Quios - Saraxa deal heralds exciting SMS participation tool for as-it-happens TV-audience interaction.
Quios, the leading international SMS gateway provider, has teamed up with Saraxa, the market leading international television
programme distribution and interactive TV company to provide global TV channels with a full end2end SMS package. The solution
gives broadcasters the option to organize real-time interactivity through SMS, with audience comments, votes and chat appearing
on screen in real-time during the course of a programme.
In addition to the benefits this brings to producers in improving audience interest and thereby retaining and improving viewing
figures, it also allows broadcasters to add SMS interactivity to their advertising offerings, providing advertisers with the
ability to run interactive TV campaigns.
The service is fully internationally enabled so that international broadcasters can now, for the first time, offer interactivity
across national borders, while still benefiting from revenue generating premium SMS traffic.
"This is a hugely important development for all TV channels," commented Marc Vanlerberghe, CEO of Quios. "The key strength here is
that Quios has superb standards of international delivery and throughput of SMS messages, which when in partnership with the
incredible quality of software from Saraxa, offer a brilliant tool for TV producers and advertisers.
"Audience participation in TV shows has been recognised as one of the best ways of attaining and retaining excellent viewer figures.
Giving audiences, wherever they are, the ability to take part in programmes, in real-time, with tangible, as-it-happens results give
programmes a whole new edge for the viewer. Our partnership with Saraxa now provides producers with the best possible medium for
optimising their audiences' experience," he added.
Commenting on behalf of Saraxa, Hannu Kossila commented, "This platform is cutting-edge in its ability to offer brilliant quality
graphics and applications for voting, chatting, quizzes, games, polling etc. Thanks to the integration with the Quios platform,
broadcasters will now be able to publish one single number on the TV screen, and have viewers participate in the program regardless
of the carrier they're connected to, or the country they're located in."
Further details of the service can be found on the Quios website www.quios.com and is available now.
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About Quios
eWingz Systems Inc., doing business as Quios (pronounced 'Kee-Os'), is a leading global mobile messaging company providing high quality,
cross-carrier SMS services to businesses worldwide. Its platform is capable of handling Outbound, Inbound and 2way SMS, EMS, and soon, MMS.
Quios also offers a range of applications and enables its customers to charge for premium messaging via its micro-billing systems (Reverse
Billing). With a global network extending to over 450 wireless carriers in Europe, Asia Pacific and the US, Quios continues to grow both
its customer base and its product range. Quios is headquartered in San Francisco, and has its European offices in London. Quios is funded
by top tier Venture Capital firm Draper Fisher Juvertson. For further information, please visit the Quios website
at www.quios.com.
About Saraxa
Saraxa Media was founded in 1991. The company has strong references and a long track record in international television programme
distribution and interactive television. Saraxa's products have been licensed in more than 20 countries, including Finland, Greece, Israel,
Italy, Germany, France, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Thailand, the UK, the US, Argentina, Portugal and
Saudi Arabia.
Saraxa's main focus is on Mobile Interactive Television (M-ITV). It offers both new exciting revenue models with Premium SMS, MMS and JAVA
midlets and new kind of participation TV for viewers.
For further information, please contact:
Nick Parker or John Waite
Catalyst Communications
T: +44 20 7932 2500
F: +44 20 7932 2519
E: nicholas.parker@catalystpr.com
W: www.catalystpr.com