Handango Updates Website Platform

Handago has launched a major update to their website and download engine. The update aims to simplify content discovery for wireless subscribers, speed deployment of content offerings for mobile operators and streamline m-commerce capabilities.

Some of the new features include:

• Handset Detection: For customers browsing on the phone, their handset is automatically detected. Then, using advanced handset matching and filtering technology, only content relevant for that handset is displayed. Customers browsing online can select their phone or handheld by manufacturer and model by device image.
• Personalized home deck: On the customer's home page or home deck, only content that is optimized for that particular handset is displayed.
• Enhanced search: This new, improved search tool employs advanced algorithms to improve accuracy of results and offer alternative spellings.
• New member account: Using the new member account, customers can securely conduct micro-payments more easily, as well as access rewards for purchasing, recover lost downloads and more.
• More featured downloads: The new discovery engine delivers more recommended content and featured titles for customers to choose.

The new deployment features to Handango AMPP help operators streamline the launch of content for new phones. Using template-driven WAP and/or Web-based technology, licensees can deploy a new content storefront in a matter of days. By reducing the time to market for downloads, operators can eliminate a major roadblock for the launch of new data-hungry phones and start recognizing download and data revenue more quickly.

By improving customers' ability to find relevant content, the new discovery engine in Handango AMPP enables mobile operators and handset manufacturers to expand their mobile download offering from a few hundred titles to thousands. Upgrades to the discovery engine were made after months of exhaustive customer research and usability studies.

New m-commerce features enable customers to pay for downloads on their wireless phone bill. Handango AMPP has supported operator-integrated billing since 2002. This update expands this capability with Premium SMS (Short Message Service) in the United States as well as direct billing integration with several major operators.

"After five years of licensing Handango AMPP to the biggest brands in the mobile industry, we have learned volumes about what operators and handset manufacturers need to deliver a compelling mobile downloads offering," said Randy Eisenman, president and chief executive officer of Handango. "After extensive customer research and literally thousands of man-hours of work, we are proud to announce these major upgrades to Handango AMPP and make them available to our partners and customers."