MTN signs mobile deal for FIFA World Cup™

I have made 2 video calls in one year of owning a 3G phone so I had to laugh when I saw this today...

MTN and Infront Sports & Media have signed an exclusive agreement for soccer’s showpiece in Germany in 2006.

The rights granted are in the category of Mobile Telephony and give MTN the right to provide video material from each match on mobile phones during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Ashraff Paruk, General Manager, Business Strategy, MTN South Africa, says: ‘’MTN customers will get the very best mobile 2006 FIFA World Cup content delivered near real time directly to their cellphones using video, MMS and SMS.’’

Customers can activate a service via the MTNLoaded portal, WAP, USSD or Interactive Voice Response (IVR) to have content delivered to their cellphones.

The deal, which is exclusive for the territory of South Africa, covers all 64 matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ and also gives MTN full access to the archive material from the 2002 FIFA World Cup™, which took place in Korea and Japan. The license is valid until October 2006.

Paruk added: ‘’Soccer is the religion of sports-mad enthusiasts around the world. As staunch soccer supporters, MTN is delighted to extend the enjoyment of the beautiful game to our subscribers during this international show-stopper.’’

MTNLoaded subscribers – sports, entertainment and techno-savvy individuals - already enjoy a range of services from the lifestyle portal with a range of MTN 3G handsets in the marketplace.

‘’As an integrated communications provider, MTN is proud to partner with a global content provider to bring our customers the very best in entertainment during the world’s largest sporting event.’’

Oliver Seibert, an Executive Director of Infront, said: “This deal is exciting and shows how the delivery of content is changing, reflecting a revolution in live entertainment. We are very pleased that we have been able to reach this ground-breaking agreement with MTN, one of an increasing number of mobile telephony agreements for 2006.’’