Universal Pictures to Launch Mobile Film Portals with Minick

Minick announced it has been selected by Universal Pictures to build and manage their mobile film portals globally. The agreement will provide Universal Pictures with a scalable framework that will enable rapid deployment of mobile websites, complementing the company's existing distribution channels through mobile operators.

Starting with the fourth quarter of 2007, Universal Pictures and Minick will launch new interactive WAP websites addressed to fans of Universal's movies. The new network of websites and partner portals will give users access to a wealth of information about Universal Picture's films and DVD releases, as well as to downloadable promotional and premium mobile content and the chance to participate in affinity programs.

"The possibilities of using mobile as part of a long-term film marketing strategy are endless. Universal has been instrumental in making the necessary steps to achieve this", said Lourens de Beer, Minick UK's Managing Director. "We have only scratched the surface of what mobile can truly achieve and over the coming years the types of services, data collection and interactive initiatives used by Universal Pictures and other Minick clients will only grow and become richer."

Founded in 1994, Minick is a provider of interactive applications and infrastructure solutions for the mobile industry. Its clients include leading network operators such as Vodafone, T-Mobile, Telefonica and Orange, as well as media and entertainment companies such as MTV, RTL Newmedia, Channel 4, Sony Pictures and Universal Music. The company has built one of the largest premium messaging networks in Europe and North America and operates its own SMS and MMS centers with direct connections to the mobile networks.

"Minick's impressive track record with major brands and their global reach make them a perfect choice for Universal," said Jeremy Laws, Senior Vice President of Universal Mobile Entertainment. "We are thrilled to be working with Minick on this key component of our global mobile distribution strategy."