NeoMedia Technologies, Inc (NEOM)

[ss9173]

DD The Orchard Selects Air2Web in Historic Mobile Content and Marketing Agreement; Deal Enables The Orchard to Offer Label Clients Powerful Creative Marketing Options Using SMS Technology
CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2006
Booth 1125

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060913005....


ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 2006--Air2Web, the leading provider of mobile messaging and marketing applications, today announced an outsourcing agreement with The Orchard, the world's leading digital distributor and marketer of independent music. The agreement provides The Orchard with digital music delivery to mobile devices globally, creating the farthest-reaching service of its kind.


With a catalogue of more than one million tracks spanning 73 countries and every genre of music, The Orchard is the world's leading supplier of digital music to online music retailers and mobile operators. Partnering with Air2Web will provide The Orchard with the opportunity to further expand its services in the mobile marketplace, where, according to the leading analyst firm M:Metrics, 3 million people in the United States download music over their cell phones at least once a month.

"This agreement gives our labels and artists the ability to connect directly with their fans via SMS technology, so cell phone users across different geographies and carriers can access the same content in a way that's quick and easy to purchase," said Greg Scholl, chief executive of The Orchard. "This opens up a new world of possibilities for The Orchard's clients, who will now have the ability to insert SMS codes into virtually any physical or virtual product they sell, including CDs and downloads, but also in merchandise like T-shirts, and in their print, radio, and TV ads. The creative marketing possibilities are endless, and we're confident that we will work with our label clients to use these tools and drive sales."

Air2Web's connectivity spans over 500 carriers in 170 countries. This global footprint makes it easy for companies like The Orchard to connect with mobile subscribers the world over.

This new mobile service will launch this November, initially offering ringtones from the Orchard's library, which includes content from Masta Killa, MF Doom, Tone Loc, Brand New Heavies, Black Sheep, Ministry, Jerky Boys, Lewis Black, Roger Sanchez, and other Orchard-distributed artists. Users will be able to request the ringtones by texting specific shortcodes. They will then receive a confirmation message via SMS that they must acknowledge before receiving the ringtone. This double opt-in system will ensure compliance with carrier and Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) standards.

"Air2Web is very pleased to have been chosen by The Orchard to provide such a vast offering to a growing consumer need," said Len Emmick, Senior Vice President of Sales at Air2Web. "In some respects, this deal is historic in terms of geographic reach and comprehensive scope. It says a lot about the immense business value of our organization and confidence of our client, The Orchard."

While 200 ringtones will be available initially under this agreement, The Orchard plans to expand its offerings through Air2Web to include its full catalogue of music tracks, ringtones, and mastertones. In addition, the Orchard plans to widen the geographic scope of the deal, beginning with the U.S. and eventually including the U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Portugal, Sweden, Mexico, and China. The Orchard's delivery of ringtone content to Air2Web is enabled by Faspay Technologies, a global provider of mobile content management systems.

About Air2Web

Air2Web is an industry leading solution provider for wireless applications and data services including--advanced SMS and MMS messaging, alerts, mobile marketing, and campaign management for the enterprise and carrier markets. Headquartered in the United States with locations in India serving the Asia Pacific market and locations in France and England serving the European markets, Air2Web extends the reach of businesses for applications, data and advanced messaging to individuals utilizing mobile phones and smart devices. Clients include American Express, CDC, UPS, Cingular, CitiBank, CSX Intermodal, and the Weather Channel. More information on Air2Web can be found at www.air2web.com.

About The Orchard

The Orchard is the world's leading digital distributor and marketer of independent music, with a catalogue of more than one million tracks representing 73 countries, thousands of labels, and every music genre. This catalogue includes titles from multi-platinum acts such as Green Day, Coldplay, Ray Charles, and Barenaked Ladies, as well as from breaking bands like The Hold Steady, Bedouin Soundclash, and Immortal Technique. The Orchard supplies all the leading legal digital music stores and mobile operators throughout the world and markets its labels' catalogues for sync song placements in films, commercials, and television shows. The company is owned by Dimensional Associates, the private equity arm of JDS Capital Management, Inc. whose portfolio companies also include eMusic and Dimensional Music Publishing. The Orchard is headquartered in New York and London, with offices in 23 countries and six continents. For more information, please visit: www.theorchard.com.

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