Updated below:
LA-based Amp’d is plugging away at it, and morphing from just an MVNO to being a content platform…it did a deal in Canada to license its service through Telus there two months ago. Now, it is about to expand into Japan, with a tie-up with KDDI, the second biggest telecom firm there, Moconews.net has learned. The announcement will come tomorrow.
Under the deal, Amp’d will develop a mobile portal with all its repository of content, and offer it to KDDI’s subscribers, which total around 20 million. The firm will also open creative development offices in Japan, to source and develop local content….the service is expected to launch in march next year.
Not sure if the deal means KDDI is investing or picking up some stake in Amp’d Mobile.
Updated: WSJ has some more details: The service is named “Amp’d Live”, and English-language content will have Japanese bylines (and how would they see that on a small screen?). KDDI will take a small cut, estimated at about 10%, of each content sale for handling billing transactions. Amp’d will share the rest of the revenue with content owners.
In related news, as we reported yesterday, the company has hired Sue Swenson as new COO. Bill Stone, currently serving as COO, has been promoted to the position of president, where among other things, will lead Amp’d international expansion. Other new hires include the additions of Russ Eisenman, VP of Marketing….prior to joining Amp’d, Eisenman served as CMO for Tower Records.
Related: Amp’d Mobile Gets $7.5 Million From Telus; 2007 Launch In Canada