Popular mobile content gets free access to carriers’ customers
Posted by Charles Batchelor on December 14, 2007
MySpace, the social networking service, said this week it would optimize its service for all U.S. carriers, then Sprint today announced it would directly link to the free MySpace Mobile website in early 2008. Plus, the Sprint will also offer free direct links to other mobile websites owned by Fox Interactive Media such as Photobucket, IGN, FOXSports.com on MSN, RottenTomatoes and AskMen along with a host of MyFOX local affiliates.
“Our partnership empowers Sprint data subscribers with easy access to their MySpace community at no additional charge,” said MySpace’s VP of business development.
Free access to popular content is going to be one way that carriers such as Sprint add value to their brand. This is going to make it difficult for the smaller guys to compete (which is exactly what Sprint has in mind, no doubt).
Publishers who offer popular mobile content are going to find themselves very popular with those who operate the system. Free access means more users, more users means more value to marketers, which means more dollars in innovative publishers’ pocket.
