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Dwango, INgrooves to Offer Exclusive Moby Ringtones

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 1, 2005 - 4:35am.
Seattle - Mobile entertainment publisher Dwango Wireless announced on Tuesday that it partnered with digital record label INgrooves to offer exclusive ringtones and other mobile content for V2 Records artist Moby. Dwango will offer 30 Moby ringtones exclusively through its Napstertones portal partnership with Napster through January 2006.
tags: Ringtones | INgrooves | Dwango | Moby |

Dwango, Napster Launch Canadian Ringtone Service With Rogers

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 27, 2005 - 7:34am.
Seattle -- Mobile entertainment publisher Dwango Wireless announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with Napster and Rogers Wireless, Canada's largest wireless network operator with 5.5 million subscribers, to launch the Napster Ringtones service in Canada. Seattle-based Dwango also powers the Napster Ringtones service in the U.S. Following an initial launch in Canada with Rogers, Dwango and Napster expect the ringtone service to be offered by other Canadian wireless carriers from fall 2005. Rogers subscribers will be able to purchase Napster Ringtones starting at $2.10 CDN ($1.70 U.S.) each.
tags: Napster | Launch | Dwango | Canadian Ringtone | Rogers |

Napster, Dwango Wireless Partner to Sell Mobile Phone Ringtones

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 9, 2005 - 9:57am.
Los Angeles -- Napster announced on Monday that it will begin selling cell phone ringtones, through a partnership with mobile entertainment publisher Dwango Wireless. The Napstertones service will offer ringtones, artist voice "shoutouts" and Napster-branded wallpapers, initially to Cingular and T-Mobile subscribers. The service is expected to expand availability to most U.S. carriers and several carriers in Canada this summer. For the next month, consumers who purchase a ringtone will receive a free song download from Napster's digital music service. Los Angeles-based Napster also plans to soon offer Napstertones prepaid cards at various retailers.
tags: Ringtones | Napster | Mobile Phone | Dwango |

Mobile Entertainment Firm Dwango Raises $15 Million in Private Placement

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 4, 2005 - 3:16am.
Seattle -- Dwango North America, a publisher of mobile entertainment content, announced that it has raised $15 million through a private placement of its shares with four investor groups. Seattle-based Dwango Wireless has created ringtones, games and mobile phone applications for Napster, Playboy and Rolling Stone. "This financing allows us to continue the strong growth we are experiencing and to enhance our presence in the mobile arena. We see significant opportunities to develop and acquire additional content as well as to expand our distribution channels," said Dwango Wireless CEO Rick Hennessey.
tags: VC | Private Placement | Mobile Entertainment | Dwango |

Wireless Entertainment Publisher Dwango Raises $3 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 31, 2004 - 9:57am.
Seattle -- Dwango North America, a developer and publisher of wireless entertainment content, announced on Tuesday that it has raised $3 million in new funding from Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments. The investment follows an earlier aggregate funding of $5 million from Alexandria Investment Management. Seattle-based Dwango, the U.S. arm of Japanese firm Dwango Co. Ltd., has delivered games and ringtones to partners including Rolling Stone and ESPN. "This most recent investment will drive continued product development, brand acquisitions and international expansion to meet increasing global demand for our mobile entertainment content," said Dwango CEO Rick Hennessey.
tags: VC | Dwango | Wireless Entertainment |

Mobile Entertainment Publisher Dwango Raises $2.3 Million

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 26, 2004 - 4:09am.
Seattle -- Mobile entertainment publisher Dwango North America announced on Friday that it has raised $2.3 million in a financing round led by Alexandra Global Master Fund. Seattle-based Dwango publishes mobile games, ringtones and other entertainment services, and holds technology and content licenses from its Japanese counterpart, Dwango Co. Ltd. The company will use the funds for general corporate purposes and for license acquisitions related to consumer and media brands.
tags: VC | Mobile Entertainment | Dwango |

Mobile Games Firm Dwango Names CEO, Acquires Ringtone Provider

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 6, 2004 - 10:14am.
Seattle -- Dwango North America Corp., a developer and publisher of wireless entertainment content, announced on Friday that it has named Rick J. Hennessey as president and CEO. The company also said that chief financial officer Jacques Faust and chief operating officer Conrad Hametner are leaving the company. Hennessey has served as president of the company's Dwango Wireless unit since July 2003. The company also announced that it has acquired Hennessey's ringtone company, Over the Air Wireless; financial details of that transaction were not disclosed. Finally, Dwango said it will relocate its corporate functions from Houston, Texas to Seattle, Wash.
tags: Mobile Games | CEO | Ringtone | Dwango |