first company to deploy a carrier-grade mobile blogging and social networking application in North America with www.Rabble.com
Media Contacts
- Laura Lazear
- mPRm Public Relations for Intercasting Corp.
- 323-933-3399
- llazear@mprm.com
- Heather Cox
- For MTV Networks:
- Matthew Hutchison
- 212-846-8052
- Matthew.Hutchison@mtvstaff.com
Los Angeles, CA - October 16, 2007
FierceMobileContent Names Intercasting Corp.'s "ANTHEMⓇ" Platform to Annual "Top Apps" List
Intercasting Corp., a leading mobile social networking company, announced today that it has received FierceMobileContent's Top App Award for its innovative mobile social networking platform called ANTHEMⓇ. This distinction honors Intercasting as powering one of the best wireless applications of 2007.
The FierceMobileContent Top App Awards spotlight ten of the most cutting-edge mobile apps in the industry and consider technological innovation, revenue potential and competitive edge as part of the criteria for selection.
The FierceMobileContent Top App Awards spotlight ten of the most cutting-edge mobile apps in the industry and consider technological innovation, revenue potential and competitive edge as part of the criteria for selection.
FierceMobileContent is an internationally recognized email newsletter for the wireless industry, providing more than 20,000 executives with a daily briefing on the industry's top applications, stories and analysis.
"There's no question about the potential of mobile social networking--the question is which social networks are going to hit. ANTHEMⓇ eliminates the guesswork, not to mention provisioning time and costs," said Jason Ankeny, Editor of FierceMobileContent.
ANTHEMⓇ enables wireless carriers to offer any web-based social networking and community sites they choose to their mobile subscribers. Also, ANTHEMⓇ enables any web-based social networking and community site to easily migrate to the mobile platform.
"We are honored to be a recipient of the Top App Award from FierceMobileContent," said Shawn Conahan, founder & CEO, Intercasting Corp. "Receiving industry validation for our model is very important and serves to underscore the role that ANTHEMⓇ is playing to facilitate the extension of the social networking experience to the mobile platform."
The complete list of winning companies is available via a special Web feature on the FierceMobileContent Web site at http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com.
About FierceMarkets
FierceMarkets, a leader in B2B e-media, provides information and marketing services in the Telecommunications, Life Sciences, Healthcare, IT, and Finance industries through its portfolio of email newsletters, Web sites, Webinars, and live events. Every business day, FierceMarkets publications reach more than 500,000 executives in over 100 countries. Current publications include DailyTechRag, FierceBiotech, FierceBioResearcher, FierceBroadbandWireless, FierceCIO, FierceDeveloper, FierceFinance, FierceHealthcare, FierceHealthIT, FierceIPTV, FierceMobileContent, FiercePharma, FierceSarbox, FierceTelecom, FierceVoIP, FierceBiotech, IT-Wireless, and The Business VoIP Report.
About Intercasting
San Diego based Intercasting, a leading mobile social networking company, partners with wireless carriers, social networking companies and major brands & entertainment companies across the globe to drive the growth of personalized mobile media through its ANTHEMⓇ platform. Founded in 2004, Intercasting was the first company to deploy a carrier-grade mobile blogging and social networking application in North America with Rabble - www.Rabble.com
Media Contacts
- Laura Lazear
- mPRm Public Relations for Intercasting Corp.
- 323-933-3399 / 310-595-0646
- llazear@mprm.com
- Heather Cox
- FierceMarkets, Inc.
- 202-628-8778 x13
- heather@fiercemarkets.com
San Diego, California - September 26, 2007
BOOST, INTERCASTING PARTNER TO LAUNCH INNOVATIVE MOBILE SOCIAL NETWORKING PLATFORM
Boost subscribers can now access favorite social networking sites anytime anywhere via their mobile phone
Boost Mobile has selected Intercasting Corporation, the leading mobile social networking company, and its award-winning platform, ANTHEMⓇ, to power its "Social Zone" social networking category. Boost customers now have access to popular social networking sites including LiveJournal, Vox, Xanga, AsianAve.com, BlackPlanet.com, Faithbase.com, GLEE.com, MiGente.com and Rabble. ANTHEMⓇ enables wireless carriers the option to provide a bevy of web-based social networking and community sites for subscribers.
"ANTHEMⓇ can aggregate a number of social networking providers, which greatly reduces the time and cost of provisioning multiple partners in this category," said Shawn Conahan, founder and CEO, Intercasting Corporation. "ANTHEMⓇ will provide the efficiency necessary for Boost to continue to lead the mobile social networking trend."
The ANTHEMⓇ platform provides a weblike, media-rich interface that gives Boost customers a fully branded and customized pocket version of their favorite social networking service. Though smaller, that version is surprisingly functional and easy to use. No matter which social networking provider subscribers choose, ANTHEMⓇ offers a consistently simple user interface that makes it easy to view photos, send and receive messages, post comments, search profiles and more.
"Today's influential youth are helping drive the exponentially growing online social networking world and our young customers have made it known that they want access to the same sites on their Boost Mobile phones, if it's an intuitive experience. With the addition of Intercasting's ANTHEMⓇ platform to our entertainment content library, our customers get just that--a social networking experience on their Boost phones that is easy-to-navigate and fun to use," said Craig Thole, Director of Value Add Services, Boost Mobile. "And, as new social networking sites continue to arise and our subscribers' favorites change, Intercasting will be able to work with us to make those available to our subscribers quickly."
