Sega may be out of the hardware business for good but their content creation ideas seem to be limitless. The company is obviously not content with feeding the console war with ammunition and has decided to expand by creating Sega Mobile in the U.S.
Capitalizing on their vast experience in games, which has created memorable characters, such as Sonic the Hedgehog and titles such as "Street Fighter", Sega plan to introduce these characters to mobile phones.
Taking advantage of the phenomenal successes of the mobile gaming market in Japan and the burgeoning wireless and 3G network adoption in North America, Sega Mobile is well positioned to lead the market in wireless gaming content.
Sega Mobile is tapping into Sega's extensive content library launching classic titles such as Pengo, Flicky, Puyo Puyo, and Monaco GP. Beginning this summer, Sega Mobile will be bringing the hit title "Monkey Ball" to wireless devices nationwide. Appealing to the more mainstream wireless user with familiar and fun content, Sega Mobile will round out the launch repertoire of games by publishing new puzzle, sports and entertainment titles.
Sega Mobile draws upon both Sega's heritage in the video game industry and its current successes in the Japanese wireless gaming market. Relying on the experience that comes from more than 2.5 million subscribers to wireless games and other entertainment related content in Japan, Sega Mobile is well prepared to lead the next wave in gaming in the U.S. Wireless gaming is widely expected to take off in the next few years, with Ovum, a leading analyst and consulting company, estimating that the global revenue for wireless gaming will reach $4.4 billion by 2006, up from $124 million in 2001.
"Staying true to our history of innovation in the gaming industry, Sega.com continues to push the boundaries and expand the video game market into new territories with the launch of the Sega Mobile division," said Mr. Ryoichi Shiratsuchi, CEO of Sega.com and general manager of Sega Mobile Japan. "Bringing great Sega content to wireless platforms is another step toward Sega.com's goal of bringing networked gaming to all devices and thereby extending the pastime to mainstream audiences across the world."
