DIGITAL MEDIA

News.com.au has replaced the ABC as the primary mobile news supplier for the Optus Zoo mobile portal.

The ABC, however, will continue to supply Optus Zoo with entertainment-based content services. Optus has also retained its mobile content relationship with Fairfax Digital which still supplies business and finance news.

The deal will extend the reach of News.com.au’s news and information services to a potential of seven million additional users.

“Our Optus Zoo mobile subscriber base is of huge importance to us,” said Mark Mulder, Optus general manager of content and portals. “We aim to provide them with premier information services to enhance their mobile experience – News.com.au makes this possible.”

News.com.au can also be accessed on other carriers through an off-deck site, m.news.com.au.

“Research has shown that mobile phone users value immediate access to news and current affairs,” said Mulder.

“We are answering this need with our ongoing work to provide News.com.au on and off-deck to mobile users nationwide.”

In March Optus officially ended its multi-million dollar online content supply relationship with Ninemsn as a result of the change in ownership structure of Nine’s owner PBL.

Google has been selected to power Optus’ web search on its consumer ISP portal MyZoo, enabling Optus users to easily search the web directly from their log-in page.

Google already provides a search function to Optus customers via their mobile phone, representing an Australian first in dual platform delivery of Google searches.

The carrier is understood to be in negotiations with alternative online content suppliers with the intention to streamline online and mobile content arrangements. DM

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