Partnership with mBlox

5 Apr 2006 07:01

Bango PLC05 April 2006 Bango plc ("Bango" or "the Company") Bango Partners with mBlox New solution combines the benefits of Premium SMS with the ease of 'browse and buy' April 5, 2006 - Bango plc (AIM: BGO), the mobile content enabler, is pleased toannounce a collaboration with mBlox, the world's largest mobile transactionnetwork, to deliver a global content billing solution which integrates the mBloxpremium billing solutions with Bango's browse and buy technology. The complementary integration of the two systems enables end users to navigatethrough a portal style payment experience for mobile content even though theunderlying billing mechanism is Premium SMS. The combined solution enables usersto navigate a mobile site and to preview and pay for content without having tosend a separate SMS message. mBlox's network of commercial relationships, its clearing and settlementservices and its content delivery connections enabled it to process over 1billion transactions worth $400m in 2005. "Bango reviewed all the major mobile transaction networks in the US andoverseas; we chose to partner with mBlox for the reliability and performance ofits Premium SMS billing and messaging platform, and because we believe they arethe leaders in their sector with the expertise and focus to succeed on a globalscale," said Ray Anderson, CEO at Bango. "Bango's unique approach to the mobile internet browse and buy experience hasbeen proven in overseas markets, and we can see enormous scope here," said JeffClark, CEO of mBlox. "There will be many opportunities for collaboration betweenBango and our clients and partners in the US and around the world." Clark continued, "Our strategy of focusing on mobile transaction networking, andworking with complementary solution experts like Bango, enables us to power thebest mobile content and payment solutions in the market." During 2005, Bango has experienced rapid growth in the number of people usingthe Bango Service from different corners of the world. Content has beenpurchased through the Bango Service from more than 100 different countries fromas far afield as South Africa and Taiwan using over 250 different operatornetworks. About Bango Bango (AIM: BGO) has developed and deployed an open, global infrastructureplatform that enables content providers to market, sell and deliver theirproducts and services directly to mobile phone users on all mobile networksusing the mobile Internet. This "direct-to-consumer" approach operates alongsidethe mobile operator's mobile portal. Leading mobile operators including CingularWireless, Vodafone, Orange, Telefonica and O2 work with Bango to accelerate thegrowth of their "direct-to-consumer" business. The Bango platform has given mobile phone subscribers around the world greateraccess to third-party content. Leading content brands are now using Bango'sservices to engage with their existing and potential mobile customers directly -irrespective of mobile operator. For further information, go to www.bango.com. About mBloxmBlox is the world's largest mobile transaction network. Specializing in thecommercial and technical complexities of mobile payment and messagetransmission, mBlox is in the business of connecting companies with customers.The result of this dedicated attention to messaging services is that mBloxdelivers comprehensive and dependable SMS transport and financial settlementservices. With an international network of offices, mature operator relationships andcarrier-grade infrastructure, mBlox powers mobile business. mBlox isheadquartered in Sunnyvale, California with EMEA headquarters in London andoffices around the world. For further information visit www.mblox.com. For further information, please contact: Sarah Keefe, Marketing Manager Bango Tel: +44 7786 932016 sarah@bango.com Tom Moriarty/ Caroline Evans-JonesICISTel : +44 207 651 8688tom@icisnet.com / caroline@icisnet.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange