Updated 28 May, 2012, 6:13 pm IST

Ericsson, Turner to Offer Mobile Services

09 Feb, 2007, 4:00 pm IST | by Priyanka Pradhan |

Ericsson has tied up with Turner Broadcasting System International, to develop Turner's Internet Broadcast News and Entertainment content for mobile multimedia environments.

According to the collaboration, Turner's CNN International, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim channels, along with other entertainment content will be delivered and hosted by Ericsson. The first of these jointly developed services will launch in Europe on 12 February 2007 at the 3GSM World Congress trade fair in Barcelona, bringing a new CNN Mobile service to the users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. However, the deal is not exclusive, and Ericsson will seek similar deals with other media companies as well.

The initial launch of CNN Mobile and subsequent launches in this collaboration will enable mobile operators to deliver simple access to Turner content through their own branded portals, while end users will have access to content such as the CNN Mobile site directly on their mobile devices. The companies will also make some CNN material, such as text news and weather, available free, on a mobile Web site for any browser. However, the deal is not exclusive, and Ericsson will seek similar deals with other media companies.

Casey Harwood, Senior Vice President, Digital Media, Turner Broadcasting says, "With this deal, we will have for the first time a full portfolio of solutions - from SMS through to mobile television - that will scale and easily move across the world. This partnership is a logical fit where the customer and mobile operators benefit through Turner focusing on providing innovative news and entertainment content to its global audience and Ericsson is providing the technology behind it."

Turner claims that the CNN Mobile product will be the first example of a true 'off-deck' portal for mobile users, providing a state-of-the-art news service. A searchable archive of 14 days and over 2000 stories will sit with breaking news alerts and video news updates through the hourly updated 'World News Now'. Available to CNN users in EMEA and Latin America subscription free, the service will be accessible through CNNmobile.com on all mobile browsers or through operator portals where deals are in place.

According to Turner, the mobile services being developed include intelligent software that enables devices to show only the actual content that is appropriate to the particular handset. The services will be rolled out to further territories and both Turner and Ericsson have committed to further product launches throughout 2007.

Tags: Ericsson , Turner Broadcasting System International , CNN Mobile

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