Launch of MM4E consortium of MATERNA, PROSODIE and WIN to expand pan-European MMS services
Leading mobile data players unlock vast potential of MMS in Europe
Dortmund/Cannes, 23 February 2004
A major new initiative was announced today heralding close co-operation between three of Europe’s leading mobile data companies, MATERNA, Prosodie and WIN. The consortium named MM4E (Multimedia Mobile for Europe) aims to push forward the industry development of MMS to unlock its huge commercial potential for major brands that require seamless campaigns across Europe.
The mobile data giants of MM4E are working together to advance MMS distribution, offering a single point of access and common price points for any company wanting to get their brand into Europe. The consortium will also introduce best practice across its members’ territories. This is a significant first step in the drive to harness the rapidly expanding European market for multi-media mobile content and services.
MM4E builds on the successful partnership between MATERNA and WIN announced in April of last year. With the addition of Prosodie, the consortium’s reach today includes operators in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the UK, with France developing its models for third party provision mid-year.
Among the first beneficiaries of the MM4E consortium are anticipated to be companies that are seeking to roll out campaigns around the Euro 2004 Football Championships and the Summer Olympics.
Helmut an de Meulen, CEO of MATERNA, said: “The adoption of MMS services continues to grow at an astonishing rate in Germany alone, with more messages being sent handling content than are sent peer to peer. We realised the need for a cross border initiative to strive towards direct connections with operators, facilitating the development of European MMS campaigns. We believe that the MM4E consortium will be vital to push forward the development and market reach of mobile picture, video and music services at a fraction of the cost for multi-national brands.”
Peter Norman, Commercial Director of WIN, continued: “The complementary strengths, services and vision of MM4E partners is critical to further growth in the MMS arena. As MM4E expands into new territories, there will be manifold benefits and cost savings for major brands. New additions to MM4E will ensure the commercial success of this messaging format for corporations with a single point of access from country to country. We are committed to pushing forward MMS as industry demand and consumer uptake increases.”
Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, Wireless and Internet Business Unit Director at Prosodie, added: “France is still developing its models for third party provision but we are anticipating direct connections to Network MMScs by mid-year. For us it was imperative in the provision of MMS services that we teamed up with strong financial partners that had good market positions in their home territories. MM4E consortium will be able to develop these mobile services further as it expands into more key European markets.
ENDS
About Wireless Information Network Ltd (WIN)
Wireless Information Network, WIN, (
www.winplc.com) is the UK's leading provider of SMS & MMS mobile applications. It operates mobile services in the UK, Ireland and Germany.
WIN has spent the last 14 years innovating and supplying mobile communications and developed a reputation for being the fastest, most reliable developer in the industry. WIN works with companies from many business areas, in particular network operators, media, advertising, enterprise and CRM companies in order to make wireless an effective medium for communication.
It was listed for two years running in the top five fastest growing technology companies in the Sunday Times Tech Track survey. It has been the winner of eight industry awards over the past two years, including Highly Commended at the 3GSM Global Awards, 2003.
WIN counts the following high profile blue chip organisations as part of its portfolio: Associated Newspapers, BBC, Centrica, O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone.
WIN currently employs 40 people at its offices in High Wycombe in the UK and in 2003 had sales of approximately €22.5m.
WIN Contact:
Peter Norman
Wireless Information Network
Tel: +44 (0)1494 750 500
peternorman@winplc.comwww.winplc.com
About MATERNA GmbH Information & Communications
MATERNA is a leading software company in the field of information and communication technology. The company employs worldwide 1.115 staff members and its turnover was estimated to more than 145 million Euros for the year 2002.
Beside the head office in Dortmund, the company has offices and subsidiaries located all over Germany as well as in Austria, Belgium, Czech republic, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and USA.
In the Business Unit Information, MATERNA develops integrated IT solutions for process optimization involving companies and public administration. This includes the topic fields Portals, Information Management, Service and IT Infrastructure Management.
The Business Unit Communications offers products and solutions from the business area Mobile Solutions and Unified Messaging. This includes in particular value-added services for mobile and fixed net on base of SMS, MMS, WAP and Mobile Java which are distributed under the brand name Anny Way.
MATERNA Contact:
MATERNA Information & Communications
Antje Krämer
Vosskuhle 37, 44141 Dortmund, Germany
Phone: +49 173 70 11 085antje.kraemer@MATERNA.dewww.MATERNA.comwww.annyway.com
About PROSODIE
PROSODIE operates value-added services for managing corporate information/data and provides innovative solutions for their access and transmission.
PROSODIE utilizes this same IT and telecommunications expertise to supply information directly to the general public through the three brands of its PROSODIE Info unit (Meteo Consult, GENY courses and France-examen).
With a presence in France, North America (U.S.A. & Canada) and Spain, PROSODIE had 2002 consolidated revenues of 160.9 M€.
PROSODIE is part of the ITCAC 50, SBF 250 and Next 150 indexes and of the NextEconomy segment of Euronext.
PROSODIE obtained the "Entreprise innovante" label from French innovation agency ANVAR in July 2003.
ISIN stock code: FR000415203 ISIN Warrant code: FR0000309023
Prosodie Contacts:
PROSODIE Connect
Mélanie Roetzinger
Tél. : +33 1 46 84 17 70mroetzinger@prosodie.com
Presse & Technologies
Corinne Charles / Mélanie Barreau
Tél. : +33 1 56 56 64 64mbarreau@pressetech.fr
For more information contact Lloyd Gofton or Lucy Park at Midnight Communications on 01273 666 200, lloyd@midnight.co.uk or lucy@midnight.co.uk .
