| Chat, dating and mail
services will be translated to mobile, with added features, such as 'photo
chat'. Love@Lycos, currently on 2G, will be faster
and more accessible on 3G, and enable users to send photos or videos from
their mobiles, the company said. Arnaud Jonglez, Lycos Europe mobile business
development manager, said: "The launch of Lycos 3G chat offers advertising
partners the exclusive opportunity to access the world's biggest chat audience
via 3G." He added: "The partner will be able to co-brand the
3G chat environment, along with a whole host of innovative and unique ad
formats, such as contextual advertising triggered by key words within live
chat." An additional revenue stream will be exclusive emoticons, a
bit like the smiling faces used in email, to reward user loyalty. For example,
users will be sent emoticons and access to special services in return for
the time they spend chatting. Revenue from the service will be generated
from subscriptions and use of consumer data. Jonglez explained: "We
shall market this service by teaming up with mobile operators. We have
partnered Vodafone in Sweden and Germany to launch our dating service,
Love@Lycos. "Other key partnerships are being announced in Europe
as we speak. Mobile manufacturers will benefit from exposure to Europe's
biggest chat audience and the huge potential to develop and retain user
loyalty." |
