Jamster! Brings European Mobile Phone Phenomenon
Crazy Frog to America
Crazy Frog Ringtones, Fun Sounds, Wallpaper and Screensavers Now Available
in the United States
Mountain View, CA – July 27, 2005 – Jamster!, a premier provider
of mobile content and a wholly-owned subsidiary of VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:
VRSN), today announced the availability of Crazy Frog’s mobile content
in the United States.
The introduction of the Jamster! Crazy Frog ringtone
and associated mobile content coincides with the U.S. release of Crazy
Frog’s ‘Axel F’ single, which has reached number one on the charts in
the UK, Australia, France, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway,
Israel and Hong Kong. After topping the British charts for weeks, Crazy
Frog’s ‘Axel F’ is now being played on radio stations and in night clubs
across America. ‘Axel F’ was the theme song from the hit movie, ‘Beverly
Hills Cop.’
The Crazy Frog is a mix of music, sounds and a cartoon
character that was created in Sweden. The creation, originally called
the ‘Annoying Thing,’ entered the British mainstream after appearances
on television and distribution over the Internet. Crazy Frog crossed
over to the music world when it was added to an ‘Axel F’ remix by producer
Wolfgang Boss. This summer, the song spent four weeks topping the UK
singles chart and sold close to 1 million copies in Britain and France.
The music video is in heavy rotation on UK music television programs
and Web sites.
“Crazy Frog broke the entertainment industry mold
by being the first ringtone ‘artist’ to cross-over into mainstream music.
No ringtone character has created the kind of buzz driven by the frog,”
said Dan Mosher, Director of Mobile Content Services, Jamster!. “By
bringing Crazy Frog to the U.S., Jamster!, working with leading wireless
carriers, is providing wireless consumers access to cutting edge, digital
entertainment.”
A Crazy Frog album, ‘Crazy Hits’, was recently released
in the UK, and features remakes of popular songs from the 1980s. An
album of sports anthems on ‘Crazy Hits’ featuring the Crazy Frog is
scheduled to hit North America on August 23rd via Next Plateau/Universal.
“We are excited to be bringing the Crazy Frog CD ‘Crazy
Hits’ to the states,” said Eddie O’Loughlin at Next Plateau/Universal
Records. “Crazy Frog has been hugely popular in the UK and we
anticipate that US consumer demand will be along those same lines, based
on the interest and airplay that ‘Axel F’ is already generating after
just landing on U.S. shores. This has opened up an entirely different
chapter for Universal and could be the start of a bold, new music trend.”
The Crazy Frog ringtones as well as fun sounds, wallpaper
and screensavers, are being promoted in television, print and online
advertisements. The content can be ordered and downloaded at www.jamster.com
or directly through a user’s Cingular, T-Mobile or other providers’
wireless phone through a Short Message Service (SMS).
About VeriSign and Jamster!
Jamster!, operating worldwide, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of VeriSign.
Jamster! delivers mobile content services—including ring tones, popular
music, graphics, and games—to carriers and consumers. Jamster! is a
premier provider of mobile content and delivers a robust catalog of
downloadable content including ring tones, popular music, graphics,
and games. VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), operates intelligent infrastructure
services that enable businesses and individuals to find, connect, secure,
and transact across today’s complex global networks. Additional news
and information about the company is available at www.verisign.com.
Trademarks
VeriSign, and other trademarks, service marks and logos are registered
or unregistered marks of VeriSign and its subsidiaries in the United
States and in foreign countries.
For more information, contact:
VeriSign Media Relations: Lori Sinsley, lsinsley@verisign.com,
650-426-4716
VeriSign Investor Relations: Tom McCallum, tmccallum@verisign.com,
650-426-3744
Universal Records Media Relations: Serena Gallagher, serena.gallagher@umusic.com,
212-841-8201
Statements in this announcement other than historical
data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks
and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ
materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements.
The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty
of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly
operating results due to such factors as the inability of VeriSign or
its subsidiaries to successfully develop and market new products and
services and customer acceptance of any new products or services, including
the mobile content services described herein; the possibility that the
announced new services or markets may not result in additional customers,
profits or revenues; and increased competition and pricing pressures.
More information about potential factors that could affect the company's
business and financial results is included in VeriSign's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any
of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.
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