Topic: Nick Mobile Portal Prepares Debut

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http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/CA6269006.html

Nickelodeon will take the wraps off its Nick Mobile Portal this month. The company has enlisted M-Qube to power the portal, which will feature Nickelodeon-branded wireless content.

At launch, the portal will offer the ability to download ringtones, wallpapers and text messaging services based on Nickelodeon programming, such as "SpongeBob SquarePants," "Jimmy Neutron," "Boy Genius" and "The Fairly OddParents."

"Wireless is becoming an increasingly important medium to reach our core demographic, and Nick Mobile allows us to expand our direct-to-consumer relationships with this audience," says Paul Jelinek, Nickelodeon's vice president of business development and e-commerce operations.

Verizon Wireless said in May it planned to offer Nick Mobile content as part of its V CAST service. That same month, the carrier began offering the service, which includes music videos from Nick Jr.'s "Dora the Explorer," "Blue's Clues," "The Backyardigans" and "LazyTown." At the time of the announcement, the companies said they planned to expand the service to include additional Nickelodeon television programming.

Nickelodeon is no stranger to wireless. In July, the network teamed with Glu Mobile to launch everGems, a mobile game based on the popular tween brand everGirl. The everGems launch included an elimination puzzle game featuring the everCool icons and the everGirl characters. EverGems is currently available from Cingular Wireless, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA.