Comunicano

NEWEST VRINGO CONTENT PROVIDERS OFFER USERS WIDE RANGE OF VIDEO RINGTONES

Vringo Users Can Take Personalization of Mobile Phones to New Level With Animation, Satire, Digital Music, Nature Videos and Other Rich Media

NEW YORK–July 1, 2008—VringoTM, the pioneer in visual ringtone sharing, is working with a variety of new content providers to offer users an expanded catalog of rich media clips to download and share.

“Vringo has created the next generation of mobile personalization, and our newest partners see the potential both in our service and medium that we are creating,” said Vringo General Manager and Senior VP–Content & Community Andrew Perlman. “These partners offer cutting-edge, creative content that will expand the Vringo experience.”

The latest Vringo content partners are:

• INgrooves: San Francisco-based INgrooves provides digital distribution, marketing and promotion services to the independent music industry. INgrooves works with a wide range of talent, from up-and-coming artists like Thievery Corporation, The Cool Kids and Tila Tequila to Grammy-winning country legend Dolly Parton.
• aniBoom: aniBoom animation network teams up with thousands of independent professional creators on aniboom.com to create original animated brands for mobile, Web, TV and gaming platforms. From funny to dramatic, from 3-D to stop-motion, aniBoom animations and cartoons offer mobile users a unique entertainment experience.
• Art Lumino: Krakow, Poland-based Art Lumino is a producer of high-quality HD screensaver video content under a variety of themes, including nature, art masterpieces, sacred art, fractals, horoscopes and karaoke. Thanks to state-of-the-art HD digital video technology and talented motion graphics artistry, Art Lumino footage can transform any screen into a source of relaxing aesthetic experiences for individuals or shared enjoyment.
• BerlinCalling: BerlinCalling provides a platform for video, animation and audio artists  to connect, cooperate, communicate and create high-quality mobile content. BerlinCalling members are among the top animators and filmmakers in the mobile content environment today, such as Patrick Smith, Tokyoplastic and Matthew Everitt.
• DabaJaba: To help avoid expensive therapy sessions and satisfy their inner demons, those crazy guys at dabajaba.com started producing animated cartoons 10 years ago. Today they create political satire, cartoons, MobileSoaps™ and animated commercials for both the Internet and cell phones. Their cartoons for cell phones are being translated into many foreign languages and gaining subscribers worldwide.
• Headzup: Headzup is the world's first daily political cartoon for video-enabled cell phones and the Internet. With more than 400 episodes in circulation, Headzup satirical clips are designed to be downloaded to cell phones and shared as picture messages. Several popular Headzup clips targeting the 2008 elections have been aired on major broadcast networks and Web sites, including CNN, BBC World News, National Public Radio, Air America Radio, New York Times Online, Der Spiegel Online and The London Times Online.
• Mobstar Media: Mobstar is a mobile entertainment company focused on the creation, repurposing and syndication of mobile video. The company has a wide range of content and distribution deals capable of reaching an audience of 1 billion people.
• Sunflower Entertainment: The Sunflower Entertainment catalog encompasses a wide range of Latin music styles from traditional Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia, Vallenato, Latin Jazz, Regional Mexican and Son Cubano to the current sounds of Rock en Español, Latin Alternative, Urban Latin, Reggaeton and everything in between.

Vringo lets users set their own visual or video ringtone and choose the video, avatar, slide show or picture they want their friends to see when they call. Users can choose content from a variety of sources to create their “Vringos,” including Vringo’s own large collection of premium content licensed from TV, video and music clips. They can create content themselves using their phone’s camera. Or they can import content from Vringo partner sites, such as those announced today, or from other Vringo partners, including Turner Broadcasting System, Saturday Night Live and Agence France Presse. In fact, content can be imported from almost anywhere on the Web.

Users can join for free to download and begin sharing rich media clips with friends. Vringos can be shared with any subscriber in the Vringo community with a compatible wireless phone. Vringo operates on the largest global mobile platforms (Symbian, Windows Mobile and Java), as well as some Palm devices.

Vringo also offers a Facebook® application that lets Vringo users import their Facebook friends’ profile photos to their mobile phones, automatically matching them to friends’ phone numbers. When Facebook friends call one another, their friend’s photos will appear on their phone screens as a type of visual caller ID.

For further details about Vringo, to preview video ringtones or to see a list of supported handsets, please visit www.vringo.com.

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About Vringo

Vringo is making mobile Personalization 2.0 a reality by enabling users to experience rich media ringtones on a wide variety of mobile devices and for the first time to share that media with others within a community. Vringo is backed by Warburg Pincus and by private investors. More information can be found at www.vringo.com.

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

VRINGO ADDS HOWARD N. HANDLER TO ADVISORY BOARD

  Former Virgin Mobile USA Executive Brings Expertise in Wireless, Entertainment, Youth Market and Consumer Products to Pioneer Video Ringtone Provider

NEW YORK–June 18, 2008—Vringo, the pioneer in mobile video ringtone sharing, announced today that Howard N. Handler, former chief marketing officer at Virgin Mobile USA, has joined its advisory board.

At Virgin Mobile, Handler led marketing, strategy, sales distribution, offer development and media relations for the first U.S. mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and youth-dedicated wireless service. He played a central role in building Virgin Mobile from a start-up to 5 million subscribers, more than $1 billion in revenues, the JD Power award for the no. 1 rated pre-paid wireless service and an initial public offering in 2007.

Before Virgin, Handler was president and chief executive officer of Burly Bear Network, an 18-24/college cable network and youth marketing company, which he sold to National Lampoon in 2002. He served as head of marketing for both the National Football League and MTV.

“Howard Handler has had an outstanding track record in building brands and revenue and reaching out to the youth market,” said Jon Medved, co-founder and CEO of Vringo. “Vringo is fortunate to have this extraordinary and experienced business leader involved with our company.”

“Howard is highly respected in the mobile industry and the mobile entertainment business. As an advisory board member, his vast experience and insights will certainly help grow Vringo in the wireless marketplace," said Ralph Simon, Vringo advisory board chairman.

“I'm thrilled to put my energy behind Vringo, a truly compelling mobile social medium and content company,” said Handler. “I look forward to working with the Vringo team and its board members as the company continues its pioneering role in this space.”

Handler joins Ralph Simon, Jeff Belk and Andy Abramson on the advisory board.

Vringo lets users set their own visual or video ringtone and choose the video, avatar, slide show or picture they want their friends to see when they call. Users can browse Vringo's own large collection of premium content licensed from TV, video and music clips. Original Vringos can also be created by using camera phones or downloading pictures or video from existing social networks. The Vringo application is currently available at www.vringo.com and a number of third party download sites such as Nokia Mosh, Handango and GetJar. Vringo has received numerous awards and accolades from SonyEricsson, MIPCOM and Mobile World Congress and was the recipient of an Always on Media 100 award.

Vringo is available on Symbian, J2ME (Java Micro Edition) and Windows Mobile platforms across devices from a number of device makers such as Nokia, Motorola, SonyEricsson, Samsung and RIM. The company continues to increase the number of compatible devices; a complete list is available online.

For further details about Vringo, please visit www.vringo.com. More information about Vringo’s advisory board members can be found at: http://www.vringo.com/corporate/company_board_ad.html.

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About Vringo

Vringo users can take any content from anywhere and turn it into a visual ringtone. Vringo then enables users to share this content during every phone call. Vringo has combined all the aspects of online sharing and community with the central part of the mobile experience - the call. Vringo makes mobile Personalization 2.0 a reality. Vringo is backed by Warburg Pincus and by private investors. More information can be found at www.vringo.com. 

