Luxury automaker Audi is the exclusive sponsor of Fox Soccer Channel?s new Ticket to South Africa iPhone application featuring coverage of the FIFA World Cup.

With anticipation building around the world for one of the most popular events in all of sports, Fox Soccer Channel tapped mobile service provider 2ergo Americas, to power the Audi-sponsored application. World Cup soccer fans will be able to use the application for comprehensive and personalized coverage of the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, taking place in South Africa June 11 through July 11, 2010.

?Fox Soccer Channel is a year-round soccer authority, and with expanded interest in the game this summer we are proud to offer enhanced multiplatform access to both die-hards and casual enthusiasts alike,? said Bhavesh Patel, vice president of interactive media at Fox Sports International, Los Angeles.

?We pride ourselves on serving as a resource to our viewers and fans of soccer,? he said. ?With the approaching World Cup, we wanted to produce another way for our viewers to experience the sport.

?The target demographic is Fox Soccer Channel on-air viewers, Foxsports.com online visitors and sports fans at large that want on the go access to coverage from the experts at Fox Soccer Channel.?

Audi, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, has sponsored mobile applications in the past (see story).

A complement to Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus, Foxsoccer.com claims to be America?s most visited online soccer destination, serving as a source for year-round soccer coverage with match highlights, headlines, stats, photo galleries and commentary from soccer experts and analysts.

In addition, live and on-demand match streaming is available via Foxsoccer.tv.

2ergo?s product portfolio includes interactive messaging, mobile Internet and publishing, smartphone applications, mobile ticketing and coupons, mobile security and secure payment services.

Its clients include Fox News, AT&T, Yahoo, National Geographic Channel, O2, Rightmove, Ladbrokes and Australian Broadcasting Corp.

World (Cup) class app
Audi serves as the title sponsor of the Ticket to South Africa application, and iPhone-optimized ads will be served within the application promoting Audi products.

Consumers see the Audi logo and ?Presented by Audi? messaging as the application loads.

In-application banner ads carry the Audi logo and the brand?s ?Truth in Engineering? tagline.

The application, available for download free of charge in Apple?s App Store, includes latest news, standings, fixtures, photos galleries, venue information and World Cup history.

Once the games begin in June, a scrolling ticker with live scores will appear, offering one-click access to in-game match stats, play-by-play information and video clips.

The application lets iPhone users follow all 32 teams and create a ?My Teams? list for access to their favorite team?s headlines and information.

Users can also share World Cup headlines with their friends by posting updates and content to their Facebook pages.

For fans unable to watch the games in person, Fox Soccer Channel?s Ticket to South Africa iPhone application will keep them up to date.

The application is being promoted via an ongoing Fox Soccer Channel advertising and Web site campaign.

Fox is promoting the app with a custom TV spot on Fox Soccer Channel, on-air mentions and heavy promotion on Foxsoccer.com and Foxsports.com. 

?2ergo is able to support vast amounts of Fox Soccer Channel?s World Cup content and package it into a scalable and customizable application so soccer fans can personalize their experience with the app while accessing real-time scores and on-demand video,? Mr. Patel said. ?This app allows iPhone and iPod Touch users engage with Fox Soccer Channel coverage beyond the TV and Web.
 
?The application was entirely underwritten by Audi and all sponsor banners within the app promote Audi,? he said. ?For this application, Fox Soccer Channel sold the entire sponsorship to Audi.?