What's Been Going On?
We began operations in February 2006. We have established teams in Emeryville, California, USA; Tokyo, Japan; and Beijing, China. We are deploying mobile data services with the largest mobile carriers in Japan and China.
Catalyst Mobile launched its first branded music service with Warner Music Group's Rhino label on Febuary 5, 2007. The Rhino Mobile download service is available to NTT DoCoMo subscribers. We've also launched two white-label music services since the autumn of 2006.
Catalyst Mobile Taps Industry Veterans for Board of Directors
EMERYVILLE, Calif. – March 3, 2008 – Catalyst Mobile, a provider of next generation mobile music and entertainment services, today announced the addition of David Hytha to its board of directors. Hytha brings a wealth of wireless and entrepreneurial expertise to Catalyst Mobile.
Leading the board is Executive Chairman Larry Barels, who was chairman of Software.com prior to co-founding Catalyst Mobile. Other board members include Eric Buatois of Sofinnova Ventures, Gen Isayama of DCM, and the company’s chief executive officer, Peter Meechan.
“Catalyst Mobile is a promising and innovative company in the rapidly growing mobile entertainment space,” said Larry Barels, chairman of the board of directors for Catalyst Mobile. "It is an exciting time to be in the industry, and I think Catalyst Mobile has tremendous growth potential with its strong focus and relationships in Asia-Pacific, deep understanding of the ecosystem, and a seasoned leadership team to move the company forward."
Larry Barels is a serial entrepreneur most recently co-founding Catalyst Mobile. Barels was previously chairman of Software.com, a leader in carrier-grade messaging products that merged with phone.com to create Openwave Systems. As co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Wavefront Technologies, Barels became a pioneer in the computer graphics software industry for film, television, industrial design, and visualization markets.
David Hytha is a wireless executive and entrepreneur advising leading firms in wireless communications.. Hytha was previously executive vice president of terminals at T-Mobile in Europe. He serves as an executive-in-residence at a major venture capital firm and as a member of the board of directors of several private and public companies including Option, Ltd. of Belgium (EuroNext: OPTI), and now Catalyst Mobile.
Eric Buatois is a general partner at Sofinnova Ventures where he is focused on growing companies in the wireless and communications sector. Buatois joined Sofinnova Ventures from Hewlett-Packard where he held senior roles during his tenure, and prior to that worked for Texas Instruments. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, and was recently recognized as the Emerging Leader of the Year by the VC Roundtable.
Gen Isayama, a principal at DCM, brings years of startup and finance experience as well as Japan expertise to the board. Before joining DCM, Isayama worked at IBJ for seven years, co-founded web design consultancy Arch Pacific, and served as an advisor for San Francisco-based startup, Amikai, an application service provider of real-time language translations solutions.
Peter Meechan was previously senior vice president, mobile and devices at Macromedia, where he helped launch its mobile and consumer electronics business in 2000. Previously Meechan was general manager, platform software development center at Sony focusing on home entertainment networking and interactive television. Meechan held management positions in the computer graphics industry and was an animator at MetroLight Studios in Hollywood where his work included the 1992 Emmy Award-winning NBC Barcelona Olympics graphics package.
About Catalyst Mobile
Catalyst Mobile is Designing the Mobile Lifestyle™. We are accelerating the advanced mobile entertainment market through the creation of compelling entertainment services for consumers through our relationships with mobile operators and handset manufacturers in Japan, China and soon other parts of the world. Our proven solutions are powered by innovative technology delivery platforms that incorporate recognized media brands and are augmented by state-of-the-art technology partnerships. Catalyst Mobile enables experiences that engage, provides solutions that are proven, and delivers innovations that create opportunity. For more information, visit: http://www.catalystmobile.com.
Rosemary Miller
Citigate Cunningham for Catalyst Mobile
(415) 618-8720
CATALYST MOBILE SECURES $10 MILLION IN SERIES B FUNDING
Innovative Mobile Entertainment Provider to Expand Operations, Build on Success in Asia
EMERYVILLE, CALIFORNIA, October 9, 2007– Catalyst Mobile, a provider of next generation mobile music and entertainment services, today announced the company has secured $10 million in Series B financing. Leading the investment round is Sofinnova Ventures of San Francisco, California, joined by DCM of Menlo Park, California. The total amount invested in Catalyst Mobile to date is $14.5 million.
The funding will enable Catalyst Mobile to build on its established business momentum in deploying technology and services with the world’s leading mobile handset manufacturers, rights holders and mobile operators such as Japan’s NTT DoCoMo and KDDI, and China Mobile and China Unicom in China.