Intercasting Corp. also makes its platform available to established social networking sites as well as major brands and entertainment companies looking at developing mobile social networking communities. With ANTHEMⓇ, Boost has the ability to quickly launch any social networking site in the future.
To enjoy any of these social networking sites, Boost customers should go to the mobile Web on their phones, select "Messaging", select "Social Zone" and then choose the service they wish to download. Once downloaded, customers simply enter their existing username and password for that community.
About Intercasting
Founded in June 2004, Intercasting Corporation, based in San Diego, is one of the social networking companies providing applications for personal mobile devices. Intercasting Corp. is partnering with global wireless carriers to bring to market applications that leverage the growth of mobile media devices, allowing people to communicate with each other and capture news and information as it occurs. Through Intercasting Corp.'s debut offering, Rabble, consumers can create and consume media through their personal, portable media devices, connecting with others who share similar interests, experiences or proximity.
Media Contacts
- Laura Lazear
- mPRm Public Relations for Intercasting Corp.
- 323-933-3399 / 310-595-0646
- llazear@mprm.com
WARREN, NJ - August 22, 2007
VIRGIN MOBILE USA JOINS WITH INTERCASTING TO OFFER ITS NEARLY FIVE MILLION CUSTOMERS A HOST OF DIVERSE AND POPULAR SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES
Direct Access Via Handsets to AsianAve BlackPlanet, GLEE, Xanga and More
Virgin Mobile USA's over 4.8 million customers can now access a variety of social networking opportunities including a group of niche-targeted mobile-optimized sites. The leading wireless youth network is partnered with Intercasting Corporation on its ANTHEMⓇ platform to bring a selection of diverse Web-based social networking and community sites to customers' fingertips through a single and intuitive mobile solution.
- Sites now available to Virgin Mobile USA's customers include:
- AsianAve.com - set to be the premier online destination for Asian Americans 18+ to network socially, professionally and culturally, offering opportunities for all generations of Asian Americans to meet new people in their area.
- BlackPlanet.com - the leader in African-American social networking and the fifth largest U.S. social networking property/publisher measured in page views [ComScore Media Metrix June 2007], with more than 16.5 million members.
- GLEE.com (Gay, Lesbian and Everyone Else) - has become one of the top-20 gay sites on the Web within just five months and is the only social and professional networking site for the GLBT community.
- MiGente.com - the fastest growing English language site for the Hispanic community with more than 2.8 million members.
- LiveJournal - lets users express themselves, share and connect with friends online in a number of different ways including as a private journal, a blog, a discussion forum, a social network, and more. LiveJournal has communities for everyone.
- Rabble - connects users who share similar interests, experiences and even geographical proximity.
- Vox - connects users who want to meet new people or keep in touch with friends, start a blog, post photos, watch videos, create a group, or just discover interesting things. Vox is easy to use and has a powerful set of privacy features. Vox has partnered with top content providers to create a seamless user experience.
- Xanga.com - a community of online diaries and journals.
"We've built our success around empowering our customers and giving them maximum flexibility and control," said Dominick Tolli, vice president for Virgin Mobile USA's Mobile Data Services division. "There is a growing number of social networking sites that reflect different lifestyles and interests, and we're committed to putting our customers in the driver's seat: that is, enabling them to create their own individual experiences, determining how and with whom they want to communicate, whenever they like."
"We are dedicated to providing carriers the tools to offer a comprehensive mobile social networking strategy," said Shawn Conahan, chairman and CEO, Intercasting Corp. "Serving Virgin Mobile USA is an opportunity to connect their subscriber base, the target demographic for social networking, with the community sites they want most."
The ANTHEMⓇ platform provides a web-like, media-rich interface to give Virgin Mobile customers a fully branded and customized mobile version of their favorite social networking services that is surprisingly functional and easy to use. No matter which social networking provider one visits, the consistently simple user interface makes it easy to view photos, send and receive messages, post comments, search profiles and more.
For Virgin Mobile's engaged and youthful customer base, social networking is an area of strong and growing interest. In a proprietary survey among Virgin Mobile customers under the age of 35, 63% said they have a profile posted on one or more social networking sites.
In querying the customers who use these sites, Virgin Mobile found that, while Facebook and MySpace are the most populated, 43% of respondents identify other sites as their favorites to visit - with 16% naming Xanga and 5% specifically listing Blackplanet.com.
Most, 92%, said they visit their favorite social networking sites at least once a day with one-third, 32%, spending between 15-30 minutes, and 14% on more than 90 minutes a day.
Pricing to access this broad social networking platform and multiple sites is constructed to create maximum flexibility: customers can choose to pay by the day, by the month and/or by volume. Each social networking site can be accessed for a daily fee of $1.00 for 24 hours or up to half a megabyte of data; or customers can choose the monthly payment option of $3.99 for five megabytes of data.
Each social networking site can be accessed for a daily fee of $1.00 for 24 hours or up to half a megabyte of data; or customers can choose the monthly payment option of $3.99 for five megabytes of data. [For an initial ten-cent fee, Virgin Mobile customers gain access to the Virgin XL platform from which ANTHEMⓇ can be downloaded.]
The Java application is available to Virgin Mobile owners of the Cyclops, the Slider Sonic and the Switch_Back handsets at this time, with plans to extend the platform to a wider variety of phones in the future.
