Motricity Corp. is building on its relationship with Alltel Corp., inking a deal to deliver content and wireless Internet service to the operator’s subscribers regardless of device.
The agreement, which will be announced this week, expands on Motricity’s pact to supply wireless Web service to Alltel users with a Nokia 6235i handset. Alltel will use the new version of Motricity’s Fuel platform-released this week-to power its mobile content storefront as well as its Axcess mobile Web service.
With the move, Motricity displaces InfoSpace Inc. as the carrier’s portal manager. InfoSpace this week is expected to announce a deal with Sprint Nextel Corp. to provide its subscription-based, location-enabled local search offering on 20 handset models.
Alltel’s move marks a significant win for Motricity. The 300-employee, North Carolina-based company has expanded beyond its aggregator business in an effort to work with carriers to build mobile communities, drive traffic and increase content sales.
Like others, Motricity is looking to partner with carriers to compile network traffic information, track purchase patterns and create user profiles in an effort to increase data revenues. The company’s latest content management platform, dubbed Fuel 5.0, is designed to allow operators to manage portfolios and relationships with content providers. The offering includes a service that delivers personalized information services and content through a mobile browser.
Last year, Motricity purchased M7 Networks, which powers Sprint Nextel’s Game Lobby, for its expertise in community-building.
“We’ve moved from `How do you sell mobile content?’ to `How do you sell more of it?”‘ according to Dov Cohn, Motricity’s vice president of market solutions development. RCR
