3rd May 2011

AIME focuses on mobile transactions with new Mobile Gaming Forum

mkodo's Mark Gibson appointed Chair

London, 3rd May 2011: AIME, the Association for Interactive Media & Entertainment, today announces the launch of a new initiative recognising the rising importance of the mobile device in transactions and gaming.

With the advent of smartphones, and the increase in consumer confidence with the mobile channel, transactions are becoming increasingly commonplace via mobile. Premium rate micropayments provide gaming companies with an important customer acquisition tool, enabling new customers to sign-up and spend money using their mobile devices on impulse.

AIME is focused on delivering an environment of self-regulation and best practice within the premium rate industry, which both protects consumers whilst fostering a positive climate of opportunity for businesses that serve this sector.

AIME now feels the time is right to support this area of the industry and will be setting up a new initiative focussed on a pioneering sector within the Mobile Betting and Gaming market. The initiative will take the form of a Mobile Gaming Forum set up with the key aims of assessing and promoting an environment of consumer confidence and trust in this industry and enabling its members’ commerce to flourish within this framework.

The members of the forum will be drawn from the key players in the mobile gaming value chain - the gaming operators; the mobile network operators, platform providers and aggregators, media and rights owners, mobile betting and gaming technology providers and consumer-education groups.

Mark Gibson, BDM at mobile solutions specialist mkodo, will chair the Forum. Mark comments: “Mobile Gaming has become, over the last couple of years, a substantial channel within digital gaming and interactive services. The industry expects the rapid upward trend to continue challenging the primacy of ‘online’ activity within two to three years. Juniper Research expects annual wagers on mobile gaming to reach £30bn pa in next 4 years. Having a forum through which mobile gaming companies can liaise with mobile carriers and can lobby on mobile gaming-related issues and initiatives will prove to be of great benefit for the industry’s growth”.

Ends

For further information on the Mobile Gaming Forum please contact the Chair of the Mobile Gaming Forum, Mark Gibson at mark.gibson@mkodo.com

For further information or comment from AIME please contact:

Tim Banks
infomob PR
Tel: +44 (0) 7771 512 057
tim@infomob.co.uk

About the AIME

AIME (www.aimelink.org) is a UK based membership organisation representing and promoting the commercial interests of the interactive media and entertainment industry – where customers use their phones, televisions or computers to access, interact and pay for information, marketing or entertainment services using leading edge micropayment technology.

AIME's membership represents the entire value chain – from the providers of end user content to the networks and technical services that deliver and bill them to customers. No other organisation can offer such opportunities for profitable contacts, networking and supporting information. By setting industry best practice standards, AIME builds solid and lasting relationships with legislators, regulators and stakeholders to ensure our members’ business is professionally represented and given every opportunity to grow.

About mkodo

Set up in May 2001, mkodo (www.mkodo.com) provides a powerful and proven mobile platform that enables rewarding interactive conversations with customers through their mobile phones.

The mkodo Intelligent Mobile Platform (IMP) enables organisations to communicate interactively with their audiences using the mobile channel. The IMP is mkodo’s industry-leading flagship product and is available as a managed service or a software licence. Using mkodo’s expertise and off-the-shelf tools, clients can integrate SMS, mobile internet, mobile betting, mobile portals, applications, MMS and other mobile technologies in their mobile gaming, marketing, commerce, CRM, research, business efficiency or mobile content-delivery services.

mkodo's blue chip client base benefits from the highest quality technical and customer services. We have proven experience with thousands of successful activities across the globe. Clients include: 888Sport, Rank Interactive, RNLI, Metro, Sky Bet, Ideal Shopping Direct, Sportech, Creation Financial Services, Turner Broadcasting, Telescope Inc, HPI, BBC, Linney Design, Reed Exhibitions.

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