Here are 4 questions to John Kelley Chief Marketing Buzzwire :

Can you tell us more about your service ?
The Buzzwire service aims to complement the current mobile portal offerings of the mobile operators, in full cooperation with them, as explained below : The current content offered by mobile operators consists mostly of : downloadable songs, ringtones and games, video clips (both downloadable and streaming), Live TV channels, Browsing (wap sites, web sites), the content source is almost exclusively from big names and artists: top singers, top game titles, top web sites, etc.

Buzzwire complements the current mobile portal offering in several significant ways: For operators, we offer a much broader content portfolio with the following characteristics: Streamed (not downloaded) video clips (static or podcasted), Streamed (not downloaded) audio clips (static or podcasted), Live Radio, The content source consists mostly of the “mid-tail” and “long-tail” – content that is very appealing to users and readily available online but virtually impossible to access via mobile. This complements the top editors, studios and artists offered in the mobile portal, for example:Semi-professional video clips and sketches, Top-tier content is of course also possible if the required by the operator, Buzzwire greatly enhances the “discoverability” of this content with a “Today’s Buzz” section that highlights the most popular media.

For mobile users, we make it very easy to search for content, view clips, subscribe to podcasts, create playlists, etc., all from their mobile handsets without any need for special software or configuration on the handset.  Mobile users can customize their Buzzwire experience (ex. creating video playlists, audio playlists for listening in the car, favourite channels, etc.) via web access to the Buzzwire service. Buzzwire users can also easily share content with friends and family via SMS

For content providers, we enable them to easily “mobilize” their content and secure distribution across multiple operators and multiple handsets – something that previously had been extraordinarily difficult for them to accomplish given the highly fractured marketplace. Buzzwire enhances the ability for users to discover their content through featured positioning and the ease with which users can share media via SMS with friends and family. Buzzwire offers valuable reporting tools which give content providers the ability to see how users are interacting with their content, as well as the potential to share in advertising revenue if their content proves especially popular.

What is your business model ?
Buzzwire’s business model is based on the following elements : A business partnership with the mobile operator, where the operator has full control on the branding of the service, its look & feel, its positioning and segmentation and of course the business model to the end-user so as to best serve the operator’s business strategy.The operator’s content business unit only deals with Buzzwire – Buzzwire is in charge of all the relationships with the numerous content providers/editors, clearing the rights, etc… Buzzwire does not sell platforms, software licenses, set-up fees or professional services to the operator. The service is hosted by Buzzwire and operator according to the operator’s requirements. As mentioned above, the operator decide on how to derive revenue from the usage of the service: subscription fees/packages, payment for certain premium content, advertisement, or any combination thereof. Buzzwire charges a share of this revenue. Therefore, this is a true win-win model, the operator can launch its own branded audio/video/podcasting/radio service without paying anything up front except for promotion of the service.

What are the projects, additional features you’re preparing ?
We are constantly adding new content and features. Several worth highlighting are: The addition of social network functionality that allows Buzzwire users to easily share their playlists and activity with their network of family and friends online. The creation of customizable channels for content providers that give them the opportunity to optimize how their brands are presented to users. The development of a “self service” reporting tool that gives content providers real-time access to user statistics for their content (visitors, plays, shares, etc)

What are the current users’ feedback, your learnings on the service’s usage ?
We have seen very positive user results in both the beta trial in the US as well as our initial launch on the Voyager phone with Verizon. We are encouraged by the frequency of use (returning visitors are averaging 1.5 visits/week) and the breadth of the content being played, which reinforces the Buzzwire proposition that mobile users want easy access to their favourite online content, not just the “big media brands” that are traditionally offered. We’ve also seen great performance within the featured area of the service, “Today’s Buzz,” which makes it so easy for our users to discover and view the content that is particularly hot on the web each day.