Plusmo and ESPN Inc.''s subsidiary Cricinfo Mobicast to provide live cricket commentary on cell phones
17 Oct 2007
Bangalore: MobiCast, a live ball-by-ball update and cricket scorecard service delivered to internet/GPRS enabled mobile phones from ESPN Inc.''s subsidiary Cricinfo is set to capitalise on the next wave of Internet access, i.e. on the mobile phones.
The service is geared to offer ball-by-ball updates on mobile handsets, through the cricketing website''s mobile services arm Cricinfo Mobile.
A recent TRAI report states that India has 31.30 million people access the Internet through their mobile phones, both GSM and CDMA. That implies one of every five mobile customers accessing the Internet via their cell phones, given the current 165.1 million mobile subscribers.
Mobicast has been introduced in association Plusmo, who makets mobile widgets for numerous handset manufacturers including Nokia, Motorola, Blackberry, and even the Apple iPhone. It is presently offered as a free service, with only the standard data charges applicable based on the carrier''s rate plan.
To get the Cricinfo MobiCast on their cell phones, customers will have to key in the URL http://ci.plusmo.com into their phone''s browser.
The service presently supports over 500 mobile handsets across various brands, and has plans to add more mobile operating systems and devices into its list of compatible handsets.
"The
ball-by-ball updates is one of the most popular features in Cricinfo for cricketing
fans worldwide since it offers informed, uninterrupted match updates live through
a user''s browser, thereby replicating the closest experience of watching a match
live says Anil Nair, head, wireless media, Cricinfo. "The same feature in
a mobile phone assumes even more significance since it enables fans to keep tabs
on matches, with every single ball, even on the move."