Thumbplay

Thumbplay is a U.S.-based subscription service that allows users to download music, video and games to their cell phones. Users can manage, store and share their mobile content online and on their wireless devices.

Headquartered in New York City, Thumbplay was founded in September 2004 by Are Traasdahl and Evan Schwartz. It is backed by Bain Capital Ventures, SoftBank Capital, i-Hatch Ventures, Redwood Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Meritech, Brookside Capital Partners and Cross Creek Capital. [cite web|url=http://www.thedeal.com/techconfidential/vc-ratings/vc-ratings/thumbplay-grasps-growing-chunk.php |title="Tech Confidential", Thumbplay grasps growing chunk of mobile entertainment content sector, March 17, 2008]

ervices

Thumbplay's subscription service costs $9.99/month for access to 10 credits that can be redeemed for content in its online store. In addition, there is an advertising-supported community where consumers can upload mobile photos and videos and share these among other members. ["Converging Media", Mobile content firm sees long-term future in long-form video, April 11, 2008]

Their download library is comprised of audio, video and game downloads, including "premium content" licensed from most mainstream media and entertainment companies, as well as independent artists. ["Converging Media", Mobile content firm sees long-term future in long-form video, April 11, 2008]

Content & Distribution Partnerships

Thumbplay has signed licensing deals with some of the world’s largest media and entertainment companies during the last two years. This includes deals with all four major record labels: Universal Music Group [cite web|url=http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/comment/universal-music-artists-on-your-phone |title="Gadgetell", 4/25/06, Universal music artists on your phone] , Sony BMG [cite web|url=http://www.la-story.com/tech/tech_talk_thumbplays_sony_team_up_for_killer_song |title="LA-Story", 2/21/08, Tech Talk: Thumbplays & Sony Team Up for Killer Song Collections!] , Warner Music Group [cite web|url=http://www.moconews.net/entry/419-thumbplay-partners-with-warner-music-to-mark-its-fourth-music-label-dea |title="mocoNews.net", 7/10/08, Thumbplay Partners With Warner Music To Mark Its Fourth Music Label Deal] , and EMI [cite web|url=http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070131/SUB/70131006 |title="RCR Wireless News", 1/31/07, Thumbplay inks EMI deal] , as well as media and entertainment companies like Sony Pictures Home Entertainment [cite web|url=http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2006/10/11/mobile-downloads-store-thumbplay-to-sell-sony-pictures-content |title="DigitalMediaWire", 10/11/06, Mobile Downloads Store Thumbplay to Sell Sony Pictures Content] , Disney Interactive Media Group [cite web|url=http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2006/09/15/mobile-content-retailer-thumbplay-to-sell-disney-content |title="DigitalMediaWire", 9/15/06, Mobile Content Retailer Thumbplay to Sell Disney Content] , Electronic Arts (EA), Glu Mobile, Hands-On Mobile [cite web|url=http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2006/06/22/thumbplay-to-distribute-mobile-game-titles-from-hands-on-mobile |title="DigitalMediaWire", 6/22/06, Thumbplay to Distribute Mobile Game Titles from Hands-On Mobile] , Konami Digital Entertainment, I-play, and Universal Pictures. [cite web|url=http://www.onlinereporter.com/article.php?article_id=11111 |title="The Online Reporter", 11/9/07, Thumbplay Partners with Universal Pictures, I-play]

On the distribution side, Thumbplay has marketing partners both online and on the mobile web. These include the Web and mobile portals of AOL [cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKN2134277420071022 |title="Reuters", 11/22/07, Thumbplay to provide mobile content to AOL] and MSN Mobile [cite web|url=http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/content/185.html |title="Mobile Marketer", 12/11/07, Microsoft inks Thumbplay content deal for MSN Mobile] , Web sites for Entertainment Tonight, A&E Network, The History Channel and The Biography Channel [cite web|url=http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/thumbplay-debuts-diy-mobile-content-sales-toolkit/2008-02-05 |title="FierceMobileContent", 2/5/08, Thumbplay debuts DIY mobile content sales toolkit] , as well as social music discovery services iLike [cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2007/12/13/thumbplay-ilike |title="Mashable", 12/13/07, Ringtones on iLike, Powered by Thumbplay] and Qloud. [cite web|url=http://www.fiercemobilecontent.com/story/thumbplay-and-qloud-team-ringtone-service/2007-12-20 |title="FierceMobileContent", 12/20/07, Thumbplay and Qloud team for ringtone service] It is also partnered with Clear Channel Radio to operate mobile content stores across many of its stations’ websites throughout 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i92bd1040a7bbe9844f07c788e894a435 |title="Billboard", 3/24/08, Clear Channel To Add Thumbplay Store To Web Sites]