Catalyst Mobile is delivering music distribution services including the deployment of a joint service in Japan with Warner Music Group and services based upon brands such as Garfield, The First which publishes the official magazine of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee, and Dorling Kindersley (DK) in China.
"This latest round of capital will be used to expand our global presence by accelerating our existing music and entertainment service offerings deployed in Asia in addition to advancing the development of our technology solutions here in the United States," said Peter Meechan, President and CEO of Catalyst Mobile. "We are very excited to be working closely with Sofinnova Ventures and DCM who are proven industry leaders with stellar track records of success.”
“With a seasoned and global management team, a strong business-development network, and compelling service innovations for the world’s largest mobile-entertainment markets, Catalyst Mobile has made tremendous accomplishments for a company that launched less than two years ago,” said Gen Isayama, Principal at DCM. “We are very pleased to support the company’s growth plans, which are indicative of our track record in helping companies expand into China and Japan.”
“Today’s availability of advanced wireless networks, and multimedia handheld computers in a mobile phone footprint, are opening opportunities for mobile operators to offer new digital services,” said Eric Buatois, Managing Director of Sofinnova Ventures. “Catalyst Mobile provides an exciting new platform that enables the delivery of innovative music and entertainment services, a key strategic requirement as price pressure in the voice business undercuts margins.”
About Catalyst Mobile
Catalyst Mobile is Designing the Mobile Lifestyle™. We are accelerating the advanced mobile entertainment market through the creation of compelling entertainment services for consumers through our relationships with mobile operators and handset manufacturers in Japan, China and soon other parts of the world. Our proven solutions are powered by innovative technology delivery platforms that incorporate recognized media brands and are augmented by state-of-the-art technology partnerships. Catalyst Mobile enables experiences that engage, provides solutions that are proven, and delivers innovations that create opportunity. For more information, visit: www.catalystmobile.com.
Catalyst Mobile Public Relations:
Rebecca Garcia, Director
Tel: +1.415.591.4000
Catalyst Mobile and MJ Solution to Deploy and Deliver DRM Correspondent Secure Contents Distributing System
TOKYO, JAPAN – June 26, 2007- Catalyst Mobile (located in Minato-ku, Tokyo, CEO Toyoshi TAKAHASHI) and MJ Solutions (located in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, CEO Tomoaki AMAKUSA) to deploy and deliver secure and coded DRM (Digital Rights Management) correspondent for Flash® SWF file
“DRM Corresponding Secure Contents Distribution System” is based on “Portal Distribution Platform NT (hereafter defined as NT)”. The system was developed by Marks Japan, parent company of MJ Solution. NT System is their original distribution platform developed in 2005, which focuses on establishing network communication with customers and to provide safely protected copyright function.
Interest for copyright management has been uprising, due to the popularity of motion picture, music, comic distribution site among users, regardless of devices. However, system to protect copyright is not yet established in the market. Since, safe and simple management for mass contents are recognized as a potential need, decided to partner in delivering this project in the market.
The penetration rate for PC Flash® is accelerating as well as Flash LiteTM for mobile phones. Unlike JAVA, Flash LiteTM enables to distribute identical file to handsets, despite the brand or type. This contributes in expanding the contents market.
Catalyst Mobile and MJ Solution will partner in delivering “DRM correspondent Secure Contents Distribution System” to extend and expand Flash® related contents, taking advantage of their specialty, solving issues on contents management. The system will be applicable for PC and mobile phones.
・
<About DRM correspondent Secure Contents Distribution System>
-Highly coded scheme developed, based on the Secret Shared Scheme.
-Secure distribution system which has the function of authentication, encoding, synthesizing, prohibition of contents storage.
-Correspondent to various distribution model and billing model.
-Contents management function embedded to the platform, which enables secure and simple management of digital contents.
- Adobe Flash® (Adobe Flash LiteTM for mobile phones included) applicable.
<Business model and Service launch schedule>
-Planned to provide customers (Contents Service Providers etc.) with ASP model.
-PC service had been launched this spring.
-Mobile phone service is scheduled to launch 2007 summer.
<Target Market>
-Contents Service Providers delivering Flash® contents in need for contents protection DRM.
-Contents Service Provider which have a PC and mobile phone related site.
(animation, game, wallpaper, motion picture, music distribution, photo, comics etc.)
<About Catalyst Mobile Japan>
Catalyst Mobile is Igniting Rich Mobile Experiences™ for next-generation mobile data services. As a music and entertainment service provider focusing on Asian markets, we have launched with the leading wireless carriers in the largest mobile markets in the world. With teams in China, Japan, and Silicon Valley, we leverage our technological innovations and platforms to serve demanding local markets. We market services directly to consumers, provide white-labeled products to wireless carriers and handset manufacturers, and provide distribution channels for content rights holders. For more information, visit http://www.catalystmobile.com.