Contact:
Sue Huss
Comunicano, Inc.
619-379-4396
sue.huss@comunicano.com

VRINGO MERGES SOCIAL NETWORKING AND ‘VISUAL CALLER ID’ WITH NEW FACEBOOK APPLICATION

Profile Pictures Imported to Address Books Add New Dimension of Personalization to Mobile Phones

NEW YORK–March 31, 2008—VringoTM, the pioneer in visual ringtone sharing, has announced a new Facebook® application that lets Vringo users import their Facebook friends’ profile photos to their mobile phones, automatically matching them to friends’ phone numbers. When Facebook friends call one another, their friend’s photos will appear on their phone screens as a type of visual caller ID.

“Vringo and Facebook are focused on sharing interesting content and experiences over digital media,” said Vringo General Manager and Senior VP–Content & Community Andrew Perlman. “By enabling Vringo users to connect Facebook friends with their mobile contact information, the Vringo experience becomes even more personalized and focused on users’ communities or social maps.”

The Vringo application enables Facebook users to update the photos on their devices through Facebook when friends change their profile pictures. Facebook users who add the application can also invite friends to become Vringo users.

The application initially will be offered free on a global basis. Vringo for Facebook is available for BlackBerry® smartphones from Research In Motion (RIM) and devices operating on the Windows Mobile platform. The application will also be available for additional mobile devices in the near future.

The application can be downloaded from Facebook at www.vringo.com/facebook. At the site, a Vringo user must provide his or her mobile number to download the application directly onto their mobile device.

Vringo’s Facebook application is an offshoot of the company’s flagship video ringtone service in which subscribers can also use their buddy lists to deliver rich media clips—“Vringos”—announcing the caller to the person being called, or to identify an incoming caller. With this service, users select their personal Vringo clips (such as customized avatars, cartoons and slide shows, as well as TV, music or video clips) through their mobile handsets or online. This (non-Facebook) version of Vringo can be downloaded at www.vringo.com.

Users can choose licensed content from providers such as Discovery Channel, Universal Music Group, Turner Broadcasting System and Agence France Presse; content they create themselves; or content imported from almost anywhere on the Web. Vringos can be shared with any subscriber in the Vringo community with a compatible wireless phone.

For further details about Vringo, to preview video ringtones or to see a list of supported handsets, please visit www.vringo.com.

A video clip demonstrating the Vringo Facebook application can be viewed here: http://comunicano.typepad.com/bam/2008/03/vringos-new-fac.html.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.

About Vringo

Vringo is making mobile Personalization 2.0 a reality by enabling users to experience rich media ringtones on a wide variety of mobile devices and for the first time to share that media with others within a community. Vringo is backed by Warburg Pincus and by private investors. More information can be found at www.vringo.com.

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

Vringo's new Facebook application

VringoTM, the pioneer in visual ringtone sharing, has announced a new Facebook application that lets Vringo users import their Facebook friends’ profile photos to their mobile phones, automatically matching them to friends’ phone numbers. When Facebook friends call one another, their friend’s photos will appear on their phone screens as a type of visual caller ID.

VRINGO VIDEO RINGTONE SHARING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR PALM TREO USERS IN RUSSIA

Palm Treo Packaging in Russia Will Include Vringo Brochure; Vringo Creating Russian-Language Web Page for Treo Users

NEW YORK–March 26, 2008—VringoTM, the pioneer in video ringtone sharing, is expanding its service to the mobile market in Russia through a promotion with Palm Inc. As part of the promotion, a brochure describing Vringo’s video ringtone service will be included in packaging for the Palm® Treo 500 smartphone™.

In addition, Vringo is creating a Russian-language Web page (www.vringo.ru/treo) for Treo users in Russia who want to subscribe to Vringo or download and share content for the Vringo application.

“Vringo is a global service,” said Vringo Senior Vice President–Business Development Steve Glanz, “but our users make it very personal and localized. Vringo subscribers in Russia who are Treo users now have their own online place to download and share Vringo content. We are pleased to work with Palm as the company introduces its latest Treo smartphone to the Russian market, where we expect Vringo will also be very popular.”

