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SAN MATEO, Calif.-- U.S.-Based Start-up Expands Distribution Reach to Europe,
Gains Strong Management and Premium Titles
Digital Chocolate, Inc., a developer of innovative software for mobile phones
founded by software gaming pioneer Trip Hawkins, today announced it has acquired
Sumea, a leading European developer and publisher of high-quality games for mobile
phones.
The acquisition provides Digital Chocolate with relationships with some of the
world's largest wireless carriers, international distribution channels, and a
catalog of leading games for mobile phones. Terms of the acquisition were not
disclosed. Digital Chocolate applications will be available through major U.S.
wireless carriers later this summer.
Digital Chocolate develops and publishes innovative applications for mobile phones,
including games, lifestyle and social networking applications. The company's CEO
and founder, Trip Hawkins, has a notable history in gaming software, having founded
and built the seminal games company Electronic Arts. Founded in December 2003,
Digital Chocolate is backed by Kleiner, Perkins, Caulfield & Byers and Sequoia
Capital, as well as individual investors, including Bob Pittman, former COO of
AOL/Time Warner and founder of MTV.
Sumea was originally founded in 1999 and focuses on creating high quality, innovative
and technically superior games for major wireless platforms. Sumea is based in
Helsinki, Finland, and has some of the world's leading wireless carriers as customers
and partners, including Vodafone, O2, Orange, AT&T Wireless, T-Mobile, and
Cingular Wireless. Sumea's Mafia Wars and Racing Fever games are among the leading
games on some of the industry's most prominent carriers.
"Acquiring Sumea provides Digital Chocolate with strong, established partnerships
with major global carriers, broad geographic distribution and an entire catalog
of top-rated games," said Trip Hawkins, CEO of Digital Chocolate.
"Our mission is to enhance the everyday experience for the millions of people
on the world's most ubiquitous computing platform. Sumea's 24 titles, great carrier
relationships and industry leadership get us closer to that goal," he continued.
"Sumea brings a highly talented management team that has built a profitable and
innovative company. They've developed and launched some of the most popular games
in the world," said Mark Jacobstein, president and COO of Digital Chocolate. "Digital
Chocolate will be global and mobile, and now we're set to launch in Europe with
one of the best organizations on the continent."
The merged entity will have relationships with over 110 distribution partners
in more than 53 countries on five continents. Digital Chocolate plans to retain
the Sumea brand for existing Sumea titles and expand the distribution of those
titles in the United States, as well as leverage the existing Sumea channels internationally
to support upcoming Digital Chocolate applications.
"At Sumea we are very excited about working with Digital Chocolate and industry
veterans like Trip Hawkins toward a common, immediate goal of developing and publishing
high quality games that change the way people think about and use their mobile
phones," said Ilkka Paananen, CEO of Sumea. "This merger will also offer increased
access to new financial and development resources that will bring greater value
to Sumea's current customers."
About Digital Chocolate
Digital Chocolate is a developer of innovative applications for mobile phones,
including games, lifestyle and entertainment applications. Based in San Mateo,
California, and founded in 2003 by software gaming pioneer Trip Hawkins, Digital
Chocolate is backed by Kleiner, Perkins, Caulfield & Byers and Sequoia Capital,
as well as angel investors, including Bob Pittman, former COO of AOL/Time-Warner
and founder of MTV. The company is planning to launch its first series of applications
in July 2004.
About Sumea
Sumea is a game development and publishing company specializing in downloadable
mobile games. Many Sumea games are already mobile classics. Based in Helsinki,
Finland, the company was founded in 1999 and focuses on creating high quality,
innovative and technically superior games for J2ME and BREW platforms.
Contacts
Digital Chocolate
Skip Rudolf, 650-208-9059
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or
104 Degrees West Partners
Jennefer Traeger, 720-988-6149
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