CNN Interactive, a world leader in online news and information delivery, and Openwave Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: OPWV), the combination of Phone.com and Software.com, have signed a cooperative marketing agreement. As part of the agreement, CNN has become a member of the Openwave Alliance Program, which enables the companies to work together to market CNN’s mobile data service on Openwave’s wireless software platform.
CNN Interactive is using Openwave’s Software Developer’s Kit to optimize its CNN Mobile content, ensuring continued compatibility with Openwave’s Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)-compatible UP.Browser microbrowser, which Openwave has licensed to more than 40 handset manufacturers.
CNN Mobile provides selected CNN.com content to mobile users, drawing upon CNN’s worldwide newsgathering organization to feature breaking news, world news and regional news, weather forecasts, world business news and market updates, world sports news and scores, entertainment news, city travel guides and special features. CNN Interactive’s journalists in Atlanta and London update the service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Openwave has licensed its software to more than 80 wireless operators and 40 handset manufacturers worldwide. CNN Interactive and Openwave are working together to ensure that CNN Mobile content works efficiently with that software to easily deliver CNN.com content to customers. Additionally, the alliance calls for Openwave to promote CNN Mobile to its wireless operator customers and facilitate introductions to its international carrier customers.
“CNN is pleased to be working with Openwave and believes the joint marketing efforts will be beneficial to all involved,” said Donna Lewis, senior vice president of business development for CNN Interactive.
“CNN has built its reputation by providing up-to-the-moment news around the world. The wireless Internet is allowing CNN to take this concept to the next level by providing anytime, anywhere access to CNN.com through a wireless phone,” said Ben Linder, vice president of marketing for Openwave. “We are pleased that CNN.com can offer superior wireless content to our carrier customers.”
CNN Mobile was the first mobile telephone news and information service available globally with targeted regional content. Launched in February 1999, CNN Mobile is available to more than 90 million subscribers in 24 countries. Beginning with nine charter operators in Europe and Asia, CNN Mobile is now partnered with 29 mobile operators to distribute its mobile news service worldwide. CNN Mobile’s content is available in SMS, WAP and HDML formats.
