Vringo, and partner, Innova Group, have announced a partnership with Armenian mobile operator VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of Mobile TeleSystems OJSC. Through the partnership, Vringo's video ringtone service will be available to more than 2,000,000 mobile subscribers of VivaCell-MTS in Armenia through a co-branded VivaCell-MTS-Vringo online platform and is claimed to constitute the first deployment of such technology in CIS countries.
The VivaCell-MTS-Vringo service, to be rolled out on a subscription basis, will provide access to Vringo's video ringtone application and its library of 4,000-and-counting video ringtone clips, downloadable via on a fee basis.
"Through this arrangement with Vringo and Innova Group, VivaCell-MTS is now able to offer our subscribers more multimedia content and more stimulating ways to use that content than ever before," said VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian. "We believe Vringo's fun and captivating video ringtones will be an extra tool in our efforts to keep our subscribers updated with the latest technologies."
"Vringo is thrilled that VivaCell-MTS is joining our growing family of carrier partners," said Vringo CEO Jon Medved. "This exclusive agreement will enable VivaCell-MTS to use Vringo's suite of customizable tools to engage its customers through the most important pivot on the mobile device: the ringtone."
"Armenia is a fast evolving country in the mobile area and working with VivaCell-MTS is an important project for Innova. We truly believe in Vringo's Video Ringtone solution and our cooperation with Vringo and VivaCell-MTS initiates an important project for Innova.", said Innova's CEO Mr. Vassilakis Manos.
This is the fourth custom-built in-language carrier platform Vringo has created for an international mobile partner. Others include platforms in Vietnamese for Viettel, in French for Bouygues Telecom and in Turkish for mobile provider.
In addition to carrier partners, the company also maintains relationships with content providers (including Turner, Discovery Mobile and Agence France Presse) and handset manufacturers, such as Sony Ericsson, which is including a direct online link to Vringo on its new Sony Ericsson Walkman phones.
Vringo is also partnering with Innova Group to provide billing services for the partnership with MTS Group.