Comunicano

ShoZu and MAXroam Partner to Free Mobile Users Worldwide from the High Cost of Multimedia Social Networking While Travelling

CORK, IRELAND, and LONDON, UK– 23 July 2009 – ShoZu Ltd (www.shozu.com), the award-winning social media hub, and MAXroam (www.maxroam.com), the global roaming provider, today announced a partnership that gives mobile users a fast, convenient way to minimise the cost of sharing photos and video clips while roaming in more than 139 countries. Available immediately and initially for unlocked Apple iPhones, the service is the latest example of how ShoZu is adding value for customers of its paid smartphone applications.

Under the agreement, iPhone users who have purchased the ShoZu application – available for $4.99 from Apple’s App Store – have access to MAXroam’s service, which provides data roaming discounts of up to 70 percent in 139 countries. Additionally, MAXroam users also have access to the paid ShoZu iPhone application. 

To sign up for MAXroam’s service, ShoZu users request a coupon code from ShoZu.com and then redeem it on the MAXroam Web site to receive a $4.99 credit toward MAXroam service. ShoZu users also must purchase a MAXroam SIM card, which is included in the MAXroam service bundles.

Additionally, iPhone owners who visit the MAXroam Web site will be invited to purchase the ShoZu application from Apple’s App Store if they don’t already have it. They then will receive a coupon code that will give their MAXroam account a $4.99 credit.

After activating MAXroam’s service, iPhone owners can use the ShoZu application to upload photos, videos and other content to multiple social networking sites simultaneously via ShoZu’s media hub service, eliminating the chore – and expense – of uploading to each site one at a time. Users pay only the initial $4.99 cost of the ShoZu’s iPhone application; there are no additional charges from ShoZu for using its media hub service.

“Smartphones make it easy it take photos and videos while travelling, but the steep cost of data roaming forces many users to wait until they get home to share that content,” said Chris Wade, chairman and CEO of ShoZu. “By partnering with MAXroam, ShoZu eliminates that financial penalty, so users can inexpensively and quickly upload their photos and videos to multiple social networking sites simultaneously, allowing friends and family back home to keep up with the travels in real time. ShoZu’s partnership with MAXroam furthers our goal of providing ShoZu customers with real savings and real value.”

“MAXroam is delighted to be involved with innovators such as ShoZu,” said Pat Phelan, CEO of MAXroam. “With MAXroam’s bespoke technology, ShoZu users should save up 70 percent over carriers’ standard roaming charges while enjoying near-global coverage and 24/7 customer support. MAXroam is perfectly poised to save money for ShoZu users.”

Later this year, the ShoZu app will be available through additional app stores, including Microsoft’s Windows Marketplace for Mobile, Nokia’s Ovi and Research in Motion’s BlackBerry App World. The application also is available for the BlackBerry and Windows Mobile operating systems directly from ShoZu at www.shozu.com and its mobile site at m.shozu.com.

About ShoZu
ShoZu is an intelligent social media hub currently used by people worldwide to enrich connections with the people in their lives by effortlessly exchanging video, pictures and commentary between mobile devices and favorite social networks, photo sharing sites and information resources. The company’s patented technology provides fast, easy, one-click uploads of photos and video clips from the mobile to the Web, full-resolution photo and video delivery without compression, an emerging suite of services that push content to the phone, the ability to work in the background even if a connection is dropped, and other unique features that simplify and enhance the user experience.  The company was founded in 2000 and has formed partnerships with some of the leading players in the mobile ecosystem, including Motorola and Samsung. For more information, visit www.ShoZu.com/AboutUs.

About MAXroam
Headquartered in Cork, Ireland, MAXroam is a brand name of Cubic Telecom. Cubic Telecom was established in 2006 and is a wholly Irish owned company. As a global mobile communications provider, Cubic brings the benefits of real competition to millions of global travellers. With our global cellular product, we enable travellers to stay in touch with home, office and family with a minimum of fuss. With its MVNE architecture, Cubic expects launch more than 100 virtual MVNOs before the end of 2010. Cubic has partners in USA, Hong Kong, Europe and Australia. For more information visit www.maxroam.com.

Media Contact:
Sue Huss
Comunicano
+1 619-379-4396
sue.huss@comunicano.com

Avis Will Have Florida Travelers Beaming With AT&T Cruisecast In-Car TV

Dallas and Parsippany, N.J., July 6, 2009 – Avis Rent A Car and RaySat Broadcasting (RBC) today announced that Avis renters at select locations can now enjoy the ride with AT&T CruiseCast service, a new satellite TV technology that delivers 22 video satellite channels as well as 20 audio channels to a mobile unit in automobiles. Beginning today, Avis renters at airport locations in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach can rent AT&T CruiseCast for $8.95 per day or $62.65 per week.

“AT&T CruiseCast arrives just in time for family summer travel,” said Michael Caron, vice president of product and program development at Avis Budget Group, parent company of Avis. “The service provides hours of entertainment for adults and kids which is sure to enhance any summer vacation.” 

The AT&T CruiseCast service offers a variety of channels, including Cartoon Network Mobile, Disney Channel, DisneyXD, Discovery Kids, USA Network, Discovery, Animal Planet, SCI FI, Lifetime Television, Adult Swim Mobile, ESPN Mobile, NFL Network, CBS College Sports Network, FOX News, CNN Mobile, MSNBC and AccuWeather.

