To strengthen its presence in the mobile arena, News Corp. has acquired a controlling stake in ringtone company Jamba.
The deal, valued at $188 million, passes control of the Berlin-based Jamba (Jamster in the U.S.) from Verisign to MySpace parent News Corp, writes MediaPost. Jamba will likely be merged with News Corp.'s Mobizzo unit, which offers mobile versions of some Fox shows, such as 24 and Prison Break. Jamba will be part of the Fox Mobile Entertainment division.
Among the new Jamba products will be Simpsons-oriented offerings. News Corp. is also creating a special online store that will cater to its MySpace users, offering ringtones and other mobile content. Jamba's "Crazy Frog" ringtone became a hit music single in the U.K. in 2004 after an ambitious marketing campaign by the company.
MMetrics estimates annual ringtone sales at $800 million in the U.S.