“We believe Vringo is an innovative, fun service that Treo users will want to try,” said Tim Mahne, master distribution manager, Palm EMEA. “With its multi-messaging capabilities and high-speed Internet access, the Palm Treo 500 smartphone is a great device for sharing Vringo content.”

Treo users in Russia can download the Vringo application for free at www.vringo.ru/treo. Once they register, they will receive an SMS message that will enable them to install the application.   

Vringo users can set their own video ringtone as well as invite buddies. Vringo buddies see one another’s video ringtone when they call. Clips can be selected right on the mobile device or at www.vringo.com.

Users can choose licensed content from providers such as Discovery Channel, Universal Music Group, Turner Broadcasting System and Agence France Presse; they can create content themselves; or they can import content from almost anywhere on the Web. Vringos can be shared with any subscriber in the Vringo community who has a compatible wireless phone.

For further details about Vringo, to preview video ringtones or to see a list of supported handsets, please visit Vringo.

About Vringo

Vringo is making mobile Personalization 2.0 a reality by enabling users to experience rich media ringtones on a wide variety of mobile devices and for the first time to share that media with others within a community. Vringo is backed by Warburg Pincus and by private investors. More information can be found at www.vringo.com.

Palm Treo 500 smartphone features:

• All-in-one phone and messaging device(1)
• Access to Hotmail® and other web email services(1)
• Full keyboard for fast and easy typing
• Large, high-resolution screen (320x240)
• Microsoft Internet Explorer® Mobile web browser
• Windows Live online services, including MSN Messenger
• Up to 3G speeds(3)
• Organiser with address book, calendar, to-do lists, and notes
• 2.0-megapixel camera for capturing photos and video
• Windows Media® Player Mobile for music and videos
• Windows Mobile 6 Standard operating system
• Microsoft Office Mobile for viewing and editing Microsoft Word and Excel® documents and viewing PowerPoint® and Adobe® PDF files
• 150MB of user-available memory(4), expandable with microSD expansion card(5)
• Microsoft Direct Push technology for delivery of Outlook email(6)
• Bluetooth® wireless technology

1 Within mobile coverage area only. Email, web, and messaging require data services from a mobile service provider at an additional cost. ISP and/or VPN may also be required.

2 Within mobile coverage area only. Additional service charges may apply. Connection via USB sync cable (included in box) or Bluetooth technology.

3 3G available in UMTS 2100MHz coverage areas only. Within 3G coverage areas only. Actual speeds vary based on network capacity and application design. Backward compatible with GSM and GPRS networks.

4 Actual memory may vary by language.

5 Sold separately.

6 Requires Exchange Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 or Exchange Server 2007 and access enabled by IT administrator.

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VRINGO SPONSORING “WORLD’S TINIEST FILM FESTIVAL” AT MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS

Size Does Matter! Create a 15-Second “Vringo” Video Ringtone for the Tiny Screen to win a Big Screen!

BARCELONA, Spain–Feb. 8, 2008—Vringo is proud to host the World’s Tiniest Film Festival!

We invite you to record a video on your tiny screen so you can have a chance to take home something bigger—say a 32-inch flat-screen TV.

During the Mobile World Congress 2008, taking place here through Thurs., Feb. 14, Vringo, the pioneer in video ringtone sharing, is sponsoring the World’s Tiniest Film Festival. Vringo is inviting all mobile phone owners, filmmakers, videographers and people who just like impressive show give-aways to record and enter a 15-second “Vringo” video ringtone to be eligible to win one of three 32-inch flat-screen TVs being awarded every day during the conference. The contest is open to all—even if you’re not attending Mobile World Congress.

“We’ve heard for years that size doesn’t matter,” said Vringo CEO Jon Medved. “But I’m here to tell you that mobile phones are all about the small screen and short clips. Vringo is happy to give mobile phone users world wide the opportunity to think small and win big!”

