MOBILE APPS TAKE CENTER STAGE

Now that mobile data access is becoming more available and reliable worldwide, innovation of mobile content applications is constantly pushing the limits of what mobile customers can use their phone for on a daily basis. Many of the latest applications will be on display this week at the CTIA IT and Entertainment trade show in San Francisco.

Among some of the more interesting new applications, Fandango, the national movie ticketing and information service, this week is launching its first foray into mobility at the show. As the result of collaboration with developer Crisp Wireless, users of Web-enabled mobile phones and PDAs now can access movie information and tickets at mobile.fandango.com and also can get specific movie and theater information by text messaging Fandango using the “FNDGO” short-code.

At launch, the service is capable of delivering movie show times, tickets to showings, movie reviews, text alerts for when tickets go on sale for upcoming shows and other info. In the future, Fandango plans to add a content storefront featuring ringtones, wallpapers and movie-themed games, as well as premium content offerings such as movie trailers and exclusive clips.

Elsewhere at the show this week, Tira Wireless will be launching the latest version of its Jump product suite, which helps content publishers and carriers manage an increasingly complex content application distribution chain.

“It bridges the deployment gap between content creation and delivery,” said Wayne Seifried, director of product marketing for Tira Wireless. The company also is announcing a partnership with developer THQ Wireless at the show.

The Jump Workflow Manager manages assets, work orders and tasks to help content publishers better confront a delivery chain that includes an increasing number of handsets and multiple content creation platforms.