Myriad Group Unleashes Mobile Social Networking to the 80 Percent of Asian Subscribers Without a Smartphone

ZURICH, April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Myriad Group AG (SIX: MYRN), the company powering billions of rich mobile social and web experiences on any connected device, today announces it is launching its new mobile social networking service for low-end phones, Myriad Updates, in Asia.

Available on nearly any mobile device, Myriad Updates enables mobile subscribers who have limited or no access to data to connect to Facebook and Twitter, and become part of the explosive growth of global social networks.

With only 19% smartphone penetration in Asia (VisionMobile, November 2011), Myriad Updates is opening up new markets and creating huge revenue opportunities for Asian mobile carriers by enabling them to more effectively monetize subscribers on low-end devices.

Over 2.5 billion mobile users around the world already rely on Myriad software and Myriad has already gained significant commercial success with Tier 1 carriers such as Telefonica, Vodafone and Orange in other regions with low smartphone penetration such as Africa, India and Latin America.  In doing so, Myriad is on track to deliver social networking services to over 1 billion mobile users by the end of 2012. Powered by Myriad's mobile social networking platform - Xumii, Myriad Updates presents the user's social network activity on-screen as text using the USSD bearer. This in turn enables users to stay connected without having to install an app or requiring a data plan.

Myriad was selected by Orange to deliver mobile social networking to over 70 million subscribers across its Africa region. In the first week of launch, one carrier signed over 50,000 paying subscribers to their new social networking service powered by Myriad Updates.

Myriad's deep heritage in embedded software and its unique ability to deliver end-to-end solutions enables carriers to rapidly deliver cutting edge, scalable and robust services while creating new revenue opportunities, no matter where in the world the carrier operates or whatever devices they support.

"By establishing a successful track record of enabling and monetizing mobile social experiences, Myriad has attracted significant interest in both developed and high-growth markets. We are excited to introduce Myriad Updates to Asia as it has already proven so successful for Tier 1 carriers like Orange, Telefonica and Vodafone," said Gordon Tsang, SVP Sales & GM, Asia. "Now, by allowing carriers to more effectively monetize subscribers on low-end devices who do not have a data plan, we are enabling them to capitalize on the huge demand for mobile social network access - creating new lines of revenue from the majority of their subscriber base, a group that was previously out of reach."

To view a demo of Myriad Updates click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKqfy36UI-M

About Myriad

Myriad is chosen by leading OEMs and network service providers to power rich mobile social and web experiences – from the most basic to the smartest connected device through a single, scalable platform.

Today, over 2.5 billion mobile users rely on Myriad software. Myriad apps often provide users with their first taste of the Internet, and with our proven technology embedded in every Android device we are on target to help our partners power the next billion users.

We operate worldwide, with offices in Switzerland, France, UK, USA, Mexico, India, UAE, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Australia. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, Myriad is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX Symbol: MYRN).

For more information please visit our website: www.myriadgroup.com. You can also follow us on [email protected] and view our YouTube Channel - YouTube.com/myriadgroupmarketing.

SOURCE Myriad Group AG