Thumbplay is a member of the Mobile Marketing Association, and adheres to the MMA's [http://www.mmaglobal.com/bestpractices.pdf Consumer Best Practices Guidelines] . [cite web|url= http://mmaglobal.com/modules/article/view.article.php/811 |title= Current Mobile Marketing Association Members |accessdate=2008-07-02]

Awards

Thumbplay has won the following awards:

*2006 New York Ten Awards: Best New Product or Service [cite web|url=http://www.execcouncil.org/tenawards/2006/images/TenAwards2006Winnersrelease.pdf |title=Executive Council of New York]

*2007 New York Ten Awards: Best Emerging CEO [cite web|url=http://www.execcouncil.org/TenAwards/2007/index.html |title=Executive Council of New York]

*2007 Webby Award: Mobile Marketplace & Services [cite web|url=http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?media_id=127&season=11 |title=Webby Awards Nominees & Winners]

*2007 Webby Award: People’s Voice [cite web|url=http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?media_id=127&season=11 |title=Webby Awards Nominees & Winners]

*2007 Momentum 15 Company at the 2007 Momentum Growth Conference (recognizing rapid growth companies) [cite web|url=http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=764502 |title=Dealmaker Media]

*2008 OnMedia 100 (a list of the top digital media, marketing, and advertising companies, based on a set of five criteria: innovation, market potential, commercialization, stakeholder value, and media buzz) [cite web|url=http://alwayson.goingon.com/permalink/post/23251 |title="AlwaysOn"]

*2008 OnMedia Northeast Top 100 Companies List (a list of the top 100 emerging companies from the Northeastern United States that are creating new business opportunities in high-growth markets) [cite web|url=http://www.pr-inside.com/alwayson-announces-top-100-private-companies-r513700.htm |title="AlwaysOn"]

*Silicon Alley 25: The World’s Most Valuable Digital Startups [cite web|url=http://www.alleyinsider.com/sai25 |title="Silicon Alley Insider"]

*2008 Meffys Award for "Off Deck Services" (for offering mobile consumers added value for money and easy access to a wide choice of mobile entertainment) [cite web|url=http://www.m-e-f.org/index.php?id=969 |title=Mobile Entertainment Forum]

*2008 OnHollywood Top 100 (a list of the top 100 private digital entertainment and media companies) [cite web|url=http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/080529/20080529005733.html |title="AlwaysOn"]

Consumer concerns

Thumbplay has been the target of numerous complaints that it does not immediately honour stop requests but instead continues to bill customers monthly fees after they request a cancellation, even if the customer does not continue to request any ringtones or wallpapers. [cite web|url=http://classactionconnect.com/cell_phone_issues/2007/08/30/thumbplay-inc-48000-71073-66075-40443/ |title=Thumbplay Inc.: Cell Phone Bill Complaints |accessdate=2008-04-25]

External links

* [http://www.thumbplay.com Thumbplay website]

Articles

* [http://www.fiercewireless.com/ctialive/story/getting-on-deck/20 Getting On Deck with Off Deck, "FierceWireless"]
* [http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003782114 Moving Out: A New World of Sources for Mobile Content, "Billboard"]
* [http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2008/tc20080414_287344.htm Bypassing Carriers for Mobile Content, "BusinessWeek Online"]
* [http://www.wirelessweek.com/Article-Ring-and-a-Prayer.aspx Ringtones: A Ring & A Prayer, "Wireless Week"]

References