Vringo will be at the Mobile World Congress to demonstrate its video ringtone sharing service that lets users take any content from anywhere and turn it into a visual ringtone. Vringo then enables users to share this content during every phone call. Vringo has combined all the aspects of online sharing and community with the central part of the mobile experience—the call. Vringo makes mobile Personalization 2.0 a reality. 

You can find Vringo at the Mobile World Congress in Hall 7, Booth 7C35 (map). To learn more about the World’s Tiniest Film Festival—or to submit your own entry—visit Vringo online: www.Vringo.com.

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About Vringo

Vringo is creating the world’s first video ringtone sharing community. The company is making Personalization 2.0 a reality by enabling users to experience rich media ringtones on a wide variety of mobile devices and for the first time to share that media with others within a community. Vringo is backed by Warburg Pincus and by private investors. More information can be found at www.vringo.com.

ALWAYSON SELECTS VRINGO AS ONMEDIA TOP 100 WINNER

Cited as an emerging technology company creating new business opportunities

NEW YORK–Jan. 22, 2008—Vringo™ today announced it has been chosen by AlwaysOn as one of the OnMedia 100 winners. Inclusion in the OnMedia 100 signifies the designees’ major developments in the creation of marketing tools, services and venues, as well as advertising, branding and public relations campaigns.

Vringo was specially selected by the AlwaysOn editorial team and other industry experts spanning the globe based on five criteria: innovation, market potential, commercialization, stakeholder value and media buzz.

Vringo and the OnMedia 100 Top Private Companies will be honored at the OnMedia conference scheduled for January 28-30 at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York. This two-and-a-half day executive event will feature technology CEOs from Silicon Valley leading presentations and high-level debates with the global advertising and media establishment, about disrupting user behavior and creating new opportunities in marketing, branding, advertising and public relations.

Fifty of the top CEOs from the OnMedia 100 will present their market strategies to a panel of industry experts in a “CEO Showcase.” 

“The OnMedia 100 winners have excelled in key strategic areas in the advertising, marketing, public relations and promotion industry,” said Tony Perkins, founder and CEO of AlwaysOn. “We congratulate them for their success in introducing new tools, services, and venues for marketers to have at their fingertips and for use to take their business to the next level in innovation.”

The OnMedia 100 was selected from hundreds of companies nominated by a panel of industry experts in the online ad service, technology, community platform, mobile advertising, marketing and Web analytic sectors from around the world.

Vringo was nominated for inclusion in the OnMedia 100 because it is ushering in the era of Mobile Personalization 2.0. Vringo gives users the ability to individualize and enrich their mobile experience by taking any content from anywhere and turning it into visual ringtones. Vringo then enables users to share this content during every phone call. Vringo has combined all aspects of online sharing and community with the central part of the mobile experience—the call. 

A full list of all the OnMedia 100 winners can be found on the AlwaysOn Web site at http://www.alwayson.goingon.com/.

“We’re extremely pleased that AlwaysOn has recognized Vringo’s leadership in pioneering the sharing of video ringtones,” said Vringo CEO Jonathan Medved. “AlwaysOn has had an uncanny ability to select and highlight game changing companies when they are still young, and we are delighted to have been chosen as one of these companies.”

About Vringo
Vringo is creating the world’s first video ringtone sharing community. The company is making Personalization 2.0 a reality by enabling users to experience rich media ringtones on a wide variety of mobile devices and for the first time to share that media with others within a community. Vringo is backed by Warburg Pincus and by private investors. More information can be found at www.vringo.com.

About AlwaysOn
AlwaysOn ignited the open-media revolution in early 2003 by being the first media brand to launch a community blog network.  In 2004, AlwaysOn continued to lead the industry in innovation by engaging its bloggers in a social network. AlwaysOn is also revolutionizing the media business by applying its open-media principles to its executive event series (OnMedia NYC, Venture Summit East and West, On Hollywood, The Broadband Digital, Stanford Summit, and Going Green) and quarterly print “blogozine.” No other media brand has dared to create such open interaction with its readers and event participants.

