LOS ANGELES-Good News Holdings L.L.C. and faith-based research firm The Barna Group Ltd. launched a portal offering wireless content including ringtones, Bible verses and video clips.
The companies unveiled FaithMobile, a Web site featuring content from providers Promise Keepers, Extraordinary Women and Tyndale House Publishing. The service is available to U.S. and U.K. subscribers of T-Mobile USA Inc., and through Cingular Wireless L.L.C.
The company said it hopes to ink deals with all Tier 1 operators by early next year, and will look to expand its content portfolio. “We will be making a series of significant announcements in the next few weeks of new partners and acquisitions,” said Thom Black, a partner at The Barna Group.
Faith-based content has a decidedly mixed record in the early days of mobile data. Jireh Mobile, which offers “holy hip-hop” ringtones, has met with limited success through Xingtone, an Internet storefront for third-party content providers. But Dijii Corp. (formerly Dwango Wireless) recently severed ties with BeliefNet, which delivers Bible verses and other spiritual content, after the offerings failed to gain traction.
