[October 25, 2004] Nokia to Deliver Branded Content From Mobile Media Publisher Starcut as Part of New Preminet(R) Solution CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & ENTERTAINMENT 2004, SAN FRANCISCO, California, October 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nokia , the global leader in mobility, and Starcut Ltd., a leading mobile media publisher, today announced that premium, branded entertainment, life-style and sports content from Starcut will be available as part of the new Preminet(R) Solution, an end-to-end mobile content distribution and transaction service for mobile network operators. Under the new agreement, Preminet and Starcut will provide operators with branded content such as ringtones, graphics, games and video. Starcut will bring key content to Preminet in the form of well-known music, artist and motion picture brands from its content partners. Universal Studios and Warner Music Group (WMG) are among the first companies working with Starcut to provide content, services and applications for inclusion in the Preminet Master Catalog. "We have seen throughout the early stages of the mobile media industry that major brands are a key driver for consumer uptake," said Lee Epting, vice president, Forum Nokia. "Starcut brings some of the most prestigious entertainment and life-style brands to the Preminet catalog, which will serve as a key attraction for operators and consumers." Announced today by Forum Nokia, Nokia's global developer support program, Preminet sources premium Java(TM) and Symbian OS(TM) software from leading developers and content aggregators around the globe to give operators a master catalog of certified applications, games and other mobile content. Preminet content is available as part of an complete end-to-end offering that includes the Preminet Master Catalog, Preminet Service Delivery Platform and Preminet Purchasing Client, an innovative software application that make it easy for end-users to discover, try and buy mobile applications, content and services. Operators can integrate Preminet content into their own download delivery systems or have Nokia provide a complete hosted solution. "Universal Studios sees the co-operation with Starcut and Nokia through Preminet as a great way to widen its reach in offering operators and their movie-going audiences a possibility to enjoy our movie-related content through mobile devices," said Jeremy Laws, vice president, Media Licensing & Strategy, Universal Studios Consumer Products Group. "New content delivery solutions such as Preminet are strategically important to WMG as we extend our distribution of mobile music formats to carriers worldwide," said Michael Nash, senior vice president, Internet Strategy & Business Development, Warner Music Group. "We are excited about this opportunity to work with Starcut and Nokia to broaden the market for new products and services developed with our labels and artists." Working with Starcut, Nokia will provide appealing branded content that will generate revenue for operators and content partners, positioning Preminet as the leading solution for operators to access the best mobile content and applications. "We are happy to extend our co-operation with Nokia and our content partners to deliver world-class mobile media services to operators. Starcut has the expertise to translate entertainment brands into powerful mobile experiences that support operators in their efforts to increase the use of mobile data," says Juha Tiihonen, CEO of Starcut. About Universal Studios Consumer Products Group Universal Studios Consumer Products Group (USCPG) is responsible for global licensing and retail strategies as well as building brand recognition of the extensive catalogue of NBC Universal properties. Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is a unit of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates the No. 1 television network, the fastest-growing Spanish-language network, a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal. About Warner Music Group Warner Music Group, with its broad roster of new stars and legendary artists, is the world's largest privately held independent music company. The company is home to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music industry including Atlantic, Elektra, Lava, Maverick, Nonesuch, Reprise, Rhino, Sire, Warner Bros. and Word. Warner Music International, a leading company in national and international repertoire operates through 37 affiliates and numerous licensees in more than 50 countries. Warner Music Group also includes Warner/Chappell Music, one of the world's leading music publishers, with a catalog of more than one million copyrights worldwide. For more information about Warner Music Group, visit http://www.wmg.com/ About Starcut Starcut is a mobile media publishing company that develops and manages premium mobile entertainment services for mobile operators, mobile device manufacturers, and entertainment companies globally. Starcut offers its clients consulting and content programming, branded content sourcing, publishing, and content sales services. The company's focus content areas include music, movies, TV, cartoon, sports and life-style. Starcut has offices in Helsinki, Los Angeles and Singapore. About Forum Nokia Nokia's global developer program, Forum Nokia connects developers to tools, technical information, support, and distribution channels they can use to build and market applications around the globe. From offices in the U.S., Europe, Japan, China, and Singapore, Forum Nokia provides technical and business development support to developers and operators to assist them in achieving their goal of successfully launching applications and services to consumers and enterprises. More information is available at http://www.forum.nokia.com/ About Nokia Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia is dedicated to enhancing people's lives and productivity by providing easy-to-use and secure products like mobile phones, and solutions for imaging, games, media, mobile network operators and businesses. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on five major exchanges. For more information, visit http://www.nokia.com/. Copyright (c) 2004 Nokia. Nokia, Nokia Connecting People, Preminet are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nokia Corporation. Nokia CONTACT: Media and Analyst Enquiries: Natalie Zadeh, Universal StudiosConsumer Products Group, Tel: +1-818-777-4918,[email protected] or Amanda Collins, Warner Music Group,Tel: +1-212-275-2213, [email protected] or Juha Tiihonen,CEO, Starcut Ltd., Tel: +358-10-400-6680,[email protected] or Charles Chopp, Nokia CorporateCommunications, Tel: +1-972-894-4573,[email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]