2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Track III:
Wireless - Mobile Games, Ringtones, Advertainment & Custom Branded Experience
The entertainment experience in the mobile environment is evolving from novelty platform to what will be nothing short of a fully realized world of games, music, video, advertising and branding experience. While the developing relationship between the consumer and content provider may be dependant on platforms, technology, standards and gateways, the goalposts are now in full view. And most importantly, the consumer is ready to embrace the relationship, both as participant and paying customer. In fact, the resistance of the consumer to mobile add-on fees has easily out-paced the early barriers experienced by the first generation broadband content pay packages. In this session we will explore the mobile entertainment experience, from product packages to the advertainment and branding experience.
Andy Volanakis, COO, Zingy
Anthony Stonefield, Chief Strategy Officer, InfoSpace Mobile
Andy Lipschultz, Product Manager, Digital Media, Nextel Communications
Halldor Sanne, Executive Vice President Sales, ILoop Mobile
LaShun Lawson, Assistant Vice President, Multimedia and Interactive Licensing, PLAYERS Inc.
Jeff Nuzzi, Global Marketing Director, THQ Wireless
Matthew Bellows, Vice President, Mobile Entertainment, GameSpot, CNET Networks Inc., Moderator
Andy Volanakis is Chief Operating Officer at Zingy Inc., the leading mobile media company in the Americas, where he oversees global business operations for the company. Prior to joining Zingy, Mr. Volanakis served as General Manager over Sprint’s key premium content businesses. In this role Mr. Volanakis built one of the most successful mobile content businesses in the U.S. and launched a series of U.S. industry firsts including licensed master recording ringtones, voice ringtones, animated ringtones and the U.S.’s first streaming music subscription service. Before joining Sprint, Mr. Volanakis held marketing positions at BBDO Worldwide and Grey Global Group and oversaw key clients including Visa U.S.A. and The Procter & Gamble Company. Mr. Volanakis holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University and studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
LaShun Lawson, 39, is Assistant Vice President of Multimedia and Interactive Licensing for National Football League Players Incorporated (PLAYERS INC), the marketing and licensing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). PLAYERS INC grants group licensing rights to companies using the names, images and likeness of six or more NFL Players. Lawson is responsible for managing all aspects of a $15 million licensing department, representing over $300 million in retail sales. Developed multimedia licensing business from $3 million in 1996 to $15 million. Responsible for negotiating and administering licensing contracts for companies that produce videogames, wireless offerings and on-line fantasy football. Working daily with licensees such as: EA Sports, Sony, Sega, CBS Sportsline, ESPN and Yahoo. Developed new business category in wireless gaming by forming new relationships with THQ, JAMDAT and FOX Sports Interactive. Wireless offerings include NFL Player voice ringtones, wireless simulation games, trivia contests and fantasy game play. Created national retail sales promotions, marketing programs and strategies to support the licensed products. Worked with national retailers such as Best Buy, Toys R Us.com, Blockbuster and Movie Gallery. Lawson joined PLAYERS INC in 1996, prior to joining PLAYERS INC, Lawson held positions with Coca-Cola Olympic City, an Olympic theme park attraction where she worked as a member of the management team during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. She also served as senior marketing representative for the Atlanta Braves baseball club and marketing assistant with Madison Square Garden Boxing in New York. Lawson is a member of Women in Sports and Events (WISE). A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Lawson has a BA in Communications from Johnson C. Smith University, and an MS in Sports Management from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Halldor Sanne, Executive Vice President Sales, ILoop Mobile: Halldor has worked over 10 years in International technology sales and marketing. Halldor is considered by many to be among the first to introduce consumers to mobile marketing in 2000. Prior to joining ILoop Mobile, Halldor was CEO/President and Founder of SmartSMS, an International mobile marketing enabler with operations spanning 17 countries, including the United States. SmartSMS has run thousands of mobile marketing initiatives, with globally recognized brands, Coca Cola, Budweiser, Visa, MasterCard, Hyundai and Volkswagen to name a few. In addition to SmartSMS, Halldor has launched several successful marketing ventures worldwide, including M&M Marketing Iceland, M&M Marketing London, Nor Finance Norway, The Sanne Group Iceland to name few. Prior to his entrepreneurial ventures, Halldor worked as CEO for Marketing Director for Reykvisk Radgjof Iceland. Halldor has a bachelor degree in Marketing from University of Reykjavik, Iceland. Halldor is responsible for strategic account sales in across numerous business sectors, including retain and consumer entertainment services.
Jeff Nuzzi, Director, Global Marketing, THQ Wireless: Jeff has over ten years interactive entertainment experience. Most recently, he was Director of Product Marketing for Universal Interactive where he headed up the global marketing initiatives for several high-profile properties including The Lord of the Rings, Bruce Lee and The Thing. Prior to Universal, he held similar posts for Infogrames (now Atari) and DreamWorks Interactive. Jeff also has a strong retail and marketing services background having lead Fox Interactive’s first retail marketing department as well as providing key creative, operational and sales support for Disney’s first CD-ROM products.
ANTHONY STONEFIELD, VP & Chief Strategy Officer, InfoSpace Mobile: Stonefield has spent the last eleven years pioneering and productizing a range of digital media distribution and marketing applications. Stonefield currently serves InfoSpace Mobile as its Chief Strategy Officer, creating and driving product and market strategies, strategic business development and M&A in the US, European and Australian mobile markets. Prior to his role at InfoSpace Mobile, Stonefield was on the founding team and CEO of Moviso, which was acquired in November, 2003, by InfoSpace, Inc. (Nasdaq: INSP) the United States’ leading mobile media business providing content, applications and entertainment marketing services to wireless carriers, handset manufacturers, entertainment companies, portals and retail chains. Stonefield started his media career as an independent music producer and manager. In 1993, he developed publishing, licensing, and broadcasting business models for emerging MP2 music downloads and, in 2000, evolved these media distribution concepts onto wireless networks. He is a new media innovator and evangelist who has served as an expert panelist on digital entertainment internationally. Stonefield earned his bachelor's degree natural science and creativity from the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Matthew Bellows, Vice President, Mobile Entertainment of GameSpot
for CNET Networks, has worked in telecom and the Internet since 1995. Bellows leads Gamespot’s Mobile Entertainment initiatives. Before CNET Networks’ acquisition of Wireless Gaming Review, Bellows was the co-founder, editor and publisher of Wireless Gaming Review (WGamer.com), the leading publication for mobile entertainment consumers. Earlier, he managed the team responsible for 4,000 advertising contracts that drove $30 million in annual revenue for Engage, Inc. Bellows received his MBA with high honors from the Olin School of Management at Babson College. He is a frequent speaker at conferences, including E3, CTIA, and the Game Developer’s Conference.