About Virgin Mobile USA, LLC
The nation's leading youth wireless provider, Virgin Mobile USA provides more than 4.8 million customers with control, flexibility and choice in wireless service, rich data content and innovative products without annual contracts. Voice pricing plans range from monthly options with unlimited nights and weekends to by-the-minute offers, allowing consumers to adjust how and what they pay according to their needs.
Virgin Mobile's full slate of smart, stylish and affordable handsets, including the popular MarbL, Slice and Cyclops, are available at top retailers in more than 35,000 locations nationwide and online at www.virginmobileusa.com, with Top-Up cards available at more than 130,000 locations.
Virgin Mobile USA's national coverage is powered by the Nationwide Sprint PCSⓇ Network and the company, which launched in 2002, is a joint venture between Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Sprint Nextel.
Virgin Mobile provides some of the highest customer satisfaction levels in the industry with its own customers reporting a 94% satisfaction rate. Virgin Mobile contributes 5% of profits from downloadable content to The RE*Generation and provides postage-paid return envelopes in every new package for customers to recycle old phones.
About Intercasting Corporation
Founded in June 2004, Intercasting Corporation, based in San Diego, is one of the leading mobile media companies providing applications for personal mobile devices. Intercasting Corp. is partnering with global wireless carriers to bring to market applications that leverage the growth of mobile media devices, allowing people to communicate with each other and capture news and information as it occurs.
Through Intercasting Corp.'s debut offering, Rabble, consumers can create and consume media through their personal, portable media devices, connecting with others who share similar interests, experiences or proximity.
Media Contacts
- Corinne Nosal
- 908-607-4235
- Corinne.nosal@virginmobileusa.com
For Virgin Mobile USA
- Laura Lazear
- mPRm Public Relations
- 323-933-3399
- llazear@mprm.com
For Intercasting
San Diego, California - August 8, 2007
INTERCASTING PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY CONNECT TO EXPAND MOBILE SOCIAL NETWORKING OFFERINGS
Intercasting's ANTHEMⓇ Platform Gives Wireless Subscribers Mobile Access to BlackPlanet.com, MiGente.com, GLEE.com, Faithbase.com and AsianAve.com
Intercasting Corporation, a leading mobile media company, today announced Community Connect, Inc., the leader in online niche social networking, will offer its sites to wireless subscribers through ANTHEMⓇ, an innovative mobile social networking platform. ANTHEMⓇ enables any web-based social networking and community site to easily migrate to the mobile platform, allowing wireless carriers to offer any social networking sites they choose to their subscribers.
"All of our carrier partners have asked us to provision key vertical communities that are in high demand by mobile consumers, so we are happy to serve Community Connect and its mobile strategy with our ANTHEMⓇ platform," said Shawn Conahan, founder and CEO, Intercasting Corporation. "Their large audience will now enjoy a fantastic mobile experience and be able to stay in touch with friends wherever they are."
"Mobile access is the next natural step for our millions of members who use our sites each day to connect with friends, family and employers," said Ian Spalter, VP of User Experience at Community Connect. "Our relationship with Intercasting Corporation parlays the typical online experience into a very robust mobile platform, allowing our members to seamlessly network on the move."
ANTHEM will provide BlackPlanet.com, MiGente.com, GLEE.com, Faithbase.com and AsianAve.com users with a user interface that will make it easy to view photos, send and receive messages, post comments, search profiles and more, all on their mobile phone.
In addition to making ANTHEM available to social networking site providers, the platform is open to major brands and entertainment companies interested in developing mobile social networking communities.
About Intercasting
Founded in June 2004, Intercasting Corporation, based in San Diego, is one of the leading mobile media companies providing applications for personal mobile devices. Intercasting Corp. is partnering with global wireless carriers to bring to market applications that leverage the growth of mobile media devices, allowing people to communicate with each other and capture news and information as it occurs. Through Intercasting Corp.'s debut offering, Rabble, consumers can create and consume media through their personal, portable media devices, connecting with others who share similar interests, experiences or proximity.
About Community Connect
Community Connect Inc. is the nation's largest niche social networking company. With more than 18 million members, Community Connect Inc. is a top 50 Web publisher (as measured in page views by comScore). Its sites, BlackPlanet.com, MiGente.com, AsianAve.com, GLEE.com, and Faithbase.com, present marketers with a targeted opportunity to reach U.S. multicultural audiences. Its proprietary technology platform provides members with the most user-friendly tools to connect with members of their community and discuss culturally relevant content. www.communityconnect.com.
San Diego, California - July 30, 2007
Intercasting Corporation Selected by AlwaysOn as an AO100 Top Private Company Award Winner
Recognized for Leadership in Emerging Technology and Global Business Potential
Intercasting Corporation, a leading mobile media company, today announced that it has been chosen by AlwaysOn as one of the AO 100 Top Private Companies for 2007. The fifth-annual elite AO100 list was compiled by the AlwaysOn editorial panel. In order to be eligible for the AO100 list, companies had to be peer-nominated, with AlwaysOn receiving more than 1,000 nominations from venture investors, investment bankers and other industry experts.
