Zlango Introduces World's First Virtual Store for Mobile Messaging

SAN FRANCISCO, May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --  Zlango, the pioneering leader in image-rich mobile messaging, today announced the launch of its Virtual Goods Store for mobile messaging. Users can add personalization and visual expression to every-day texting with image-rich, high impact text message icons from Zlango. The store contains icon packs designed to reflect spoken language, jargon and popular culture.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120501/CG98453-a)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120501/CG98453-b)

With over 5 million active users, Zlango is leading the fast-growing movement of revolutionizing the way individuals communicate via text messaging. The initial premium packs available in the Zlango Store  include the Freestyle, Fantasy, GTL, Hitched, Anime, Western, Ocean, India and two branded packs including "The Walking Dead" and "Terminator2" — offering every Zlango user a way to mix personal style and expression with everyday communication.

"Zlango's new Virtual Goods Packs enable our users to easily upgrade their personal messaging experience with unique branded content," said Roni Haim, CEO, Zlango. "Our new Virtual Goods content allows a personalized expression for every user, in every mood. Whether you are a Terminator fan or if you prefer Anime, Zlango takes the boring out of basic texting and replaces it with image-rich and emotionally explosive messaging."

Zlango's Premium Packs can be found in its Virtual Store for mobile messaging. The Virtual Store is based on virtual currency with a variety of image-rich images that are seamlessly integrated within messages to add personal visual expression to daily text communication. Zlango will continue to offer a growing variety of free content. The Zlango messaging application including the Virtual Store is free to download and use, available from Google Play here.

Zlango is the first messaging app to drive donations to an environmental cause, with 100% of proceeds generated by the "Oceans Pack" going directly to the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches.

"We are excited to be partnering with Zlango and their Virtual Goods launch to raise awareness and funding for key coastal environmental issues," said Jim Moriarty, CEO, Surfrider Foundation. "Thanks to the innovative nature of Zlango mobile messaging, we'll be able to reach a new audience and expand our network."

Haim commented, "Releasing premium packs, especially in partnership with the Surfrider Foundation, is our way of giving back to the earth and sharing the benefit with a great cause that, like Zlango, is committed to enhancing our daily quality of life."

Zlango's ZlangOut™ feature also enables users to post image-rich updates directly Facebook and Twitter, sharing high-impact, unique expressions and images purchased from the Zlango Virtual Store.

Haim continued, "The overall market for virtual goods in the US is headed towards $2.9 billion for 2012, climbing steeply from $2.2 billion in 2011, and $1.6 billion in 2010, according to the Inside Virtual Goods Report.  Bringing our unique image-rich expression to the huge mobile messaging market via this rapidly growing virtual goods phenomenon enables an entirely new level of personal communication for users."

With support for more than 25 languages and deployment in over 20 countries, Zlango is increasingly becoming the preferred enhanced messaging service throughout Europe, Asia and the U.S.

Useful links:

Zlango can be downloaded for free from Google Play here. 

The app is also coming soon for Apple iOS - sign up for an early invitation here.

See Zlango with the Virtual Goods store in action in this video demo here.

To learn more about Zlango unique text messaging solutions, visit www.zlango.com.

About Zlango

Zlango is leading the evolution of texting with image-rich, emotionally engaging messaging that reflects spoken language, slang and culture. Zlango enhances words with sequential animated icons, creating a better texting experience, with advanced messaging features that combine fun, color and personal expression. Localized for each market's language, slang and culture, Zlango's platform and niche themed packs and Skinz™, including The Walking Dead and Terminator 2 among other branded and exclusive packs of images for mobile messaging, are updated regularly with fresh new content. Zlango offer hundreds of unique icons and SkinZ™ for free, in addition to an exclusive range of premium content from the Virtual Store inside the Zlango messaging application. Zlango also enables image-rich updates direct to Facebook and Twitter via the ZlangOut feature inside the application. Available direct to consumers in the US, and via major mobile operators and content providers around the world, Zlango supports hundreds of Android, Nokia Symbian, BlackBerry, and J2ME devices. Zlango is localized in 25+ languages across 20 countries and currently has over 5 million active users who send over 670 million mobile messages monthly in the US alone. For more information, visit www.zlango.com.

About Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.  Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 250,000 supporters, activists and members worldwide.  For more information on the Surfrider Foundation, visit www.surfrider.org.

SOURCE Zlango