Ericsson delivers VOR action via the mobile
Ericsson will deliver the high-seas drama of the world's toughest round the world yacht race direct to mobile handsets around the globe as official worldwide provider of the Volvo Ocean Race Mobile Channel 2008-09.
'Ericsson'
Ericsson Racing Team ©
The mobile channel will be a vital component of the advanced electronic media package for the race across television, radio and Internet. In 2005-06, the mobile channel delivered over four million pages to mobile phones around the world.
Building on the success of the mobile portal in the last event, Ericsson is taking the multimedia experience one step further. The project is based on the concept of 'never leave the race'.
'It's about creating a unique 'anywhere' portal,' says Geoff Hollingworth, head of Ericsson's Volvo Ocean Race multimedia project. 'Everybody has the existing TV, radio and computer channels. Now, we are merging those together with new opportunities provided by the multimedia channels of the future.'
The channel will carry a range of news and story updates and up-to-the-minute position reports giving users regular access to the action on the race track. It will be enhanced by video and audio clips allowing the public to experience life on board as never before through their mobile handsets. An innovation for the mobile menu in 2008-09 will be live coverage of in-port racing.
According to Andrew Ferguson, head of Technology and New Media for the Volvo Ocean Race, the mobile channel allows race followers to be part of the action anytime, anywhere.
'The new mobile channel will allow race fans to keep in touch with the race whenever and wherever they want,' Ferguson said. 'They will never miss a position report or the latest news, as it will always be available on their mobile phone. With Ericsson's expertise we are able to bring a new dimension to their online experience.
'We are also excited about the live in-port race coverage on the mobile channel. This really will be at the cutting edge of the next generation of television when video of the in-port races will be delivered live to mobile handsets.'
Ericsson will oversee the distribution agreements with network providers through its global network of companies. The mobile service will be available on all handsets irrespective of manufacturer just prior to the start of the race.
Jan W?reby, head of Ericsson's multimedia business, said: 'Ericsson's belief that the user is in control of the future - with an ability to manage their own experience and then tell their friends, in their own way - will define success for those providing the next generation services.'
The Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 will be the 10th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain, on 4 October 2008, it will, for the first time, take in Kochi, Singapore and Qingdao before finishing in St Petersburg, Russia for the first time in the history of the race. Spanning some 37,000 nautical miles, stopping at around 11 ports and taking nine months to complete, the Volvo Ocean Race is the world's premier yacht race for professional racing crews.
press.volvooceanrace.org
by Lizzie Ward 
sunrise beach, QLD