Intercasting Corp. and the AO 100 Top Private Companies for 2007 will be honored at the AlwaysOn Stanford Summit to be held July 31 - Aug 2, May 1-3, 2007, at Stanford University. The Stanford Summit is a two-and-a-half-day executive gathering that highlights the significant economic, political and commercial trends affecting the global technology industries. The idea behind the AO100 top private companies list is to identify the most promising entrepreneurial opportunities and investments in the global technology industry.
Intercasting Corp. recently announced ANTHEMⓇ, an innovative mobile social networking platform that enables wireless carriers to offer any web-based social networking and community sites they choose to bring social networking to their mobile subscribers. Mobile subscribers benefit from a mobile-centric UI and deep integration to their phone"s camera and address book.
Intercasting Corp. has been selected by many carriers around the world to enable their social networking categories. With one integration to the ANTHEMⓇ platform, carriers then have a tool to offer any number social networking sites and to manage the enitre category. The single-interface design means carriers can provide the discoverability of a preloaded interface for the entire category and add social networking providers over time without deploying any new software to consumers.
"We are happy to be honored by AlwaysOn as a Top 100 company," said Intercasting CEO Shawn Conahan. "Mobile social networking is an extremely exciting opportunity, and it is validating to have our peers, the financial community and AlwaysOn share that excitement with us."
A full list of all the AlwaysOn Top 100 Private Companies can be found on the AlwaysOn Web site.
About The AlwaysOn Stanford Summit
The Stanford Summit is a two-and-a-half-day executive gathering that highlights the significant economic, political and commercial trends affecting the global technology industries. The Stanford Summit features the most innovative companies, eminent technologists, influential investors and journalists in keynote presentations, panel debates and private company CEO showcases. The Stanford Summit's goal is to identify the most promising entrepreneurial opportunities and investments in the global tech industry.
About Intercasting
Founded in June 2004, Intercasting Corporation, based in San Diego, is one of the leading mobile media companies providing applications for personal mobile devices. Intercasting Corp. is partnering with global wireless carriers to bring to market applications that leverage the growth of mobile media devices, allowing people to communicate with each other and capture news and information as it occurs. Through Intercasting Corp.'s debut offering, Rabble, consumers can create and consume media through their personal, portable media devices, connecting with others who share similar interests, experiences or proximity.
About AlwaysOn
ALWAYSON ignited the open-media revolution in early 2003 by being the first media brand to launch a global blog network. In 2004, ALWAYSON continued to lead the media industry in innovation by introducing a social network where members can connect and engage. ALWAYSON is also revolutionizing the media business by applying its open-media principles to its executive event series (STANFORD SUMMIT, ALWAYSON HOLLYWOOD, ALWAYSON MEDIA and GOINGGREEN) and quarterly print "blogozine" by empowering its members to post and share their ideas and meet each other online. As our loyal readers know, ALWAYSON is committed to the free-market, merit-driven approach to reporting and event programming. No other media brand has dared to create such open interaction with its readers and event participants.
San Diego, California, July 17, 2007
INTERCASTING CORPORATION'S INNOVATIVE MOBILE SOCIAL NETWORKING PLATFORM TO BRING POPULAR COMMUNITIES TO SPRINT CUSTOMERS
Sprint to become first wireless carrier to offer Intercasting's ANTHEMⓇ Platform for access to multiple social networking communities on select Sprint phones
Intercasting Corporation, a leading mobile media company, today announced ANTHEMⓇ, an innovative mobile social networking platform, will be available on select Sprint phones. ANTHEMⓇ enables wireless carriers to offer any web-based social networking and community sites they choose to bring social networking to their mobile subscribers. Sprint will be the first wireless carrier to offer ANTHEMⓇ, which will allow customers to easily access popular social networking sites such as LiveJournal, Rabble, Vox and Xanga.
"ANTHEMⓇ makes it possible for mobile users to participate in two of the most significant trends in online communication--social networking and user generated content," said Shawn Conahan, president, Intercasting Corporation. "We are very pleased that Sprint has selected ANTHEMⓇ to enable their customers to access a broad range of leading social networking and community sites."
The ANTHEMⓇ platform provides a web-like, media-rich interface that will give Sprint customers a fully branded and customized pocket version of their favorite social networking service that is surprisingly functional yet easy to use. No matter which social networking provider they choose, a consistently simple user interface will make it easy to view photos, send and receive messages, post comments, search profiles and more.
"We want our LiveJournal and Vox customers to have as many ways as possible to keep in touch with their communities, so we're delighted that they can use the ANTHEM client from their mobile phones to do so," said Larissa Le, Director of Product Management of the Consumer Division at Six Apart.
"We're always looking for new ways to help Xanga users keep in touch," said John Hiler, CEO of Xanga.com. "So we're excited to work with Sprint and Intercasting to enable Xanga users to connect anytime, anywhere."
Mobile access to LiveJournal, Rabble, Vox and Xanga through the ANTHEMⓇ client will be available starting next week on select Sprint phones for $2.99 each per month, plus standard data charges. To enjoy any of these social networking sites, Sprint customers should go to the mobile Web on their phones, select Messaging, select Social Zone and then choose the service they wish to download. Once downloaded, customers simply enter their existing username and password for that community. With ANTHEMⓇ, Sprint has the ability to quickly launch any social networking site in the future.
Intercasting Corp. also will make its platform available to social networking sites and to major brands and entertainment companies interested in developing mobile social networking communities.
