6th January 2005
Follow Ellen MacArthur to the finish on your mobile
-OC Vision and iTAGG.com delivers SMS, Java and video drama from the high-seas to your handset
With Ellen MacArthur over three days ahead of the current record holder and halfway to completing a historic round the world record attempt, tensions are high as she closes in on the finish. iTAGG.com, the complete mobile solution provider, has been selected as the official and exclusive supplier of SMS and mobile services to Ellen Macarthur, ensuring that all the drama and action is captured and then beamed directly to the phones of fans across the UK.
Wherever Ellen is on her epic record attempt, fans will be able to use their phones to request race information, video clips, pictures, and Java and WAP content. If Ellen is successful in this solo, non-stop round the world attempt on board her new 75-foot trimaran B&Q, she will become the fastest solo sailor on the planet and only the second person ever to successfully race non-stop around the world on a multihull following in the tracks of current record holder Francis Joyon who set an exceptional record of 72 days, 22 hours, 54 minutes and 22 seconds.
Ellen's trimaran, B&Q, is equipped with the latest technology including 4 Sony web cams and a satellite broadband system so that news, race and boat data are constantly fed back to the Offshore Challenges Mission Control centre in Cowes, UK. This information is then reformatted for use via the various iTAGG.com services.
These include:
-SMS Subscription service - by texting ELLEN START to 60300, two SMS messages are sent to the subscriber every day. The first at 9:00AM, providing a news round-up of the previous day's tribulations, the second, providing B&Q specific news as it happens.
-Ellen Macarthur WAP site - by texting ELLEN WAP to 60300, users receive a WAP bookmark which allows them to access a specially built WAP site that includes race date, boat data, positions, and daily web cam recordings from Ellen. In addition, special live streamed interviews will be added to this service at a later date.
-Java application - by texting ELLEN JAVA to 60300, users can download a Java application that is cached on the user's phone. 'Static' background information on the B&Q, Ellen MacArthur and her record attempt is made available. The Java application is also able to connect to the iTAGG.com servers, constantly updating the news, race and boat data.
-Steve Procter, CEO, iTAGG.com said: “Fans following Ellen's heroic record attempt will know how anything can happen on the high seas. That's why the range of mobile services we have developed will enable fans to receive all the action as it unfolds.
“More people have been in space than have sailed around the world single-handed, so it's a gruelling and gigantic challenge and is sure to deliver some exciting mobile content.”
Mark Turner, CEO, Offshore Challenges said: “We have always attempted to be at the cutting edge in communicating mid-ocean adventure and excitement back to shore and this association with iTAGG is another step in that direction so that everyone, wherever they are, can share in the action that is happening out on the race track.”
Ends
For further information please contact:
Dan Griffey
OC Vision Ltd.
dan@ocvision.com
0870 063 0219
--or--
Stephen Green/Tim Banks
infomob Public Relations
steve@infomob.co.uk
tim@infomob.co.uk
0870 874 1324
About Offshore Challenges
Offshore Challenges Group is jointly owned by Mark Turner and Ellen MacArthur MBE. The group consists of an athlete management business (Offshore Challenges Sailing Team); an events management business (OC Events); a creative technology business (OC Vision); and a management training business (OC Leading Lights)
The Group operates across Europe, the USA and Australasia, with a home base in Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK. Dedicated to turnkey, quality management and marketing solutions, Offshore Challenges projects have won three Hollis Sponsorship Awards for their service to sponsors.
About iTAGG.com
iTAGG.com is a leading provider of complete mobile solutions and services to both businesses and consumers. Bespoke solutions can be built using all forms of mobile technology, including SMS, MMS, WAP and Java. Its primary SMS product, known simply as iTAGG provides clients with their own keyword and shortcode, also known as a Mobile Doindex Name for just £99 per year. With this, clients have access to a range of plug-in features including SMS voting, subscription services and location, all of which can be set up and running in less than an hour.
|
