Provides its customers with a more personalized mobile
experience
LISBON, Portugal, Nov. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RealNetworks, Inc.
(NASDAQ: RNWK), the inventor of ringback tones, today announced it
has been selected by mobile telecommunications company Vodafone
Portugal to offer a fully managed ringback tone service to its five
million subscribers. The partnership enables Vodafone Portugal to
provide its customers with a customized ringback tone experience
powered by RealNetworks' platform. RealNetworks® will become the
single ringback tone provider in Portugal as Vodafone Portugal migrated all
ringback tone customers to RealNetworks' platform.
Customers will be able to personalize their mobile experience by
replacing their standard ringback tone with their favorite music
tracks, which callers may listen to and enjoy before the call is
answered. Vodafone will now be able to offer its customers a truly
dynamic user experience based on a world-class smartphone
experience and distinctive audio quality enabled by the Vodafone
next generation 4G network.
While ringback tones have been successful in Portugal, mobile carriers operating in the
country commonly believe that synergies need to be created in order
to reinvigorate the service. RealNetworks' managed services will
give mobile network operators significant advantages in fully
customizing subscribers' entertainment experiences while creating
new revenue streams. The Vodafone Portugal offering is an important
step for RealNetworks as the company continues to lead innovation
in the ringback tone business through a new smartphone-centric
approach.
RealNetworks will further develop unique and advanced
propositions in conjunction with all major stakeholders in
Portugal, including:
- carriers
- music labels
- independent artists
- media partners
- advertisement agencies
"Vodafone Portugal is a pioneer that wants to offer appealing
content and media services as a way to delight subscribers and
differentiate their services," said Allen
Dickson, vice president, EMEA, RealNetworks. "RealNetworks'
managed services will offer them significant advantages in fully
customizing their subscribers' entertainment experiences while
creating new revenue streams."
"With this deal, Vodafone brings its ringback tone offering to a
world-class status, making an appealing proposition available to
our expanding high-value convergent user base," said Luis Cardoso, head of VAS, Vodafone. "We chose
RealNetworks because of its proven success in providing
market-leading, fully-managed ringback tone services to mobile
operators across the globe."
RealNetworks, in partnership with other carriers around the
world, manages more than 20 million active global ringback tone
subscribers across tier-one markets in North America, Europe, Asia
and Australia. In 2002,
RealNetworks' WiderThan Division launched the world's first
ringback tone service with SK Telekom in South Korea.
For more details on RealNetworks' ringback tone services
please visit:
http://www.realnetworks.com/products-services/mobile-services/mobile-apps
About RealNetworks, Inc.
RealNetworks, Inc. creates innovative products and services that
make it easy for people to connect with and enjoy digital media.
RealNetworks invented the streaming media category and continues to
connect consumers with their digital media both directly and
through partners, aiming to support every network, device, media
type and social network. Find RealNetworks corporate information at
www.realnetworks.com.
RealNetworks and its respective logos are trademarks, registered
trademarks, or service marks of RealNetworks. Other products and
company names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective
owners.
About Vodafone Portugal
Vodafone Portugal is a global telecommunications operator with a
convergent service recognised in all segments of the market.
Vodafone Portugal currently serves over 2.37 million homes and
businesses and has over 4.85 million customers that entrust their
communications needs to it, Vodafone Portugal is a leader in
innovation, brand image and customer satisfaction.
Vodafone Portugal is part of the Vodafone Group which is one
of the world's largest telecommunications companies, providing
a range of services including voice, messaging, data and fixed
communications. Vodafone has mobile operations in 26 countries,
partners with mobile networks in 56 more, and fixed broadband
operations in 17 markets. As of 30 June
2016 Vodafone had 465 million mobile customers and 13.7
million fixed broadband customers.
http://www.vodafone.pt/main/A+Vodafone/EN/Who+are+we/