In an Australian first for customised business and finance news to mobile customers, Optus and Fairfax Digital announced today the availability of Fairfax's business and finance news content to Optus mobile customers, effective May 8.
The agreement builds on Fairfax Digital's existing news relationship with Optus, extending its provision of general news content to incorporate personalised business and finance news and information for Optus customers.
Jack Matthews, CEO, Fairfax Digital commented: "This is a strategic deal for Fairfax Digital in that it cements one of the biggest mobile phone content deals in Australia. Fairfax Digital leads the industry in developing customised mobile content solutions, with the opportunity to take a similar approach to other distinct content categories."
Henry Calvert, Acting Group Director Products, Optus Consumer, said Optus 2G and 3G mobile customers would be the first users in Australia to view Fairfax's business and finance content on their handsets.
"Customers will have the latest business and finance news delivered direct to their mobile phone whenever they want it.
"We've also made it easier for people to get information that is most relevant to them with our new business and finance personalisation features. Just by simply clicking a few buttons to set up their preferences, Optus customers can have news sent to them proactively so they don't need to hunt around for it," he said.
Fairfax Digital content available to Optus mobile customers includes:
- Daily business and finance stories from the Fairfax Digital portfolio of publications including the Business Day properties of Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Money Manager and Trading Room.
- Data from leading exchanges including stocks, currencies and indices.
- Daily market round ups: business winners, losers and the biggest movers.
- Business essentials including how to guides, expert advice and stock tips.
- Market reports served as daily video bulletins and premium Fairfax Digital audio podcasts from Alan Kohler and Michael Pascoe (all multimedia content will be streamed).
- Entrepreneur and Small and Medium Business (SMB) users will find the following areas of interest: sales and marketing, communications and connectivity, IT and networking, business planning and cash flow and payments.
Mr Calvert said the Fairfax Digital partnership was another example of Optus' commitment to providing relevant services to its customers.
About Optus
Optus is an Australian leader in integrated communications - serving 6.68 million mobile customers as at 31 December 2006. The company provides a broad range of communications services including mobile, national and long distance services, local telephony, international telephony, business network services, internet and satellite services and subscription television.
About Fairfax Digital
Fairfax Digital is Australia's leading provider of online news and classifieds. Comprising around 30 interactive sites which reach over eight million visitors each month, Fairfax Digital provides incisive and constantly updated information on news, finance, business, IT, sport and entertainment - and features the online presence of some of Australia's most prominent media brands such as smh.com.au, theage.com.au, brisbanetimes.com.au and afr.com.au.
About theage.com.au and smh.com.au
theage.com.au and smh.com.au and are two of Australia's leading online news sites providing the quality news, commentary and analysis you expect from the journalists at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Updated more than 100 times each day, smh.com.au and theage.com.au deliver all the latest news as it happens, as well as entertainment, business, technology and sports news. Video and photo galleries are also prominent site features. Additionally, news content is now available through multiple channels including mobiles and PDAs.
For media information:
Luisa Ford
Optus Corporate Affairs
Ph: 02 9342 5045
Email: luisa.ford@optus.com.au
Rachael Hoy
Red Agency
Ph: (02) 9963 7718
Email: rachael.hoy@redagency.com.au