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Pick 'n' Win Game Developed by Mtone Wireless Released in Time
for 2005 NBA Playoffs
BEIJING, April 18, 2005 - The National Basketball Association
("NBA") has launched the first-ever mobile fantasy sports
game in China. The Fantasy NBA 05 Pick 'N Win game, developed
by Mtone Wireless Corporation ("Mtone Wireless"), will
be promoted with China Mobile Communications Corporation (CMCC)
and marks the first such offering since the NBA-CMCC strategic
alliance was announced a week ago. The interactive tournament
revolves around the 2005 NBA Playoffs, which begin on April 24,
2005 (Beijing Time).
The first real-time interactive platform between NBA basketball
games and NBA fans in China, the Fantasy NBA '05 Pick 'N Win game
will allow users to experience the excitement of the NBA and participate
directly through their mobile phone. Users will have the option
of playing the game using either SMS (Short message service) or
WAP (wireless application protocol) enabled mobile phones.
NBA fans in China can sign up for the Fantasy NBA '05 Pick 'N
Win game directly from their mobile phones by sending a text message
with "NBA" to "1818" (China Mobile). Fans
can win prizes including NBA basketballs, team jerseys, and basketball
shoes by answering questions based on the upcoming 2005 NBA Playoffs.
The prizes sponsored by Reebok and Spalding will be awarded during
each of the four rounds of the playoffs, culminating with the
Grand Prize Award at the conclusion of the Finals 2005. Users
with the top ten overall scores generated throughout the entire
playoffs will each receive a Grand Prize Award prize consisting
of an NBA gifts package and RMB 3,000 in cash. By registering
to the Fantasy NBA '05 Pick 'N Win game, users will have access
to a variety of information content such as team rosters, box
scores, game schedules, and player and team updates.
"We're delighted to launch this interactive mobile game
just in time for the 2005 NBA Playoffs," said Mark Fischer,
Managing Director of NBA China. "The game's wireless format
allows millions of NBA fans in China to access our first-ever
official fantasy game here via their mobile phones."
"The launch of this groundbreaking NBA product is in line
with our mission of providing the most exciting, innovative, interactive
content to our mobile phone users," said Victor Wang, CEO
and President of Mtone Wireless. "The launch of the Fantasy
NBA '05 Pick 'N Win game will provide a single platform to satisfy
the passion of our users for the NBA and their thirst for the
latest in wireless entertainment."
The game format is as follows:
Choose your NBA Champion:
All users will select a team to win The Finals from the pool
of NBA playoff teams. The further your team advances into the
playoffs, the higher your point score.
If your pick to win The Finals is one of the top four ranked teams
in either conference, you will earn 10 points if your team advances
into the second round, an additional 10 points if your team advances
into the third round, an additional 20 points if your team advances
to The Finals, and an additional 40 points if your team wins The
Finals.
If your pick to win The Finals is one of the teams seeded 5th
through 8th in either conference, you will earn 20 points if your
team advances into the second round, an additional 20 points if
your team advances into the third round, an additional 40 points
if your team advances to The Finals, and an additional 80 points
if your team wins The Finals.
Re-Selecting your Finals selection: If your pick to win The Finals
gets eliminated, the user has the option of re-submitting another
pick from the remaining play-off teams. The same scoring above
shall apply.
Daily Pick 'N Win game:
For every scheduled playoff game, users can earn additional points
by predicting which team will win. Users will earn one point just
for participating and one additional point for successfully predicting
the winner.
Future offerings in the pipeline
Mtone Wireless and the NBA plan to launch new services to coincide
with the start of the 2005-2006 NBA season. A virtual manager
interactive game targeted at hard-core NBA fans will allow users
to assemble and manage teams based on the real life performance
of NBA players. A Pick 'N Win game targeted at casual NBA fans
will allow users to participate through a question and answer
format.
About the NBA
Since its founding in 1946, the NBA has truly become a global
phenomenon that transcends national boundaries. With 30 teams
in the United States and Canada, NBA games and related programming
are broadcast to 214 countries in 43 languages via 157 telecasters;
they are one of the largest suppliers of sports television and
Internet programming in the world. NBA.com, with more than half
of all visits to the site coming from fans outside the United
States, has nine language-specific international destinations
for fans around the world. At the start of the 2004-05 season,
NBA rosters featured 81 international players from 35 countries
and territories. The NBA is a recognized leader in global sports
marketing with 13 offices around the world.
About Mtone Wireless Corporation
Mtone Wireless is one of the largest mobile online interactive
entertainment service providers in China. Founded in Silicon Valley
in 1994, Mtone offered the very first SMS and WAP services in
China for mobile phones in 1999 and 2000, respectively. Today,
Mtone provides its several millions of customers with a portfolio
of entertainment services, especially mobile online games, that
span across SMS, WAP, MMS, IVR and K-java platforms. Mtone has
built a nationwide distribution channel through partnerships with
over 70 provincial mobile carriers and marketing activities in
the top 200 cities in China.
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