Greystripe Teams Up with German MVNO, simyo, to Offer Ad-Supported Mobile Content Solution

Partnership provides free, on-deck mobile entertainment to thousands of German mobile phone users

 

(SAN FRANCISCO) - June 9, 2008 - Leading Internet-based German MVNO, simyo, today announced that they will now provide 800+ high-quality, free mobile games and applications to their subscribers thanks to a partnership with Greystripe. simyo has made Greystripe's catalog of games available to both their subscribers and the mobile community at large through http://www.simyo-handyspiele.de. Greystripe, the world's leading distributor of ad-supported mobile games and applications, has also developed a simyo-branded, in-game on device portal that appears at the start of every game and provides links to send users back to simyo's mobile Internet site.

Greystripe's tight integration with simyo is an innovative solution for both MVNOs and carriers. The partnership disproves the notion that all carriers are attached to the for-pay model of mobile content. Mobile games have proven themselves to be very valuable entertainment for subscribers while, at the same time, driving increased data usage, which is an important revenue growth center for carriers. Additionally, the partnership is a logical next step for simyo as they provide the lowest data rates, attracting their subscribers to download games with minimal data charges.

"Ad-supported mobile game distribution is a growing trend in the industry," said Julien Theys, Analyst at Screen Digest. "Free mobile content drives data usage overall, thus improving revenues. Screen Digest expects to see more operators launching services in the coming year."

As part of the full Greystripe AdWRAP Catalog Platform integration, simyo has integrated three major components - a branded White Label Website catalog, a mobile Website and the in-game on device portal into each of the games. The in-game portal provides users with the opportunity to play the game, then return to simyo's White Label mobile Website and choose from a collection of other games or download content directly from the in-game menu. This CRM and merchandising solution helps build awareness for other games in the catalog as well as for simyo as a brand.

"We are very excited about this partnership with Greystripe as they were the clear choice given their technology leadership, the breadth and quality of their games catalog and their superior, engaging advertising format," said Rolf Hansen, Founder and CEO at simyo. "Our consumers are very Internet savvy and demand a great user experience and Greystripe's model provides that in spades."

Greystripe's AdWRAP Catalog Platform enables mobile Websites, Internet portals, mobile applications and carriers like simyo, to distribute Greystripe's catalog of mobile games. The AdWRAP Catalog Platform is a hosted and customizable combination of mobile Web, JAVA mobile application and Internet technologies that can be tailored to the look and feel of any site.

"Our partnership with simyo demonstrates a clear trend toward ad-supported mobile content in the mobile industry as it provides a better end user experience. For carriers and MVNOs alike, it is a winning model because it provides their users low risk entertainment - no upfront charges, no subscription breakage and no difficulty in transferring games from one handset to another," said Alvaro Bravo, VP of Business Development at Greystripe. "All of these things have stifled growth in the industry and we aim to change that."

Greystripe broadened its distribution reach significantly and recently announced that they have implemented over 70 catalog partnerships, each offering the high-quality mobile games from the Greystripe catalog.

About Greystripe:
Greystripe is the world's first and leading ad-supported mobile games and applications distribution platform. Greystripe's AdWRAP product suite enables: brand advertisers to communicate their brand message with a unique mobile audience; publishers to gain advertising revenue by serving ads through their games; and consumers to download high quality games for free. The AdWRAP system is protected by a broad array of patents pending and currently serves ads into more than 800 game titles from 100 publishers supporting over 1,400 handset models. Greystripe reaches millions of mobile game players by powering over 70 AdWRAP Catalog distribution partners and through GameJump.com its online and mobile web portal GameJump.com. Greystripe was named a Red Herring Global 100 winner in 2007 and the Under the Radar Best in Show: Mobility winner in 2006.

About simyo:
In 2005, founder and CEO, Rolf Hansen, together with his three men management team, set up simyo as the pioneer of a new mobile telephony generation. By focusing on smart online shoppers and selling SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards at discount rates on its website, www.simyo.de, simyo changed mobile telephony in Germany.In order to make mobile Internet affordable for everyone, simyo reduced the price of mobile data usage market-wide by 97 percentin 2007.

Please find more information as well as graphic material on
www.simyo.de/presse.