LONDON, February 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The most memorable scenes from unforgettable blockbusters in the vast Universal library will premiere on the small screen thanks to Buongiorno and Corbis, through a groundbreaking license for the creation and distribution of high quality mobile content that includes voice tones, wallpapers and video clips.

Buongiorno Vitaminic, a leading multinational company in the field of multimedia content for telephony and digital channels and Corbis a leading provider of image licensing and related services, today announced a licensing deal with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group for the distribution of video clips, audio clips and stills, from Universal's library of film and television, to consumers' mobile devices in Europe, Africa and Middle East.

Under the terms of this agreement, Universal will provide Buongiorno with elements from up to 75 film & TV shows, which Corbis will clear the rights to. Many of these Hollywood properties will be making their mobile debut, as part of an innovative set of themed products and services that will include video clips, MMS, voicetones, wallpapers, screensavers, video ringtones and ringback tones and which will be distributed by Buongiorno in English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish.

Leveraging its global consumer brand Blinko and distribution agreements Buongiorno has with over 50 telecommunication operators worldwide and major media groups, Universal content will reach a potential audience of over 900 ml clients (45% of the total 2 billion mobile users worldwide).

"After considerable diligence we determined that Buongiorno Vitaminic's reach, quality and innovation combined with Corbis' unparalleled rights-enabling skills are uniquely qualified to deliver the great moments from Universal's library to consumers' mobile handsets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa," said Jeremy Laws, senior vice president, Universal Mobile Entertainment.

"We are proud of this agreement with Universal and Corbis, because it breaks new ground in the licensing of Hollywood content for mobile use. The fact that this collaboration provides fully cleared rights from the actors to use their image and voice for such a large film catalogue, is what makes this service the first of its kind", says Matteo Montan, Head of Global Products of Buongiorno Vitaminic. "We continually strive to provide the consumers with a wide variety of innovative products to download, as well as offer distributors successful digital services that can easily be marketed. The Universal content fulfils both objectives, as well as adding to Buongiorno's already extensive library of high quality mobile content".

"Corbis has been working with Buongiorno to unlock the complex mix of art, technology, rights and commerce since 2003," said Curtis Bowden, vice president rights services for Corbis. "There has always been a strong interest in celebrity and Hollywood content. As a result, we are thrilled to be playing a key role in facilitating the availability of this content for mobile use."

The content market for mobile phones continues its strong growth. According to Informa Telecoms and Media's report, the fast-growing Mobile Entertainment market will be worth US$42.8 billion by 2010, of which US$11.2 billion will be generated from mobile games. The mobile music sector - ringtones, ring-back tones, full track downloads and streaming services - will be worth around US$11 billion by 2010[1].

Universal movie content will become part of Buongiorno's high-quality and always updated, huge portfolio made up of over 250,000 services and licensed contents, marketed through a multi-channel strategy that includes direct distribution through the brand BLINKO (www.blinko.com) as well as through partnerships with leading telecom companies and the most important media groups.

Additional information about Buongiorno are available on the website www.buongiorno.com or by contacting:

[1] Informa Telecoms and Media's "Mobile games" report, published in July 2005

Distributed by PR Newswire on behalf of Buongiorno Vitaminic SpA