Yesterday at CTIA Wireless I.T. and Entertainment
2008, RealNetworks, Inc. announced the upcoming global availability of Interactive
Multimedia Experience (IME), adding video dimension to Interactive
Voice Response (IVR).
Utilizing an operator's 3G network and
video-telephony capable handsets, IME combines the reliable simplicity
of a voice call with multimedia,
providing subscribers with a dynamically-generated, visual interface
for finding information, content and entertainment using video call
minutes on a per-minute basis rather than using data minutes.
Once IME is deployed in an operator's network, a
subscriber with a video-calling plan would simply dial a phone number
(like 411) and be presented with a menu of dynamic visual options, like
movie trailers & times, traffic, music, shopping and more. Further,
because the interaction takes place via a video call session, it is
charged at per-minute fee, vs. eating into a subscriber's data
allowance. Subscribers elect video-calling plans, an extension of the
voice and data minute plans widely used, when a video-telephony capable
phone is purchased
"Working with mobile operators and their
partners, RealNetworks looks forward to providing subscribers with an
easy-to-use, visually rich method of accessing information and
entertainment on their mobile phones," said Vern Poyner, senior vice
president, TPS Americas and Global Operations for RealNetworks.
"Everyone knows how to make a phone call, and by offering this new
feature via video telephony, we believe it will help operators see a
return on the significant investments they've made in deploying 3G
networks."
IME will be available for deployment to Mobile
Operators globally in Q209, enabling them to create compelling new
services for subscribers, attract partners who want new ways to reach
consumers, and increase the ROI on their 3G networks.
Real's services are currently available through
88 different carriers in 44 countries worldwide, making them available
to 884.3 million subscribers. Real offers wireless providers a
comprehensive selection of mobile services including Music-On-Demand,
Video-On-Demand, mobile games, personalization features such as RTs,
RBTs and Multimedia Ringback Services, and messaging services.