Social.FM signs distribution deal with Handmark

By Staff reports

March 4, 2008

Music to the consumer's ears

Social.FM, a social music service for mobile and online users, has inked a deal a distribution deal with mobile media specialist Handmark.

Per the terms of the agreement, Handmark will market and distribute Social.FM to mobile customers nationwide and in Canada and Europe. It follows a similar agreement with Microsoft Corp. last year to offer Social.FM to Windows Mobile users.

"Geared for Windows Mobile and Symbian-based smartphones, it turns your phone into a wireless music player," said Paula Dunne, spokeswoman for Social.FM.

"Social.FM gives you over-the-air access to your own music, your buddies' music and thousands of genre-specific radio channels," she said.

The distribution goes live in the next quarter via channels such as wireless carriers’ on- and off-deck portals and through Handmark and carrier-branded desktop and on-device stores.

Social.FM relies on user-distributed content, social discovery and recommendations, and 3G streaming to deliver music to mobile phones.

Social.FM was launched in 2003 by McAfee.com founder and CEO Srivats Sampath. It is based in Sunnyvale, CA.

Handmark develops and distributes mobile media for BlackBerry, Palm, Treo, Apple iPhone, Symbian OS and Windows Mobile devices.

Based in Kansas City, MO, Handmark is known for its Handmark Pocket Express service. The company has technology and distribution partnerships with Oxford University Press, MobiTV, TV Guide, Zagat Survey, Entertainment Arts’ EA Mobile and The Associated Press.