GameChannel debuts in Europe

GameChannel, Wireless Services Asia’s (WSA) offering for interactive SMS TV games, will make its first broadcast over Italy’s Game Network.

This, after Game Network, the digital TV channel entirely dedicated to the world of video games, signed an agreement with Wireless Service Europe (WSE), WSA’s sister-company catering to the European mobile market.

GameChannel was developed in order to use the mobile phone as a game peripheral. It is based on real-time interaction via SMS between mobile phones and TV programs.

The services that will be offered to Game Network viewers will initially include mind games such as trivia games, quiz, crosswords and other interactive games. These were designed to guarantee full involvement of TV viewers in innovative multi-player games.

Game Network president Sem Moioli noted that SMS-based interactive programs launched in 2002 have been received positively and accepted by viewers.

"In the United Kingdom, we receive more than 5,000 SMS per day from an average certified audience of more than 610,000 viewers a week," he said.

"The agreement with Wireless Service Europe will allow us to expand our portfolio of interactive programs with multi-player games based on an extremely innovative concept, capable of involving many users at the same time," Moioli said.

Andrea Risa, WSE director for business development, said, "This partnership with WSE and Game Network represents the next step in the evolution of the gaming industry, with the convergence of television, gaming and mobile communication industries."

For his part, Rainer Leinonen, WSE senior vice president and chief operating officer, said, "This partnership with Game Network will allow us to have, thanks to the television media, one of the widest offers of interactive games for the European market. Today we are able to present the viewers with a real arcade gaming show based on entertainment and interactivity."

WSE is a dynamic company whose mission is to empower a society that utilizes the full potential of mobile communications combined with innovative mobile value-added services.

The company leverages GSM knowledge with a strong and diverse competence on Media, research and development and application development.

WSE, with business offices in Helsinki and affiliate offices in London, Singapore and the Philippines, acts as an application and content developer for media companies and GSM operators.

The WSE group has customers in 10 countries.