Intercasting Corp. was the first company to deploy a carrier-grade mobile blogging and social networking application in North America with Rabble - www.rabble.com.
About Intercasting Founded in June 2004, Intercasting Corporation, based in San Diego, is one of the leading mobile media companies providing applications for personal mobile devices. Intercasting Corp. is partnering with global wireless carriers to bring to market applications that leverage the growth of mobile media devices, allowing people to communicate with each other and capture news and information as it occurs. Through Intercasting Corp.'s debut offering, Rabble, consumers can create and consume media through their personal, portable media devices, connecting with others who share similar interests, experiences or proximity.
Media Contacts
- Laura Lazear
- mPRm Public Relations
- 323-933-3399
- llazear@mprm.com
For Intercasting
- Emmy Anderson
- Sprint
- 913-707-0618
- Emmy.Anderson@sprint.com
For Sprint
San Diego, California - May 8, 2007
INTERCASTING CORP. SECURES $12 MILLION IN SERIES B VENTURE FUNDING
Venrock, Avalon Ventures and Masthead Venture Partners Support Expansion of Mobile Social Networking Through the ANTHEMⓇ Platform and Rabble
Intercasting Corporation, a leading mobile media company, today announced that it has raised $12 million in Series B financing that was led by Venrock and also supported by existing backers Avalon Ventures and Masthead Venture Partners.
Intercasting Corp. will use the funding to go towards its strategy of expanding carrier-based distribution and partners for both its mobile social networking application, Rabble, and its Social Networking Service Gateway (SNS-G) ANTHEMⓇ Platform, which enables wireless carriers to mobilize web-based social networking and community sites. Existing partners of the company include AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Metro PCS, Virgin Mobile and 3UK, as well as top social networking sites like LiveJournal and Community Connect among many others. "The level of confidence shown by investors in our series B round demonstrates the validity of Intercasting's approach to social networking on the mobile platform," said Shawn Conahan, founder and CEO of Intercasting Corporation. "The social networking and user-generated content phenomena are quickly migrating to the mobile space, and ANTHEMⓇ is providing the efficiency necessary for carriers to take full advantage of this networking trend."
"We believe that Intercasting is playing a leadership role in the evolution of social networking and is providing an exciting breakthrough communication platform for social networking site providers and carriers through its ANTHEMⓇ platform," said Brian Ascher, General Partner, Venrock Associates.
Intercasting Corp's ANTHEMⓇ Gateway addresses the complexities of mobilizing social networking services for wireless carriers by providing a common standards-based interface for technical integration, content policy management and transaction processing. The ANTHEMⓇ Gateway provides a mobile on-ramp to existing Social Networking Services, brands, and entertainment companies interested in developing new mobile initiatives.
Through the ANTHEMⓇ platform, wireless carrier customers have the ability to interact with multiple online portals from their handsets, enabling them to view their own and friends' profiles, photos, friend lists, messages and contacts. Some of the most popular social networking providers are already integrated into the ANTHEMⓇ Gateway.
About Intercasting Founded in June 2004, Intercasting Corporation, based in San Diego, is one of the leading mobile media companies providing applications for personal mobile devices. Intercasting Corp. is partnering with global wireless carriers to bring to market applications that leverage the growth of mobile media devices, allowing people to communicate with each other and capture news and information as it occurs. Through Intercasting Corp.'s debut offering, Rabble, consumers can create and consume media through their personal, portable media devices, connecting with others who share similar interests, experiences or proximity.
About Venrock Venrock is a premier venture capital firm with offices in Menlo Park, New York, Cambridge, MA, and Israel. Originally established as the venture capital arm of the Rockefeller family, Venrock continues a seven-decade tradition of partnering with entrepreneurs to establish successful, enduring companies. Having invested $1.9 billion in 400 companies resulting in over 120 IPOs over the past 38 years, Venrock's investment returns place it among the top tier venture capital firms that have achieved consistently superior performance. With a primary focus on technology, healthcare, and energy, portfolio companies have included Apple Computer, Centocor, Check Point Software, DoubleClick, Gilead Sciences, Idec Pharmaceuticals, Illumina, Intel, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Sirna Therapeutics, and StrataCom. For more information, please visit Venrock's website at www.venrock.com.
About Masthead Venture Partners Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Masthead Venture Partners is a venture capital firm dedicated to providing early stage information technology, internet infrastructure and services, communications, and IT-intensive life sciences companies with the capital and hands-on operational support they need to develop into industry leaders. The firm has the advanced technical expertise, proven operating experience and deep industry knowledge and relationships to help entrepreneurs build companies with category defining potential. For more information please visit www.mvpartners.com.
About Avalon Ventures Avalon Ventures is a San Diego-based venture capital fund focusing on seed and early stage companies in the technology and life science industries. Our current Fund, Avalon Ventures VII, L.P. is $75 million. Avalon Ventures is one of the longest-standing venture capital firms in San Diego, investing in life sciences and information technology opportunities locally and around the country since 1983 through seven Avalon Ventures funds. The collective market capitalization of Avalon Ventures portfolio companies (most founded by Avalon partners) currently exceeds $8 billion. For more information, visit www.Avalon-Ventures.com.
- Media Contacts:
- mPRm Public Relations for Intercasting Corp.
