Mobliss Messaging Assets Sold To NewMotion Inc; NMI To Launch Asian-American Off-Deck Portal
Mobliss, the mobile content applications and marketing firm based in Seattle, which was bought a few years ago by Japanese mobile content giant Index Holdings, has sold off its messaging assets to Irvine, CA-based company NewMotion Inc. Mobliss was majority sold to a Japanese investment firm last year.
Also, as part of the deal, NMI has formed a JV company with Index to create an Asian-themed off-deck mobile entertainment portal in North America. The new company is a U.S.-based firm registered under the name The Mobile Entertainment Channel Corporation, and will operate under a consumer brand name to be announced at a later date.
Also, NMI was recently appointed Burton Katz as its new CEO…till last year Katz was president of Buongiorno’s North American operations and past executive of its U.K. operations.
NMI has three main brands: MobileSidewalk, a mobile content storefront; RingtoneChannel, a mobile storefront provider; and Bid4Prizes, a low-bid mobile auction game. More details in the release here.
Related:
– UPDATED: AmericanIdol/Freemantle Changes SMS Providers From Mobliss To Verisign
– Index Divestment In Mobliss: 85 Percent
– Jim Merrick To Head Mobliss
Mobliss hardly has any more messaging assets at this stage. This is really about the VZW and Cingular binds. I find it hard to imagine that VZW would allow Mobile Sidewalks (a classic D2C player) to have it's own direct bind when they've been turning away the other D2C companies who would like direct binds.