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News
Issue #2001 - 31
(August 2001)
(Updated
August 1, 2001)
TECHNOLOGY
MEF Directing the Direction of Mobile Entertainment
The Mobile Entertainment
Forum was formed earlier this year as an open organization with the
objective of directing the direction and driving the growth of the mobile
entertainment industry. Founded by a group of companies in the
fields of entertainment and mobile VAS, including Applied Mobile
Media (mBlox), Cash-U, Comverse, Medialab, OpenMobile Corporation,
and Picofun, with the mandate to create a platform for exchange
between mobile entertainment creators and enablers.
The Forum focuses on topics of concern to those in the mobile
entertainment field: video, music, advertising, games, and gambling,
infortainment, community, animation, graphics, voice technology,
WAP, UTMS, and multi-channel entertainments.
The Mobile Entertainment Forum’s Gambling Track Division is
currently in discussions with those in the betting industry as well
as wireless start-ups to develop a seal of approval or certification
for companies meeting a defined set of criteria. One of the
priorities of the MEF will be to create an open software platform
for adoption by the wireless betting industry.
"We want to get the monopolies and the alternative vendors
to determine how to regulate the market, " said Pekka Palin,
head of the Gambling Track. By implementing a plan for the wireless
gaming market, the Mobile Entertainment Forum believes it can not
only drive the wireless gaming market by enabling the customers to
discern reputable services, but also make the industry socially
responsible for gambling.
The MEF and the gambling industry will address such issues as
billing via a mobile phone, especially where legislation dictates
bets must be paid upfront, as well as the regulation of transactions
across borders.
For more information: http://www.mobileentertainmentforum.org
(Additional Source New
Media Age, Centaur Communications Ltd.)
Mobileinfo Comments and Advisory: We
are glad to see that an industry forum has been established for
mobile entertainment to deal with gambling. However, the member list
does not include the wireless infrastructure players or content
providers like AOL or Yahoo who have a greater stake in establishing
guidelines for mobile entertainment. We trust these folks are
watching on the sides, allowing MEF to do initial work and gather
enough momentum so that they can join. We strongly suggest social
restraint so that legislators feel comfortable with the way mobile
gambling will be allowed.
Note: This news release may contain
forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in
developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology
architectures. All trademarks used in this summary are
the property of their respective owners.
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