For the first time ever, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour-related content, including the latest scores, player profiles, match data and daily schedules of play from tournaments, will be accessible from anywhere, at any time through mobile phones.
The new technology and content represent the latest activation by Sony Ericsson of its sponsorship of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, designed to increase fan interactivity and bring together sport, technology, design, fashion and music.
The new content follows Sony Ericsson’s launch of its "Girls on Tour" website in May, which brought tennis fans closer to the stars of the women’s game through original content such as player diaries and free downloadable ringtones that feature player messages.
The new services, which are made possible because of Sony Ericsson’s title sponsorship of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, include:
• Latest scores. Get the latest score from the matches that interest you most and follow your favorite player wherever you are. Find out what’s happening on another court if you’re actually at the tournament, or keep up-to-date about what’s happening on court from wherever you are in the world.
• Head to head. Comprehensive data on the top Sony Ericsson WTA Tour players are accessible over your mobile phone, so while watching a game, it’s possible to check player profiles plus access information on who won previous encounters to add to the excitement and thrill of the on court action.
• Schedule of the day. The full schedule for the day’s play at the tournament is available via your phone as soon as it’s announced. Know instantly of any updates or alterations, and always know where and when players are playing.
• "Girls on Tour" website. The Sony Ericsson "Girls on Tour" website, which offers unique content such as player diaries, tournament photographs taken by Getty photographers and the players themselves, and original downloadable ringtones, is now fully accessible through mobile phones.
"When we announced our sponsorship of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in January, our aim was to roll out a range of applications and content that would bring tennis fans closer to the action and glamour of the women’s game while showcasing the cutting-edge technology behind Sony Ericsson mobile phones," says Dee Dutta, head of marketing for Sony Ericsson.
The new mobile phone services are optimized for Sony Ericsson phones, but available on other models, including monotone screened phones.
They are delivered over the WAP platform and users must subscribe to the service using either their mobile phone or PC. They are free of charge but operator network charges apply for data transmission.
Available in English, Spanish and French with more languages to follow shortly, the new WAP-enabled services will be piloted at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, CA.
It will continue throughout the remainder of the year at the Acura Classic in suburban San Diego, the Rogers Cup presented by American Express in Toronto, the China Open in Beijing, the Ladies Kremlin Cup in Moscow, the Swisscom Challenge in Zurich and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles, before being expanded for the 2006 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season.