The portable unit provides TV screens that attach to the back of the vehicle’s headrests, and come with headphones, for easy viewing and listening by passengers. A 12-volt jack plugs into the car’s power outlets and the unit’s receiver is housed inside a small bag attached to the seatback.

Outside the vehicle, a compact antenna is mounted to the roof. The antenna, installed by an Avis representative prior to rental pickup, receives the satellite TV signals, provides them to the receiver and displays the program on the TV screen. The AT&T CruiseCast service utilizes video buffering technology to automatically store two minutes of content so viewing is not interrupted by satellite obstructions such as overpasses or tall buildings.

“What better way to entertain travelers than with live TV in a rental vehicle,” said Winston Guillory, Jr., president of RBC. “AT&T CruiseCast service offers something for everyone and we know that Avis customers will really enjoy it.”

Advance rental reservations are required for AT&T CruiseCast service. For more information, visit www.avis.com/cruisecast.  To reserve the service, contact Avis Reservations at 800-331-1212.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. as well as third party licensees under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About RaySat Broadcasting Corporation
RaySat Broadcasting Corporation (RBC) is a privately held U.S. company that was created to introduce In-Car Entertainment to the U.S. market under the licensed name “AT&T CruiseCast.”  Headquartered in Dallas, Tex., RBC capitalizes on pioneering technology that has enabled the creation of a small compact antenna for use on cars, trucks and SUV’s that also provides continual coverage on-the-go thanks to an advancement that helps overcome line-of-sight obstacles such as overpasses, buildings, trees or tunnels.  The AT&T CruiseCast service is available in the 48 contiguous states and will offer 42 channels of entertainment programming. RBC will distribute the AT&T CruiseCast service via a network of automotive dealers, consumer electronics retailers, and other businesses that specialize in automotive accessories. For dealer/retail locations and additional information on RBC and AT&T CruiseCast, please visit www.cruisecast.com.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet access and voice services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verseSM and AT&T │DIRECTVSM brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T’s Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE® magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.

AT&T CruiseCastSM Service to Offer Programming from MTV Networks

Dallas, Jan. 23, 2009 – AT&T Services Inc. and RaySat Broadcasting Corporation today announced the completion of a content deal with MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), for selected content to be offered as part of the AT&T CruiseCastSM service. Programming included in the deal includes MTV Networks’ mobile channels from MTV, COMEDY CENTRAL and Nickelodeon, as well as linear TV channels, The N and NOGGIN.

“Our recent multiplatform deal with MTVN cements the addition of some of television’s most compelling brands on our new AT&T CruiseCastSM service,” said Rob Thun, senior vice president of content, AT&T Services Inc. “We are thrilled to have MTV Networks programming to offer to our subscribers.”

“Delivering the best channels and programs to in-vehicle viewers of all ages is what AT&T CruiseCast service is striving to provide”, said Steve Symonds, Executive Vice President of RaySat Broadcasting Corporation. “The content we have licensed from MTV Networks includes some of the most popular programming in the U.S.”

“Our audiences want fast and full access to our content whether at home or on the go, and AT&T CruiseCast service gives us an exciting new platform to reach even more of our fans when they’re on the road, as well,“ said Denise Denson, Executive Vice President, Content Distribution and Marketing, MTVN. 

AT&T CruiseCastSM mobile TV service is the In-Car Entertainment offering that will enable families, commuters, and mobile professionals to watch satellite video channels anywhere in the country. Demonstrated at CES, the world’s premier consumer electronics tradeshow, AT&T CruiseCast service will have a robust 22 TV and 20 satellite radio channel line-up that will include a variety of kids and family, documentary, music, comedy, news, and sports programming at launch. AT&T CruiseCast service utilizes a compact, low-profile antenna for use on cars, non-commercial trucks and SUVs, and a breakthrough technology that overcomes line-of-sight obstacles such as overpasses, buildings, trees or tunnels. The groundbreaking service was developed in collaboration between RaySat™, Inc. a leading manufacturer and supplier for the mass market for cost-effective, low-profile satellite antennas that enable communication on the move, and AT&T, the world’s premier telecommunications company. RaySat Broadcasting Corporation, a privately held U.S. company, is working with AT&T Business Development to introduce the new product to the marketplace. 

AT&T CruiseCast service is made consumer-friendly by the unique scaling down of satellite technology into the small pod-like antenna that affixes to the roof of vehicles. The antenna is paired with a receiver that is mounted in the vehicle and provides all video and audio connections to the appropriate vehicle systems, such as Rear Seat Entertainment, Vehicle Audio System etc.

For more information, go to www.cruisecast.com.

About RaySat Broadcasting Corporation
RaySat Broadcasting Corporation is a privately held U.S. company that has been chartered to introduce Total In-Car Entertainment to the marketplace with the revolutionary AT&T CruiseCast service. Headquartered in Dallas, TX, RaySat Broadcasting Corporation capitalizes on pioneering technology that has enabled the creation of a small compact antenna for use on cars, trucks and SUV’s that also provides continual coverage on-the-go thanks to an advancement that overcomes line-of-sight obstacles such as overpasses, buildings, trees or tunnels. RaySat Broadcasting Corporation. is an affiliate of Vienna, VA-based global satellite-antenna innovator RaySat™, Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier for the mass market of cost-effective, low-profile satellite antennas that enable communication on the move.

About MTV Networks
MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products.  The company’s portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 350 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, GameTrailers and Xfire.  

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, AT&T again ranked No. 1 on Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list and No. 1 on America's Most Admired Telecommunications Company list. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.
© 2009 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.