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meebo launches games via third party developers

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meebo1.pngmeebo announced that more than 20 games are now available to meebo users through the recently-launched meebo Platform. The games have been contributed by third-party developers using the recently-launched meebo Platform APIs. The introduction of games from 3rd Sense, Absolutist, Clearspring Technologies, Come2Play, Gamebrew, MediaGreenhouse, Mochi Media, MyGraffitiWall, Jiggmin, Kongregate, PlayFirst, Presidio Studios, and ZeroCode exemplifies the kinds of multiuser and synchronous applications being built on the meebo Platform every day. Since the October 30th Platform launch, more than 200 developers have registered applications for the meebo Platform and are working to make meebo the live interaction destination on the web. Future categories of applications will include shopping, productivity and work applications, music and video entertainment.

The games launching today include Animal Puzzle, Artillery, Backgammon, Battle Pool, Blackjack, Checkers, Chess, Connect4, Go, Kongregate Racing, Match4, Music Man, Picture This!, Pirate War, Platform Racing, Reversi, Sheep Me, Sploder, Sudoku Wars, Tactics 100, Texas Hold ‘em, and World Travel Puzzle.

The meebo Platform gives third-party developers a hassle-free revenue stream to monetize their applications. meebo is securing premium revenue relationships and will run user-friendly ads while applications run. meebo will then share that revenue with third-party application developers. Alternatively, meebo offers third-party developers the ability to opt out of the revenue sharing arrangement and run their own ads on their application. These developers can present custom or integrated advertising to meebo users where their advertisers are more relevant, entertaining or useful. This approach is designed to optimize the user experience and provide independent developers with a revenue stream.

Originally posted on November 20, 2007 @ 11:15 am

MapQuest brings mobile turn-by-turn navigation directly to mobile handsets

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mapquest.pngMapQuest, in partnership with Telmap, announced that the newest version of its voice-guided, GPS-enabled wireless application, MapQuest Navigator 5.0, is now widely available to consumers through a new direct-to-consumer storefront on MapQuest.com. Customers, including the 50 million monthly MapQuest.com users1, who sign up for new version 5.0 between now and December 31, 2007 can download the application directly to their handset and purchase the service for the promotional price of $4.99 per month for the life of the subscription.

In addition, MapQuest Navigator 5.0 includes feature enhancements such as live traffic, gas price and station locator, and City’s Best ratings from AOL CityGuide.

Originally posted on November 19, 2007 @ 2:47 pm

TurnHere expands Bookvideos.tv channel, launches multi-publisher video network

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bookvideos.pngTurnHere announced the launch of the multi-publisher book-centric network, Bookvideos.tv. The site will feature videos from leading publishing houses including Bantam Dell, Chronicle, Disney (Hyperion), Doubleday Broadway, Hachette Book Group, Loyola Press, MacMillan, Simon & Schuster, Thomas Nelson and WW Norton. Together with the publishers, TurnHere will produce videos that tell the stories behind bestselling books and their authors, in addition to offering previews of anticipated new titles. The video network will be syndicated on YouTube as well as numerous video portals across the Web.

With the expanded Bookvideos.tv platform, publishers will be able to cross market their books and link to major retailers across the Internet to maximize readership and audience loyalty. Viewers will be able to learn about an author or see a preview of a book and then share or discuss it with friends, add it to popular social networks, and easily purchase it from one of several popular online destinations. TurnHere will also post the two-minute videos to the company’s branded YouTube channel.


Originally posted on November 19, 2007 @ 1:48 pm

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare top video game searches on the web

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guitarhero.pngActivision, Inc.’s Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare have been the most searched for video games on the web, leading all U.S. Internet searches since Oct. 28, 2007 according to Hitwise, a leading online intelligence service. During the same period, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock was the only video game listed among the top 500 search terms across all categories of web sites.

“Consumer interest in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare has been incredible and places Activision in a strong position heading into the holiday season,” said Robin Kaminsky, executive vice president of Activision Publishing. “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock sold through more than $115 million within the first seven days of its launch and we fully expect Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare will be one of the top-selling games of the year.”

Originally posted on November 16, 2007 @ 9:32 pm

Getty Images announces success with online image product

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getty.jpgGetty Images announced that customers are enthusiastically embracing its recently launched web-resolution product which was created to address increased demand for fresh, high-quality and simple to use imagery for online usages. The new product enables customers producing content for the rapidly expanding online market to use award-winning imagery from the broadest and highest quality collection in the world in their media and advertising.

Since the launch of this new product, the company has attracted thousands of new customers, and has seen a significant increase in volumes of the new web-resolution product. Furthermore, customers licensing the new product are also licensing imagery across the Getty Images portfolio.

Getty Images today also announced new refinements to the web-resolution product. The refinements address photographers’ specific concerns around licensing terms for online imagery while providing an opportunity for them to benefit from the exponential growth of the online market.

Originally posted on November 16, 2007 @ 12:26 pm

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