New York - Mobile content distributor Thumbplay has laid executed a round of layoffs, which one source told Silicon Alley Insider constituted 25% of staff, while a spokesperson countered the percentage to be "measurably lower."

New York - Mobile entertainment portal Thumbplay on Wednesday announced the launch of a new full-song mobile music download service, which at launch offers more than 1.5 million songs from labels including Universal Music, EMI, and independents distributed by The Orchard and INgrooves. The store offers 99-cent MP3 song downloads to both mobile phones and PCs, as well as a $9.99 per month subscription service that provides 10 credits (1 credit = 1 song) towards any content offered on the service.

New York - Mobile entertainment publisher Thumbplay announced that it has partnered with Universal Music Group to offer a suite of exclusive Jay-Z ringtones and other mobile content. The ringtones include ten singles not previously made available, including "Can I Get A," "Encore" and "IZZO (H.O.V.A.)."

New York - Mobile entertainment content distributor Thumbplay announced on Monday that it will create customized mobile content stores for the websites of more than 650 local Clear Channel Radio (NYSE: CCU) stations. New York-based Thumbplay has already created mobile sites for more than 100 radio stations, which allow listeners to purchase ringtones based on songs they hear on-air.

In its fifth round of funding, which included both old and new investors, mobile content retailer Thumbplay has received $18 million. According to MocoNews, the round included Softbank Capital, i-Hatch Ventures, and Verizon.

New York - Mobile entertainment distributor Thumbplay on Thursday announced a deal with iLike, a social music discovery application that claims 15 million users, that will place "Get ringtone" links on artist, album and song pages on iLike.com and the iLike Facebook application. Thumbplay claims a catalog of 75,000 pieces of mobile entertainment content.

New York - Mobile entertainment distributor Thumbplay said on Monday that it has partnered with Microsoft's MSN Mobile, to provide ringtones, wallpapers, game and video clips on the mobile portal -- which counts over 120 million unique monthly users. Thumbplay content will be available via MSN Mobile for purchase and download by Alltel, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon subscribers.

New York - Mobile entertainment distributor Thumbplay announced on Wednesday an agreement with major label EMI Music, to sell ringtones from EMI artists direct to consumers. The service will offer both subscription and a la carte purchase options, with ringtones delivered over-the-air and charges billed to a consumer's mobile bill.