IAR Bits and Bytes

EyeWonder Looks to Japan

Streaming video ad firm EyeWonder is expanding to Japan, through a partnership with two regional players.

The Atlanta-based company is partnering with eZuz Japan KK to roll out a joint venture, EyeWonder Japan. Meanwhile, Tokyo-based systems integrator Fujitsu FIP will serve as the venture’s back-end technology provider and serving ASP.

EyeWonder said the alliances would provide it with instant access to the Japanese market, where the company will roll out its EYERIS streaming video ad technology. Because the company says its technology can stream near-television-quality video even to dialup users, EyeWonder said it’s positioned for success in Japan, where broadband rollout is less than in the U.S.

On the other hand, the company said it would soon begin developing a streaming video solution for Japanese mobile phones, which are typically more advanced than their U.S. counterparts.

Additionally, EyeWonder said its new relationships could help introduce EYERIS to a host of prospective clients. Fujitsu FIP, for instance, will promote EyeWonder’ s technology to its Web publishing, e-commerce and corporate intranet and wireless clients. Similarly, eZuz Japan KK, which operates one of Japan’s leading global shopping portals, likely will serve as a second major stepping stone.

The move is the company’s second effort in international expansion. Earlier this year, EyeWonder opened offices in the United Kingdom where, in less than six months, 50 advertisers have signed up for the service, it said.




Winstar Interactive Boosts Client Roster

Winstar Interactive Media, a unit of radio ad sales giant Interep, will handle online media representation for a host of new sites.

The Alley-based firm is now the exclusive online rep for entertainment listing Zagat Survey, mountain sports site MountainZone, WomanMotorist and CSAA.com, the California State Automobile Association’s Web site.

As with the 19 other sites that it represents, WIM said it’s eager to work only with sites that have significant brand recognition and loyalty — which it says plays better with advertisers than run-of-network buys.

“Clearly the network model hasn’t played out as expected,” said Adam Guild, president of Interep’s interactive division. “We think it’s because advertisers want their messages to be associated with strong brands such as Zagat Survey, MountainZone.com, AAA and WomanMotorist.com, not just randomly scattered among sites with potentially similar users.”




YesMail Strikes Postfuture Partnership

E-mail marketer YesMail aims to expand its rich media capabilities through an agreement with Postfuture. The agreement will see the Chicago-based e-mail firm promoting and selling Postfuture’s set of transactional rich media offerings as an add-on to YesMail’s offerings.

For its part, Postfuture said it would begin offering YesMail’s opt-in e-mail services to its clients.

Postfuture’s solutions include secure print-at-home coupons, interactive video brochures, animated newsletters, embedded surveys and referral-based programs.

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