- Laura Lazear
- llazear@mprm.com
- 323.933.3399
London, UK - 14 February 2007
3 UK SIGNS WITH INTERCASTING TO ALLOW MOBILE USERS ACCESS TO WIDER RANGE OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES
Agreement for social networking gateway will allow 3.75m subscribers access to online communities with millions of members
London, 14 February 2007: 3 UK, the mobile media company, today announces a ground-breaking partnership with social networking gateway provider Intercasting which will allow users simple access to a raft of well-known online communities from their mobile handset. The partnership will enable 3 subscribers to quickly and easily access social networking sites including LiveJournal, Xanga, Vox and BlackPlanet, wherever they are, whenever they want.
The partnership will form part of 3's ongoing commitment to give users the most innovative mobile media services. It promises to provide an intuitive interface which acts as a single point of access for a variety of social networking websites.
The two companies will work together to offer 3 UK subscribers access to their favourite online communities to allow them to interact with each other, share media and participate in groupsf and forums. These sites span a wide demographic of users from social networks such as Xanga to more focussed communities such as BlackPlanet.
Intercasting allows mobile networks to aggregate the complex process of providing social networking functionalities through its ANTHEMⓇ Social Networking Service Gateway (SNS-G). A media rich interface provides users with a functional, fast and straightforward experience, whilst the back-end handles technical integration, content management and transaction processing.
Rob Wells, Head of Mobile Broadband at 3UK said, "This is another step towards providing our customers with the best possible range of mobile broadband services. Using Intercasting's unique technology our entire user-base can enjoy the best possible mobile social networking experience on a variety of well-known sites with a community base of millions.
"Through the ANTHEMⓇ social networking gateway users will get a social networking experience tailored for the data and media capabilities of their phones, helping to drive adoption and repeat usage over the 3 network. This further extends the world of mobile blogging, messaging and community interaction on 3."
Sean Kane, Vice President at Intercasting said "3 is leading the way for mobile broadband services and as such is well-placed to provide mobile social networking to their user-base. By using our unique technology 3 will be able to offer their subscribers an easy-to-use and compelling experience."
About 3
3 is a mobile media company delivering a convergence of communications, entertainment and information to customers on the move.
The three areas which form the core of its business are:
- Communications - including all forms of personal communications, voice and video calling; text, picture and video messaging; and mobile blogging
- Entertainment - including television, music audio and video, computer games, and media publishing
- Information services - including wireless web, access to the best of the internet and a range of news services
3 UK is a member of the HWL group of 3G companies, which include 3G operations in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Sweden and soon Norway.
Three facts about 3:
- 3, a mobile media company, launched the UK's first 3G network
- 3 has over 3.75 million customers in the UK and over 13.5 million worldwide (August 2006 figures)
- The 3 network offers national coverage for calls and texts, and over 89% population coverage for 3G services.
For further information, please visit: www.three.co.uk or call the 3 Media Office on 020 7350 5696.
About Intercasting
Intercasting Corporation provides the ANTHEMⓇ Social Networking Service Gateway (SNS-G), which enables mobile carriers and social networking services to deliver a compelling community and media experience to mobile consumers. The SNS-G provides rapid deployment of popular social networking services through a broad range of mobile clients, offers streamlined carrier network provisioning and integrates features to leverage handset media capabilities. Founded in 2004 and based in San Diego, California, Intercasting Corp. is partnered with wireless carriers across the globe. For more information, visit www.intercastingcorp.com.
Please direct any Intercasting Corp. press inquiries to Laura Lazear, (llazear@mprm.com) at +1-323-933-3399
In The News
- Interview with Derrick Oien, Intercasting
09/18/2008 - SocialTech.com
- Elgan: Mobile social networking goes mainstream
09/12/2008 - Computer World
- AT&T and Verizon Wireless introduce new social networking applications (USA)
09/10/2008 - wirelessfederation.com
- Verizon Wireless adds social apps to video, ringback tones
09/10/2008 - RCR Wireless
- Verizon Wireless announces Mobile VCast, Ringback Buddies and more
09/10/2008 - boygeniusreport.com
- AT&T and Verizon Wireless Offer New Services for Friends
09/09/2008 - New York Times
- Verizon Wireless gets a SocialLife
09/09/2008 - CNET
- Verizon Adds New Phone Apps, Plus MySpace
09/09/2008 - PCMAG.com
- Verizon offers SocialLife apps on cell phones
09/09/2008 - Computerworld
- Verizon shows new social networking services at CTIA
09/09/2008 - mobileburn.com
- Intercasting Gets Wins With AT&T, Verizon
09/09/2008 - SocialTech.com
- CTIA: VZW, AT&T get social
09/09/2008 - telephonyonline.com
- SocialLife Puts Sites in One Place
09/09/2008 - Wireless Week
- @ CTIA: Verizon Wireless Adds SocialLife For SNS, Ringback Buddies, City ID
09/08/2008 - mocoNews.net
- Bebo Targets Mobile Users (UK)
07/09/2008 - Wireless Federation
- Orange Readies Social Net Gateway; Bebo, Facebook Et Al On Board
07/09/2008 - Moco News
- T-Mobile partners with Bebo, Piczo for social networking
06/20/2008 - Mobile Marketer
- T-Mobile and Bebo Announce Social Networking Partnership
06/19/2008 - TMC Net
- T-Mobile adds Bebo to mobile social network service, My Social Sites
06/18/2008 - Tech Digest
- Virgin Mobile USA adds 8 popular social networking sites
06/10/2008 - Cellphone Review
- Cost Analysis of the Dumb Pipe
05/20/2008 - Geogad Travel Shouts
- Economics of the dumb pipe
05/12/2008 - RCR Wireless
- Mobile social networking on the rise
05/12/2008 - U Talk Marketing
- Analysis: MySpace and Facebook challenge mobile-only social networks
05/09/2008 - Venture Beat
- Photobucket: Intercasting is quick off the bat.
