WIN, a provider of interactive information and entertainment to mobile phones, today announced the launch of content services for Planet 3, the mobile portal for Hutchison 3G Austria. The new and fully managed services are live and available to subscribers beginning today.
The announcement marks the start of a new relationship between WIN and Hutchison 3G Austria which will see Hutchison 3G Austria outsourcing parts of its content offering to WIN. The aim of the revamped portal is to drive Hutchison 3G Austria's data traffic and to create a strong, distinctive brand differentiator in a very competitive market.
WIN will be providing Hutchison 3G Austria with: SMS and MMS alerts service including news, sports, weather and horoscopes; Content delivery mechanism from Planet 3 allowing content to be categorised and delivered via frequency, price, type as well as terms and conditions; Sourcing and provision of mobile content including SMS, MMS and video as well as premium content; Managing the alerts store front on Planet 3 including the promotion of alerts; and back-end integration including reporting and billing
The platform will simultaneously allow Hutchison 3G Austria to create its own bespoke interactive marketing campaigns, promotions and competitions and incorporates a range of features to measure campaign effectiveness. Also, content services such as alerts helps to maintain customer loyalty by delivering relevant mobile information and entertainment to subscribers based on their preferences.
"These services provided by WIN will help utilise the investment Hutchison 3G Austria has made in its mobile broadband networks by delivering rich and sophisticated content to our consumers", says Fabian Seydewitz, Head of Products&Services at Hutchison 3G Austria. "We have acknowledged subscribers' rising expectations for a compelling user experience and have therefore chosen WIN based on its technological capabilities, knowledge and expertise in delivering innovative mobile information and entertainment.
Graham Rivers, CEO of WIN commented: "As smartphone penetration increases globally, mobile users are feeling more empowered and their demand for sophisticated multimedia via their mobile is intensifying."
According to research conducted by IDC (2010), the global smartphone market grew by more than 50 percent year-on-year in the first quarter. In agreement, Rivers added, "The continued growth and investment in mobile networks presents us (WIN) with the opportunity to demonstrate the business case for operators to deliver more dynamic mobile entertainment and information service offerings."
WIN's partnership with Hutchison 3G Austria to providing and managing an alert service will be the first of its kind outside the UK.