Pokémon and Zingy Team Up to Introduce Downloadable Mobile Media Content
Feb 17, 2006
Pokémon Mobile lets fans express their individuality with personalized ringtones, voicetones and wallpapers
NEW YORK (February 12, 2006) – Pokémon®, one of the most successful children’s properties of all-time, is joining with Zingy, Inc, the leading mobile media provider in the U.S., to launch Pokémon Mobile, it was announced today at the American International Toy Fair. Pokémon Mobile—part of the multi-billion-dollar personalized mobile media market—will offer downloadable mobile content including ringtones, wallpapers, and voicetones inspired by Pokémon’s hit animated TV series and chart-topping video games, which are based on the concept of collecting, training, and trading Pokémon characters on a quest to become a Pokémon Master. Zingy will publish Pokémon Mobile content across a variety of platforms on the major domestic cell phone carriers. Content is available at
www.pokemon.com/mobile.
“With mobile phone usage growing at an unprecedented rate and our fans looking for more on-demand content, it was a natural fit for Pokémon to expand into mobile media,” said Yves Saada, Vice President of Business Development, Pokémon USA, Inc. “Pokémon has always been a leader in technology and pop culture, and Pokémon Mobile will prove to be yet another innovative platform for us to interact with our fans.”
Through Zingy, popular Pokémon characters, songs, and animated clips will be brought to life in mobile media content for boys and girls of all ages. Consumers will be able to select from more than 30 downloadable content options and can have for example Pikachu, the most popular Pokémon character, announce their calls. They can also download ringtones from the Pokémon animated TV series soundtracks. Wallpapers include images of popular Pokémon, action scenes, and key characters, such as Pokémon Gym Leaders and villains.
“We’re thrilled to be working with Pokémon to incorporate mobile into their marketing strategy,” said Scott Debson, Vice President, Licensing and Publishing, Zingy, Inc. “The addition of Pokémon-branded content to our portfolio further establishes Zingy as the premier mobile publisher for brands that impact pop culture.”
Personalized downloads at
www.pokemon.com/mobile will be $1.99, on average, per item and will be included on consumers’ monthly mobile phone bill from their existing carrier. Throughout 2006, Pokémon Mobile will continue to add new personalized content and features, such as on-demand voicemails from popular Pokémon characters.
