North Hollywood, Calif. - The Walt Disney Internet Group announced on Thursday that it will shutter its Disney Mobile phone service, opting instead to offer its Family Center service through a partnership with another U.S. carrier.

Disney also recently shut down its other mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service, ESPN Mobile.

The company said it was pleased with the quality of the Disney Mobile service, but that "the MVNO model has proven, as we've seen with other companies this past year, to be a difficult proposition in the hyper-competitive U.S. mobile phone market," said Walt Disney Internet Group president Steve Wadsworth.

"In assessing our business model, we decided that changing strategies was a better alternative to pursue profitable growth in the mobile services area."

Current Disney Mobile customers will continue to receive service and support until Dec. 31, 2007.

Related Links:
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070927/20070927005771.html?.v=1

http://www.disneymobile.com