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DAILY NEWS
Apr 10, 2007 7:18 AM
Companies to Distribute Image Library for Mobile Users
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Calgarys iStockphoto is going mobile, and is rolling out an initial stock photographic image offering in Europe, to be followed by Canada and the U.S.
iStockphoto is working with AMUSE Entertainment Group B.V. to allow mobile users to download wallpapers from a selection of 5,000 of iStockphotos quality images. Images will be found within a dedicated mobile storefront accessed through the iStockphoto website, and marketed and promoted jointly by iStock and AMUSE, the companies describe. Images will be made available to UK mobile phone subscribers on the 3, Orange, O2, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone networks, and will be delivered via mBlox, the worlds largest mobile transaction network.
The initial rollout will commence in April and will be expanded into other territories such as Canada and the United States based on success of the pilot. The second stage of this agreement will see the iStock library of over 1.5 million images opened to AMUSEs broader distribution network providing access to a market of almost 1 billion people worldwide.
People want their gadgets to feel uniquely theirs, including their mobile phones, said Garth Johnson, vice president of business development at iStockphoto. Amuse and iStock have now opened a new range of personalization possibilities with iStocks diverse, global image collection.
iStock has an incredible library of exceptional images which are perfect for the mobile arena. With the trend for personalization on mobile handsets continuing, we feel iStocks library will appeal to a vast market and are proud to provide our knowledge, experience and platform to help iStock enter the mobile space, said AMUSE CEO and founder Jennifer Koster.
AMUSE Entertainment Group BV is a leading provider of digital media solutions and services to the media, entertainment and advertising industries. Through key strategic relationships and software applications, AMUSE enables content delivery and consumer interactivity through the combination of core infrastructure solution FUGA, end-to-end mobile platform 3BILL, and mobile ticketing platform bCODE. Together, AMUSE is able to provide a comprehensive solution for any content owner to manage, distribute and sell their content to a global network of online and mobile channels. The key benefits to using this infrastructure are decreased costs through streamlined operations, increasing profit margins with transactional transparency, ownership of their customers and a shorter time to market. AMUSE is focused on revenue assurance and revenue optimization for its clients by continuously seeking key channel and partner relationships.
iStockphoto entered the stock video market in September of 2006, pioneering the micropayment phenomenon, and enabling buyers to license images or sell video for as little as a dollar. iStockphoto describes turning community into commerce, transforming the digital imagery market by encouraging passionate dialogue and education, while making imagery affordable to businesses that may not have licensed imagery otherwise.
iStockphoto is headquartered in Calgary, AB, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Getty Images.
