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3 and O2 to join forces to create the UK's largest open access mobile video community
London, 4th February 2008
3 and O2 are to launch EyeVibe, a mobile video community that combines their highly successful SeeMeTV and LookAtMe! services into a single community allowing any UK mobile subscriber with a video-enabled handset to share and earn cash from their mobile video clips.
Yospace, a Bauer company, developed the LookAtMe! and SeeMeTV platforms for O2 and 3. Combining them unites hundreds of thousands of users and their content into a single exciting community bringing together the best features of both.
Members of the EyeVibe community will be able to access a vast library of video captured from mobile handsets while being able to interact using messaging, voting and comment. Because EyeVibe is open to all, it means that members can for the first time invite their friends to enjoy the benefits of being part of the community.
Since the launch of SeeMeTV and LookAtMe!, users have paid for more than 32 million video downloads earning a combined total of over £800,000 for users who have submitted more than 60,000 clips. The services currently generate 28 million mobile page impressions per month. With EyeVibe, now anyone in the UK can share and earn cash from their clips. With a national audience being able to access a single gallery, the service is to set the standard in payments to contributors.
Just as with text and picture messages previously, opening access across networks is expected to be the major growth catalyst for what is already the UK's most successful mobile video community.
3 Marketing Director, John Penberthy-Smith, said: "3 was the first to market with SeeMeTV in October 2005. Already hugely popular, we knew everyone else would love it too so we have built a community which everyone can be part of. EyeVibe is the new cross-network user-generated service which we believe is the way forward for social networking."
Grahame Riddell, Head of Content, O2 UK, said: "LookAtMe! has provided a platform for thousands of O2 customers to reach an audience with their quality mobile clips. EyeVibe will dramatically increase this audience, providing a massive boost to user-generated content on mobile in the UK."
Dave Springall, Chief Technology Officer of Yospace, said: "We have been working hard to not only combine these two communities, but also to develop community features that will thrive under this operator-supported open access model. Our plan for 2008 is to make EyeVibe the biggest and brightest mobile community in the UK."
Chris Lawson, Bauer Digital Marketing Director, said: "EyeVibe will be backed by a substantial multi-media marketing campaign across Bauer's UK consumer magazine, radio, internet and TV platforms, leveraging our reach to target 27 million UK households. By having a single brand for the UK market, coupled with open access, we can effectively communicate the service to new customers, to help us create a truly incisive and diverse community."
1 Customers submit clips via MMS to 60300. Subscribers to O2 and 3 can also continue to use the 32323 number they used for SeeMeTV and LookAtMe! Users must be over 16.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Yospace
Yospace, an innovative mobile applications company spearheading the concept of user-generated content in the mobile industry, is part of Bauer Consumer Media, Yospace originally launched the highly successful 'SeeMeTV' in partnership with 3 in October 2005, and LookAtMe! with O2 in June 2006. The services allow subscribers to submit video clips captured on mobile phones into a human moderated gallery, where visitors can download the clips for a small fee. 10% of the download revenue for a given clip is paid back to the original contributor.
Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, part of the Bauer Publishing Group following acquisition from Emap on 31st January 2008, is a brand-led, multi-platform media organisation, with interests spanning magazines, TV, mobile and internet.
H. Bauer Publishing is the largest publisher in the UK and the largest privately owned publisher in Europe. Founded in Hamburg in 1875 by Johann Bauer, the company has been managed by the Bauer family since its inception; Heinz Bauer is the fourth subsequent family member, managing the entire group. The Bauer Publishing Group is a worldwide media empire offering over 200 magazines in 14 countries, as well as TV and radio stations alongside global web and mobile businesses.
About 3
3 is a mobile media company delivering a convergence of communications, entertainment and information to customers on the move.
The three areas which form the core of its business are:
- Communications - including all forms of personal communications, voice and video calling; text, picture and video messaging; and mobile blogging
- Entertainment - including television, music audio and video, computer games, and media publishing
- Information services - including wireless web, access to the best of the internet and a range of news services
3 UK is a member of the HWL group of 3G companies, which include 3G operations in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Sweden and soon Norway.
Three facts about 3:
- 3, a mobile media company, launched the UK's first 3G network
- 3 has over 4.1 million customers in the UK and over 15.9 million worldwide (August 2007 figures)
- The 3 network offers national coverage for calls and texts, and over 90% population coverage for 3G services.
About O2
O2 is a leading provider of mobile and broadband services to consumers and businesses in the UK. These services include voice, text, media messaging, games, music and video, as well as always on data connections via GPRS, 3G, ASDL2+ and WLAN. Every month, O2's 17.9 million customers send well over a billion text messages. O2 UK is part of Telefónica O2 Europe which comprises mobile network operators in the UK, Ireland and Slovakia along with integrated fixed / mobile businesses in Germany and the Czech Republic. Telefónica O2 Europe also owns 50% of the Tesco Mobile and Tchibo Mobilfunk joint venture businesses in the UK and Germany respectively as well as having 100% ownership of Be, a leading UK fixed broadband provider
O2 was ranked as 5th best place to work in the Best Companies to Work for 2007 List and has been awarded a two-star accreditation denoting an 'outstanding' company.
(For b-roll footage of O2, please visit www.thenewshub.co.uk)
For further information:
Maureen Corish: Bauer Head of Press and PR 020 7182 8545
Visit: www.three.co.uk or call the 3 Media Office on 0845 6038333
Nick Wilkins O2 UK Press Office 01753 565656 pressoffice@O2.com
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