< About MJ Solution, Inc.>
MJ Solution leads the sales division for Marks Japan, Inc. (located in Shinjuku-ku Tokyo, CEO Tomoaki AMATA), authorized Venture by Tokyo University of Science. MJ Solution carries out the system development and research on Secret Sharing Scheme, Space Division Schemes. Deploys network distribution technology, security solution, language analysis based contents matching engine projects.
The company engages in providing ideal solution for net users and proposing and creating network community what users may participate safely.
Press Contacts
| Catalyst Mobile Japan | MJ Solution., Inc. |
| Press: Yukiko Takahashi | Solution Sales Department: Hideki Nishimura |
| tel: +81-3-5408-1916 | tel: +81-3-6379-3870 |
| e-mail: | e-mail: |
Catalyst Mobile and Warner Music Japan Launch Mobile Music Portal on NTT DoCoMo's 3G Network
February 5, 2007 - Catalyst Mobile and Warner Music Group Japan today launched the Warner Music Group Rhino Mobile service, a music portal for NTT DoCoMo subscribers in Japan.
Companies Launch Mobile Music Portal Featuring Rich Flash-Based User Experience and Rhino Music Catalog
TOKYO, JAPAN and EMERYVILLE, CALIFORNIA, USA — February 5, 2007 — Catalyst Mobile and Warner Music Japan today launched the Warner Music Group Rhino Mobile service, a music portal for NTT DoCoMo subscribers in Japan. This state-of-the-art mobile data service features an innovative Flash-based user experience delivering a
variety of content from Warner Music Group’s Rhino catalog.
Unlike existing download services, the Rhino Mobile service, powered by Catalyst Mobile, engages users in a graphically rich and visually entertaining experience. The experience fully represents the Rhino brand.
The Rhino Mobile service provides advanced search, recommendation, preview, and downloading of individual assets. Exclusive Rhino features also include “This Day in Rock History” trivia and “Songs You Know Ring Tone Corner”. Acclaimed Japanese music critics Yasufumi Amatatsu, Masakazu Kitanaka, and Nobuyuki Yoshinari will contribute to a “Featured Artists Corner” with their opinions on the artists. These features will be updated weekly (some corners are updated monthly).
“Warner is a global leader in digital music distribution and particular in mobile”, said Shun Mori, General Manager of Stategic Marketing Warner Music Japan. “Catalyst Mobile truly is igniting rich mobile experiences, and helping us to further our lead.”
“Catalyst Mobile is emerging as a premier provider of advanced mobile music services,” said Peter Meechan, CEO of Catalyst Mobile. “We are thrilled to be working with Warner Music Japan to deliver the Rhino Mobile catalog through this innovative new service platform.”
The Rhino Mobile service will be available beginning today to NTT DoCoMo subscribers with FOMA series phones. The service is subscription based, with prices starting at 315 yen per month.
About Catalyst Mobile
Catalyst Mobile is Igniting Rich Mobile Experiences™ for next-generation mobile data services. As a music and entertainment service provider focusing on Asian markets, we have launched with the leading wireless carriers in the largest mobile markets in the world. With teams in China, Japan, and Silicon Valley, we leverage our technological innovations and platforms to serve demanding local markets. We market services directly to consumers, provide white-labeled products to wireless carriers and handset manufacturers, and provide distribution channels for content rights holders. For more information, visit http://www.catalystmobile.com.
Press Contacts
Monta Miki
Warner Music Japan
Tel: +81.3.6439.8750
Fax: +81.3.6439.8882
Yukiko Takahashi
Catalyst Mobile Japan
Tel: +81.3.5408.1916
Rebecca Garcia
Burson-Marsteller for Catalyst Mobile
Tel: +1.415.591.4000
Catalyst Mobile begins operations in China
December 13, 2006 – By establishing its new subsidiary in Beijing, Catalyst Mobile now provides products and services in the world's two largest mobile data markets, Japan and China.
Catalyst Mobile expands its facilities with the opening of its new office in Emeryville, California
September 1, 2006 – Catalyst Mobile expands its facilities with the opening of its new office in Emeryville, California.
Catalyst Mobile opens its new Tokyo office in the Hollands Hills Mori Tower
April 1, 2006 – Catalyst Mobile opens its new Tokyo office in the Hollands Hills Mori Tower, next to Toyko Tower. With the establishment of its Japanese subsidiary, the company now provides data services directly to the Japanese mobile market.