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 Funmobile are a Hong Kong based mobile entertainment company that recently launched operations in the United States. The company creates games, ringtones and wallpapers for mobile phones and distributes them via their own web portal, as well as through carriers, and its CEO, Christian K-L Yau Heilesen, started the company at age 19 after graduating high school in Denmark. In this Q&A, Games On Deck talks to Heilesen about the company's history, their choice to develop games in-house, and the future.
Games On Deck: Can you explain Funmobile's history?
Christian K-L Yau Heilesen: I was 14 when I started doing websites and simple web design during IT classes in Denmark. After graduating from high school in Denmark, I went to Hong Kong (it was 2002) and started an online internet business. After 1 year, I found myself slaving for my own business and working crazy hours, but it seemed the business was going nowhere. Ivor, now my Chief Technology Officer, who joined in early 2003 to help out with the internet business, suggested doing mobile gaming as his previous company was doing mobile gaming and it seemed successful. Funmobile was then formed in Hong Kong in 2003 and regional offices in Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, Singapore and the US were set-up over the years. Funmobile is proficient in developing and distributing mobile games and applications both on- and off-deck. With a distribution network in over 75 countries, Funmobile publishes and develops a wide range of ringtones, logos, MMS, SMS, themes and innovative portable gaming for cellphones equipped with Java, Brew or Symbian technology to enrich people's mobile life with fun anywhere, and everywhere, at anytime.
GOD: What is it that makes Funmobile different from other mobile portals?
CKYH: Funmobile is one of the only wireless gaming companies that develops its titles in Hong Kong. By doing this, the games are created for the most state-of-the-art handhelds available in the word. When a game is brought to markets with older handheld technology, the game will contain graphics, sound and gameplay that pushes the technology to the limit.
In addition the company's web site provides a significant revenue stream which enables funmobile to introduce their games to consumers direct without relying completely on carriers. This is a unique position as many mobile game developers do not have this solution.
Christian K-L Yau Heilesen
GOD: Why did you decide to take a crack at the US market with Funmobile?
CKYH: We see that there are rooms for expansion in the US mobile entertainment market, as deregulation of the mobile industry opens a window of opportunity to providers of value-added mobile services and online community products.
We launched our mobile entertainment services in the US last year and we are confident that our portfolio of original IP will appeal to US consumers looking for unique entertainment experiences on their mobile phones. The combination of Funmobile's expertise in the creation of mobile entertainment services and strong relationships with carriers will result in bringing the highest quality and most entertaining mobile services to consumers throughout the US.
GOD: What importance do mobile games have for you as a mobile entertainment company?
CKYH: The video gaming industry is already mature and rivals the movie and the music industry in terms of revenue. Traditionally, there have been three ways that video games have been played - Console gaming (PS3, Xbox360 etc.), PC gaming and handheld games (Nintendo DS). Mobile games were seen as a fourth platform for video games. With the increase in mobile phones offering exciting gaming experience, consumers are crying out for quality games. It is estimated that the mobile gaming market will be worth over US$11.2bn by 2010 with 15 per cent of people downloading and playing a game on their handset - a market not to be missed out on.
Next: Game Development
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