Vringo has announced an agreement with Avea to provide Turkey's first video ringtone service. In addition to bringing Vringo to a potential universe of millions, this deal also represents a first for the video ringtone market: the first carrier-led video ringtone subscription model.
Vringo and Avea are launching the service via the carrier’s popular youth platform Patlican, bringing Vringo’s video ringtone application and 4,000+-clips-and-counting video ringtone library exclusively to Patlican members. Members will receive a 60-day free trial, followed by a monthly subscription fee of 4 SMS/8 counters, which includes the application, access to a number of video ringtones and free data for downloading Vringo. Members will be able to reach these services and contents from patlican.vringo.com.
Vringo also brings to Patlican members a library of pay-per-clip premium video ringtones, culled from the company’s relationships with international content owners such as leading music aggregator INGrooves and local Turkish content partners. These video ringtones will range in price from 10 to 16 SMS, with a 50-percent discount for Patlican members.
“Analysts estimate that 50 percent of ringtone revenues will come from video ringtones as early as 2010; it’s our mission to make that a reality,” said Jon Medved, CEO, Vringo. “Turkey is an ideal market to begin selling Vringo’s unique service: it’s a country where mobile content, particularly ringtones, is incredibly popular; its digital media industry continues to grow; and our carrier partner Avea has developed a world-class social community of young people that matches up perfectly with our brand.”
“Our young subscribers, registered to our youth platform Patlican, are among the most cutting-edge and creative mobile users, and we’re committed to develop new services which will enable them to express themselves and enjoy benefits of technology” said Avea Chief Marketing Officer M. Ilker Kocak. “Working with Vringo to bring video ringtones to our members has not only been an exciting venture, but an effortless process, thanks to their content partner relationships and hands-on support.”
Avea and its youth platform Patlican are supporting the Vringo launch with a robust marketing campaign, including out-of-home, TV, print, Web and mobile advertising. The carrier plans to roll Vringo out across its broader subscriber base later in the year.