HEROES creator to launch new project through Nokia's Ovi Store

More than just applications available through global media distribution channel

 

Thousands of content providers and developers sign up to Ovi Store by Nokia

 

San Francisco, CA, USA - As content providers and developers continue to sign up to publish content on the Ovi Store, Nokia has begun working with Tim Kring, creator and executive producer of HEROES, one of the most watched shows internationally, to develop innovative, new content for the Ovi Store. When it opens globally in May, the Ovi Store will offer consumers relevant, targeted media across a broad portfolio of Nokia devices.

 

For its maiden venture with Kring, Nokia has signed on as a strategic partner and technology enabler for a project created by Kring, Code named TEVA.  The multi platform narrative will be an immersive experience with elements of individual action and group participation. 

 

In recognizing the increasing importance of mobility, Kring will be utilizing Nokia's Ovi Store as an initial channel to bring the project to an engaged audience while developing it across other mediums.  Kring shares Nokia's vision for connecting people through the experiences that matter to them.  Nokia and Kring will launch the first mobile phase of the project in the Summer of '09 and rolled out regionally.  

 

"Tim Kring is a Hollywood visionary and masterful storyteller who truly understands that the reach of the Ovi Store is a powerful way for millions of people around the world to experience the new forms of entertainment he is seeking to create," said Tero Ojanperä, executive vice president, Nokia Services. "The Ovi Store will rely on great content partners, a compelling, relevant consumer experience and access to millions of Nokia devices to become an important new entertainment distribution platform." 

 

Once open, the Ovi Store will be a scalable media distribution network unrivaled in size and opportunity, with advanced content targeting capabilities and monetization options that allow content providers and application developers to leverage the power of Nokia's global scale in devices and services' technology.

 

"The ability to extend storytelling past traditional audiences and reach millions of Nokia consumers through the Ovi Store is very exciting," said Kring. "Mobile has reached a state of maturity where it is now a creative platform to tell, share and consume multi platform content and I intend to take full advantage of the infinite possiblities using technology and narrative."

 

Ojanperä and Kring will take the stage at Web 2.0 in San Francisco on April 1 to talk with web and mobile application developers about what Ovi Store means for content providers as a distribution opportunity. In addition, Niklas Savander, executive vice president, Nokia Services, will address the entertainment industy at MIPTV in Cannes, France on April 1 to deliver additional details about the working relationship.  Simultaneously, George Linardos, vice president, Nokia Services will attend CTIA in Las Vegas to speak with the wireless industry about Kring and the Ovi Store. 

 

In early March, content providers, developers and the existing Forum Nokia developer ecosystem began uploading their content to publish.ovi.com to become the first to distribute their media through the Ovi Store. To date, thousands of content providers and developers from around the world have signed up with majority coming from the US, UK, China and India. 

 

At Mobile World Congress, brands like EA, Facebook, Fox Mobile, Glu, MySpace and Qik all provided support for the Ovi Store announcement. Since then, additional top content providers including The Associated Press, Netflix, Paramount Digital Entertainment and Shazam to name a few will be supporting Ovi Store to reach millions of Nokia consumers.

 

In early May, tens of millions of existing Nokia Series 40 and S60 users will be capable of enjoying the new service. In addition, the Nokia N97, available in June, will be the first device to feature the simple and easy-to-use storefront.

 

As Nokia moves towards cross-platform frameworks across its device portfolio, mobile application developers will be able to take advantage of standard web technologies, like HTML, Java Script and CSS, plus advanced environments like Qt, to develop and deploy applications more quickly and create compelling experiences for consumers using Nokia devices.

 

In addition to providing developers a wide range of easy-to-use tools for the completion of mobile applications, Nokia offers developers the simplest way to distribute and monetize their content to millions of people around the world via the new Ovi Store.