Mobizine firm plans mobi-blog

The company behind mobile magazines – or “Mobizines” – is launching the first blogs for mobile phones in time for the World Cup.

The company behind mobile magazines – or “Mobizines” – is launching the first blogs for mobile phones in time for the World Cup.

Refresh Mobile has teamed up with blogging network Shiny Media to launch four Germany 2006 blogs from June 8. Sports fans are being asked to write 300 words about their ideal World Cup blog, and the 20 best entries will be unveiled online on May 24. Four winners will be chosen by a vote of website visitors.

The winners will have their content produced and published by Mobizines, with the best comments also being carried by Shiny Media’s World Cup fanzine “Who Ate All The Bratwurst?”

Refresh Mobile chief executive Scott Beaumont says: “Mobizines give a mobile audience to people with something to say, and everyone has an opinion on the World Cup. In the long term, the partnership with Shiny Media is the first step towards the uptake of widespread mobile citizen journalism.”

Mobizines send mobile phone users “snack-sized” versions of their favourite content. There are already 17 publications from a variety of companies, including Condé Nast, the BBC and Time Out, using Mobizines.

Shiny Media founder Ashley Norris adds: “We have a commitment to moving away from the traditional blog model and innovating wherever possible.”