04/22/2008 - Moco News
- Photobucket Launches API, Picnik Taps In
04/22/2008 - Mashable
- Photobucket shares interface, matches Flickr
04/22/2008 - CNET
- Photobucket Plays Catch Up To Flickr, Public API Released
04/22/2008 - Tech Crunch
- Rethinking AOL Mobile: Could Bebo Have An Impact?
03/13/2008 - Information Week
- AOL to pay $850M to advance its social networking plans
03/13/2008 - RCR Wireless
- AOL acquires Bebo for $850 million
03/13/2008 - Fierce Mobile Content
- AOL buys UK's favourite social network Bebo for $850 million
03/13/2008 - SOCIAL MEDIA PORTAL
- AOL's Purchase Of Bebo Could Boost Its Mobile Aspirations
03/13/2008 - MocoNews.net
- Mobility experts offer developers a reality check
03/11/2008 - itWorld Canada
- Put on Hold: Why Telecoms Can't Get Consumers to Bond More with Their Cell Phones
03/11/2008 - Exduco
- Intercasting Adds More Partners
02/22/2008 - Wireless Week
- Bebo & Intercasting Corp team up to give users mobile access via ANTHEMⓇ
02/18/2008 - Hit Search Unlimited
- Intercasting teams with Loop on communities
02/15/2008 - Fierce Mobile Content
- Loop partners with Intercasting to expand reach
02/15/2008 - RCR Wireless
- Bebo goes mobile
02/14/2008 - The Guardian
- Bebo Goes Mobile With Technology Platform Firm Intercasting
02/13/2008 - mocoNews
- Bebo extends its mobile reach as sale talks buzz
02/13/2008 - TechCrunch
- NMA MOBILE; Phone a friend
02/07/2008 - New Media Age
- Wharton Business Technology Conference to Highlight Digital Media
02/03/2008 - Wharton Media
- Well-connected from the start
01/27/2008 - San Diego Union/Tribune
- Who Rules Your Community Roost?
01/23/2008 - Ypulse
- Sex Tech Conference
01/11/2008 - The Squid List
- 2008: Social open converged ad-based free operating systems
01/08/2008 - RCR Wireless News
- Tech Playdate, Totally Wired Sex Ed, & The Mega Pane
12/27/2007 - Ypulse
- Intercasting, Piczo partner for mobile social platform
12/12/2007 - Bizreport
- Mobile Social Networking Round-Up: Piczo
12/11/2007 - MocoNews.net
- Piczo Finally Gets a Mobile Site
12/10/2007 - Mashable
- Social networkers reach out more with cellphones
11/15/2007 - USA Today
- Intercasting's President Derrick Oien Talks about Mobile Social Networking
11/14/2007 - DIGITAL PODCAST
- Social Round-Up: Mobile Social Networks; ITV's Communities; Tr3s; BuzzCity
11/14/2007 - Moco News
- MTV, Intercasting team on mobile social networking
11/14/2007 - Ad Week
- MTV Tr3s Plans Mobile Social Network
11/14/2007 - Ad Week
- MTV Networks Launches Mobile Social Network on Intercasting Corp.'s ANTHEMⓇ Platform
11/14/2007 - CNN Money
- Verizon Thinks 4G Will Find A Home In Social Networks
11/14/2007 - CNN Money
- Video interview withe Intercasting president, Derrick Oien.
11/07/2007 - BNET TV
- Podcast interview with Intercasting president, Derrick Oien.
10/25/2007 - BlogNation
- Boost, Intercasting team on social networking
09/26/2007 - Fierce Mobile Content
- eMarketer on Mobile Social Networks: II
09/26/2007 - eMarketer
- Social Nets Catch Mobile Users
09/05/2007 - WirelessWeek
- Social networking sites breaking free from the PC
09/17/2007 - The Boston Globe
- Virgin Mobile USA teams with Intercasting for social networking access
08/22/2007 - RCR Wireless
- Intercasting signs on with Virgin Mobile USA
08/22/2007 - Fierce Mobile Content
- Virgin Mobile USA Goes Social
08/22/2007 - Mobile Crunch
- Virgin Mobile Offers 8 Social Networks for your Cellphone
08/22/2007 - Tek Juice
- Virgin Mobile Bonds With Social Networking Sites
08/22/2007 - Web Pro News
- Social Media Bits
08/10/2007 - mocoNews.net
- Intercasting and Community Connect Expand Mobile Social Networking Offerings
08/09/2007 - TMCnet
- Wireless
08/09/2007 - Daily Marauder
- Intercasting Partners With Community Connect
08/09/2007 - Venture Deal
- Innovators & Start-ups
08/09/2007 - Cynopsis Digital
- Billions have social intercourse in your pocket with Intercasting
08/08/2007 - Gomo News
- Intercasting befriends Community Connect
08/08/2007 - Fierce Mobile Content
- iPhone rival lands $20 million in VC funding
07/30/2007 - CNN Money
- Anthem Brings Social Networking to Sprint Phones
07/27/2007 - Laptop Magazine
- NGT BOOT CAMP: Location-Based Services
07/24/2007 - NextGreatThing.com
- 2007 Top 100 Companies
07/17/2007 - Always On
- Sprint signs deals to help keep friends connected
07/17/2007 - KANSAS CITY STAR
- Intercasting buddies up to Sprint
07/17/2007 - FIERCE MOBILE CONTENT
- San Diego Dreamin'
THE DEAL - San Diego Dreamin' - by Cheryl Meyer
Southern California is emerging as a beachfront paradise for VCs.