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CLIPS FROM CARTOON NETWORK AND ADULT SWIM NOW AVAILABLE AS VRINGO RINGTONES IN EMEA

Vringo Users From 9 to 99 Can Now Personalize Their Ringtones With Cartoons Like Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and Dexter’s Laboratory

NEW YORK and LONDON–Jan. 16, 2008—Vringo, the pioneer in video ringtone sharing, and Turner Broadcasting System Europe today announced an agreement that will enable Vringo subscribers to download clips from Turner’s Cartoon Network and Adult Swim as video ringtones.

Using Vringo, mobile phone users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa can now seamlessly download selected Cartoon Network and Adult Swim clips onto their mobile handsets from the Vringo Web site. When a call is placed, the video clip appears on the recipient’s phone screen as a video ringtone, or “Vringo.”

Cartoon Network content available on the Vringo Web site includes Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and Dexter’s Laboratory as well as content from Adult Swim, Turner’s animation and cult comedy brand that is designed to appeal to a grown-up sense of humor.

“Animation appeals to people of all ages,” said Joe Braman, director of mobile sales at Turner Broadcasting. “Through this agreement with Vringo, people of all generations will be able to enjoy well-known cartoons in yet another way—as video ringtones that they can share with their friends, young and old.”   

With the alliance between Vringo and Turner Broadcasting System, Vringo subscribers can use their buddy lists to deliver 2- to 10-second animated cartoon clip announcing the caller to the person being called—or to identify an incoming caller. Users select their personal Vringo clips through their mobile handsets or online. Vringos can also be shared with any subscriber in the Vringo community with a compatible wireless phone.

Vringo services are now available on a wide variety of mobile handsets, including devices made by Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and others (see full list of Vringo-compliant handsets).

“Through this agreement with Turner Broadcasting System, Vringo users can personalize their mobile calling with amusing and enjoyable cartoon ‘Vringos,’” said Andrew Perlman, general manager–Vringo America. “Having Cartoon Network and Adult Swim content available gives our users lots of fun ways to express themselves—no matter what their age.”

Turner Broadcasting System joins a growing list of content providers now partnering with Vringo, including Discovery Channel and Universal Music Group.

About Turner Broadcasting System Europe

Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Europe delivers some of the world’s most successful and well-known news and entertainment brands – including CNN International, Cartoon Network, TCM (Turner Classic Movies), Boomerang, and [adult swim]– across approximately 100 countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Alongside its TV channels, TBS Europe is at the forefront of developing its brands through the internet, broadband, wireless, DVD, e-commerce, merchandising, cinema, publishing and every other available platform. TBS Europe Limited is a Time Warner Company.

About Adult Swim

Adult Swim launched in the US in 2001 and in the UK in 2006 on TV and online.  Adult Swim features non-conformist programming aimed at adults 18-34 including a broad mix of humour and unconventional, surreal animation which has earned it a discerning and loyal following. Original and acquired animated comedy and action is also available via a UK broadband site www.adultswim.co.uk.  Adult Swim is available in the UK through the channel website, Bravo TV, BT Vision, Mobi TV, 02, Sky Mobile, YouTube, Joost, Bebo and Daily Motion; in South Africa on GO; Russia on Channel 2 x 2 and Germany on Maxdome VOD/SVOD.

About Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network is home to some of the funniest and most exciting new cartoons. It delivers the best range of kids’ entertainment 24 hours a day with hit shows including Ben 10, Robotboy, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, My Gym Partner is a Monkey, Codename: Kids Next Door, Ed, Edd n Eddy, Skatoony and Xiaolin Showdown. Cartoon Network can also be experienced through its multi-award winning website www.cartoonnetwork.co.uk, on broadband www.supercartoonnetwork.co.uk, via games on digital cable and satellite, through VOD, and on mobiles.  Since launching as a pan-European channel in 1993, Cartoon Network now has localised services throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa where it is available in 14 languages and in over 46 million homes.  Cartoon Network is operated by Turner Broadcasting System Europe, a Time Warner Company.

