The companies will work together to develop and deploy Playboy programs and social communities featuring visually rich and compelling interactive mobile products including video clips, mobile TV, games and other services targeting European consumers.
"Because Playboy is one of the world's most recognized brands, we want to make sure that we continue to deliver a superior experience for our customers who want to interact with our brand and our content through mobile devices," said Ed Lang, senior vice president and general manager of Playboy Mobile. "Minick's impressive track record with major entertainment and media brands, as well as their massive reach, make them a perfect choice for Playboy. We are excited to be working with them in this key area of our digital distribution strategy."
The Minick Service Platform includes carrier-grade video-encoding and -streaming solutions and is available either as a managed or packaged solution. It is currently in use by companies such as Vodafone, T-Mobile, Telefonica, Orange, MTV, Endemol, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures and SonyBMG, among others.
"The possibilities of using mobile as part of an integrated digital content distribution strategy are endless. Given the iconic nature of the Playboy brand, our goal is to enhance their content offerings and expand their reach, both through traditional portals as well as on a direct-to-consumer basis," Minick CEO Tero Turunen said. "Over the coming years, the increased convergence of mobile and online will create significant opportunities for companies like Playboy."
Part of the Swisscom Group, Minick offers one of the largest mobile networks in Europe, Africa and the Americas, with its own messaging and mobile Internet hosting centers that power more than 400 mobile Internet portals around the world.