San Diego's Gas Lamp District and crystalline coastline are attracting more than just sun worshippers these days. Venture capitalists are finding the once sleepy town to be a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity and lucrative exits.
Investors pumped about $1.4 billion into San Diego startups last year, with life sciences companies the largest beneficiaries, according to data compiled by Ernst & Young LLP and Dow Jones VentureOne.
In the first quarter of 2007, VCs invested $606 million in San Diego businesses, more than tripling their investment of $153 million in the first quarter of 2005.
"Southern California as a whole has passed New England for the third quarter in a row" says Mike Schoenfeld, a partner at Ernst & Young and head of its venture capital advisory group, "and a great part of what's driving that is the San Diego marketplace."
A handful of VC-backed companies have been acquired or gone public recently, including Orexigen Therapeutics Inc., which scored huge returns for its investors at its April debut as a public company. At the offering price of $12 per share, Orexigen's two largest institutional shareholders, Domain Associates LLC and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, had stakes worth $48.28 million and $45.16 million, respectively.
Sources say San Diego offers the raw materials necessary to help launch startups: a robust infrastructure that provides companies with contractors, consultants, lawyers, accountants and other professional services; a pool of academic talent and employees, particularly stemming from the University of California at San Diego, the Scripps Research Institute and the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, all in posh suburb La Jolla; a solid base of established VC firms that help companies get off the ground before Silicon Valley money comes in; and an entrepreneurial culture.
Numerous networking groups have sprouted, cultivating partnerships and collegial relationships among entrepreneurs. "We're always in discussions with someone who is working in the industry" says Tom Klopack, president and CEO of IntelliDOT Corp., a developer of wireless workflow and medication error prevention software for hospitals and healthcare providers. In March, IntelliDOT secured $10 million in Series D financing from Psilos Group, American River Ventures and several other investors.
Industry experts don't expect things to slow down, particularly as the life sciences sector continues to thrive and breed new biotech startups. According to the National Venture Capital Association, biotechnology ranked as the top U.S. industry for investment in the first quarter of this year, garnering $1.5 billion from VC firms. And San Diego, with more than 300 biotech companies, is attracting much of that money.
Case in point: Newly launched Tragara Pharmaceuticals Inc. of San Diego, which began operations in January, raised $40 million during a first round in March. Eckard Weber, a partner at Domain Associates, a San Diego and Princeton, N.J., venture firm focused on the life sciences, founded the company. ProQuest Investments, another Princeton firm, along with Morgenthaler Ventures of Menlo Park, Calif., and other investors, also put money in Tragara, a developer of cancer and anti-inflammatory therapies.
"What I like about the environment in San Diego is it is a beautiful blend between science and commercially driven opportunities," says Tragara CEO Tom Estok, who previously worked at Conforma Therapeutics Corp., a biotechology firm that was sold to Biogen Idec Inc. for more than $250 million in May 2006. "Both the investors and science people here not only look at science, but look at it as it's going to make a difference in physicians' lives."
Beyond life sciences, other industries are enjoying the Southern California lifestyle. Software startups, medical technologies concerns and wireless companies are also drawn to San Diego, and the region is filled with serial entrepreneurs who leave one business once it's acquired and start another. That was the case with Bruce Hansen, who co-founded ID Analytics Inc., a developer of identity risk management technology, in 2002 to help companies insulate and protect themselves from identity fraud. Prior to the founding the startup, which has received $45 million to date from investors, Hansen was president of HNC Software Inc., a provider of analytics software that was acquired by Fair Isaac Corp.in 2002 for $650 million. In May, ID Analytics received $20 million in Series C funding from four firms, Investor Growth Capital, Canaan Partners, Trinity Venturesand Mission Ventures. "Our plan is to consider an IPO over the next 24 months," Hansen says.
Meanwhile, Shawn Conahan and Derrick Oien, co-founders of Intercasting Corp., previously headed other startups and were vice president and chief operating officer, respectively, of music site MP3.com, which was bought by Vivendi SA. Intercasting, a developer of mobile social networking technology, in May raised $12 million in new capital from Venrock Associates of Menlo Park, Calif., La Jolla-based Avalon Ventures and Cambridge, Mass.-based Masthead Venture Partners. The company has raised $17.5 million to date and expects to be profitable within the next year.
Venrock general partner Brian Ascher says secondary markets like San Diego offer a way for VC firms to "be out of the crush" of Silicon Valley and avoid the intense competition between venture firms for both investment opportunities and top employees. "Venrock has never been afraid to log the airline miles," he says, noting the firm is looking at additional wireless startups in San Diego.
Most CEOs say VC money wasn't that difficult to attain, since the life sciences and wireless