Universal builds site to master mobile destiny

September 24, 2007 Universal plans to launch its own Web site in November offering branded mobile content in an effort to take greater control of marketing and merchandising from mobile carrier decks. News Corp.'s Fox Mobile Entertainment tried something similar last year with the Web site Mobizzo, which has since been folded into Jamster, part of the conglomerate's joint venture with Jamba. Laws said the Universal site will make it easier for one-stop mobile shopping because Universal will put ringtones, wallpaper and games all on a film's same page, whereas carrier decks tend to scatter the merchandise across different pages.

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