SKY 601; Tiscali TV 312; Virgin TV 704.  Also available on: Top Up TV Anytime; BT Vision; Sky Anytime; Virgin Central; Tiscali TV on-demand 310.

About Vringo

Vringo is creating the world’s first video ringtone sharing community. The company is making Personalization 2.0 a reality by enabling users to experience rich media ringtones on a wide variety of mobile devices and for the first time to share that media with others within a community. Vringo is backed by Warburg Pincus and by private investors. More information can be found at www.vringo.com.

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VRINGO NAMES RALPH SIMON AND JEFF BELK AS FIRST TWO MEMBERS OF ITS BOARD OF ADVISORS

Global Wireless Industry Leaders to Lend Their Expertise in Guiding Vringo

NEW YORK–Jan. 14, 2008—Vringo, the pioneer in video ringtone sharing, announced today that two leading figures in global mobile telephony—Ralph Simon and Jeff Belk—have become the first members of the company’s new board of advisors.

“As Vringo gathers momentum, we’re extremely fortunate to have visionaries like Ralph Simon and Jeff Belk add their collective industry expertise, experience and entrepreneurship to our video ringtone-sharing endeavor,” said company CEO Jonathan Medved. “We’ve been growing in usage, in attracting venture capital, in recruiting content partners and in forging strong bonds with handset providers and wireless carriers; now we have two of mobility’s brightest lights to help guide us.”

Ralph Simon is recognized as one of the founders of the modern mobile music and entertainment business in the United States and Europe. He is the founder and chairman emeritus of the Mobile Entertainment Forum–Americas, the principal global trade association and leading advocate for the mobile entertainment industry established to represent the commercial interests of content, application and service providers and telephone companies.

Simon also is president & CEO of The Mobilium Group, the respected mobile strategic advisory firm that guides U.S. and international media companies, networks and brands to grow revenues and market share from mobile content, mobile entertainment properties and technologies.

His involvement in the global mobile entertainment and content business since its inception brings together a vast array of skills acquired from a distinguished career in the music, music publishing and the mobile technology industry. Simon has proven expertise in strategic company development, content & copyright usage, mobile rights architecture, super-distribution, mobile platforms and mobile business development.

Simon co-founded and funded the first ringtone company in the U.S., U.K. and Europe—Yourmobile/Moviso. Prior to starting the mobile entertainment revolution, he co-founded the Zomba Group and Jive Records, which grew to become the world’s most successful independent record and music publishing company.

He currently advises prominent companies, entertainment properties and artists in the U.S. and internationally on ways to maximize and develop their mobile businesses and revenues, and create significant commercial opportunities on a global basis.

Simon will chair Vringo’s advisory group, Medved said, adding that he expects to name additional members to the board of advisors.

Jeffrey Belk is a principal in ICT168 Capital, LLC, a newly formed entity focused on developing and guiding global growth opportunities in the information and communications technology space. Formerly, Belk spent almost 14 years at Qualcomm Inc., where prior to his departure in early 2008, he was Qualcomm’s senior vice president of strategy and market development, focused on examining changes in the wireless ecosystem and formulating approaches to help continue driving mobile broadband adoption and growth. 

From 2000 until 2006, Belk was senior vice president of global marketing, leading a team responsible for all facets of the company’s corporate messaging, communications and marketing worldwide. In 1999-2000, Belk was senior vice president and general manager of Qualcomm Eudora Products, Qualcomm’s award-winning e-mail client. In 1997, Belk was named vice president–marketing of Qualcomm Consumer Products, and initiated the company’s global branding and distribution efforts.

