MindShare loses £1m Net services business to Carat

Jippii, the Finnish Internet and telecommunications services company, has appointed Carat to handle its &£1m media planning and buying business in the UK.

The business moves from incumbent MindShare without a pitch.

The Jippii Group operates in 14 European countries. It specialises in offering content and value-added services to both business and consumers. It is best-known for offering an Internet service enabling consumers to download mobile phone ring-tones, including chart music, and screen icons.

Ville Toriseva, Jippii’s media co-ordinator, says: “Carat combines not only the buying capability of a large media group, but also the strategic thinking and service commitment of a small specialist agency.”

Toriseva adds that the company intends to expand its UK operation.

Last month Jippii announced it was teaming up with Wiral, a developer of wireless multimedia technology, to deliver a new instant messaging service with rich media capabilities.

Earlier this year Jippii acquired telecoms operator Supertel for &£2.5m.