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MILL VALLEY, CA (Sept 5, 2001) Handtap Communications today announced a joint agreement between FunMail, uclick, Handtap and Jim Davis' Paws Incorporated to distribute Garfield animated messages to mobile phones and desktop computers, using FunMail's animated messaging system. Under the agreement Garfield content will be accessible with FunMail's Text-to-Animation technology as a "premium" option. FunMail will integrate Garfield into FunMail wireless messaging services, including I-mode, WAP, Nokia picture messaging, EMS services and MMS. The FunMail site showcases a sample Garfield FunMail Demo.
"Garfield has worldwide exposure and an international following, appealing to all ages, young and old," said FunMail CEO Adam Lavine. "We are thrilled about this partnership."
Under the agreement, Garfield characters will be accessible through both wireless and desktop versions of the FunMail Messaging System. Users enter a message using a keypad or keyboard, and a natural language processing component analyzes the message, and then builds an animation starring the chosen character, which is displayed on the wireless device. After approving the animation, the user sends the FunMail message just as they do with plain text messages, and almost immediately the message is received at the receiving device, either a computer, a PDA or another mobile phone.
"FunMail is a clear leader in multimedia messaging," said
Fabrice Florin. "As uclick's wireless messaging partner, we are
pleased to form this alliance with FunMail to offer high-quality content
to mobile users worldwide."
"We think FunMail is a great opportunity," said Chris Pizey, uclick COO. "The innovative and unique nature of the FunMail technology and the opportunity in visual messaging convinced us to license important assets such as the Garfield characters."
Garfield would be the third major character agreement announced by FunMail, the first being the South Park family of characters in a deal with Comedy Central and the second Hello Kitty characters in a deal with Sanrio. "This deal is a key relationship in continuing to partner with top branded characters in key global markets," said Lavine. "Relationships such as Garfield, Sanrio and Comedy Central are very important to our global success."
About FunMail
FunMail is the world's first text-to-animation messaging system that
"translates" everyday text messages into short, engaging animation
and visuals. The service, aimed at wireless and Internet devices, enables
users to communicate their news, information or their emotional state
in a more visually, compelling way. FunMail brings together a world-class
engineering team that already has two patents pending for their breakthrough
technology with talented animators from major animations studios such
as Disney, Hanna Barbera, Universal and Warner Brothers. For more information,
visit http://corp.funmail.com/
About uclick
Uclick is the largest packager of comics on the Web, distributing over
100 popular comic characters like Garfield, Doonesbury, Bizarro and
Cathy. This exclusive content is now syndicated to over 500 sites including
Yahoo!, MSNBC.com, washingtonpost.com and CNNi. Uclick is owned by Andrews
McMeel Universal, the world's largest independent newspaper syndicate
and a leader in branded content merchandising. For more information,
visit www.uclick.com.
About Handtap Communications
Handtap Communications provides creative messaging solutions for mobile
devices. Handtap message templates are available for a range of platforms,
from Palm handheld computers to mobile phones Handtap also provides
consulting services for market leaders in wireless entertainment and
communication. For more information, visit www.handtap.com
.