Prior to his time at Qualcomm, Belk spent 10 years in the early growth stages of the personal computer industry, primarily with Proxima Corporation, which developed and manufactured multimedia projection systems. Belk joined Proxima in 1983, when the company had fewer than 25 employees, and was with the company in several key distribution, product-management and international roles through its IPO in the early 1990s.

Belk is known globally as a commentator and writer on wireless, mobile broadband and technology evolution. 

Vringo subscribers now have access to a wide variety of video ringtones ranging from comedy to sports to cartoons and more. Vringo’s content partners include Agence France-Presse, Discovery Channel and Universal Music Group for video content, as well as Meez and WeeWorld for animated avatars, and others.

Vringo recently received two significant industry awards—a special recognition award for “Best Use of Phone Functionality” from Sony Ericsson, and an award for “Best Mobile Service for Social Community & User Generated Content” at the 23rd Annual MIPCOM conference in Cannes, France.

For further details about Vringo, to preview video ringtones or to see a list of supported handsets, please visit www.vringo.com.

About Vringo

Vringo is creating the world’s first video ringtone sharing community. The company is making Personalization 2.0 a reality by enabling users to experience rich media ringtones on a wide variety of mobile devices and for the first time to share that media with others within a community. Vringo is backed by Warburg Pincus and by private investors. More information can be found at www.vringo.com.

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VRINGO WINS SPECIAL RECOGNITION SONY ERICSSON CONTENT AWARD

• Video Ringtones from Vringo Win Award for Best Use of Phone Functionality
• Sony Ericsson Says Vringo “Adds New Dimension to the Consumer Experience”

NEW YORK–Dec. 19, 2007—Vringo, the pioneer in video ringtone sharing, has won the Special Recognition award in the Sony Ericsson Content Awards ’07—the company’s first-ever awards for development of outstanding content and applications for mobile phones. Sony Ericsson made the announcement in an online awards ceremony. Vringo won for “Best Use of Phone Functionality.”

Vringo was selected for its video ringtone-sharing application that enriches and personalizes the experience of users of Sony Ericsson mobile devices, as seen in this video clip.

In selecting Vringo, the Sony Ericsson judges said: “Vringo is a rich and deep application that makes extremely good use of the capabilities available in Sony Ericsson Mobile phones—from voice, video, camera and buddy lists. And with its community features, it adds a new dimension to the consumer experience.”

Subscribers to the Vringo service use their buddy lists to deliver personalized, 2- to 10-second video ringtones (“Vringos”) announcing callers to the people being called or to identify incoming callers. Users select their personal Vringo video clips through their mobile handsets or online, or they can make their own. Subscribers can share Vringos with any other subscribers in the Vringo community who have compatible wireless phones.

“Winning this award is especially meaningful to all of us at Vringo because of Sony Ericsson’s stature as one of the world’s top mobile-handset providers,” said Vringo CEO Jon Medved. “We’re extremely proud to have this recognition from one of the true giants in our industry.”

This award from Sony Ericsson is the latest for Vringo, which also received the award for “Best Mobile Service for Social Community & User Generated Content” at the 23rd Annual MIPCOM conference in Cannes, France, in October.

Vringo recently added Agence France-Presse, WeeWorld and Discovery Channel to its growing catalog of content partners that already includes Universal Music Group and Meez, an online animated avatar service, among others. Vringo subscribers now have access to a wide variety of video ringtones ranging from comedy to sports to cartoons and more.

For further details about Vringo, to preview video ringtones or to see a list of supported handsets, please visit www.vringo.com.

About Vringo

Vringo is creating the world’s first video ringtone sharing community. The company is making Personalization 2.0 a reality by enabling users to experience rich media ringtones on a wide variety of mobile devices and for the first time to share that media with others within a community. Vringo is backed by Warburg Pincus and by private investors. More information can be found at www.vringo.com.

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