Tomo Software Enhances SORA(TM) Phone Functionality; Expands Mobile Gaming and Exposure Opportunities for Entertainment Properties

Tomo Software Enhances SORA(TM) Phone Functionality; Expands Mobile Gaming and Exposure Opportunities for Entertainment Properties

Beta Program Continues for Massive Multi-Player Mobile Experience; Company Makes Platform Available for Licensing and Partnerships

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on positive and significant response from users through the Beta process, Tomo Software has enhanced their initial consumer offering, SORA(TM), to further emphasize group interaction and the mobile experience in the massive multi-player world of SORA City. Simultaneously, the company has begun discussions with entertainment properties and high profile destinations on the use of the patent-pending Tomo platform for the creation of personalized, community-based and narrative driven applications highlighting the unique content of those properties.

Initially intended to include cross functionality between the web and mobile device, Tomo has undertaken the ambitious pursuit of eliminating all web components and integrating those into the mobile application. All elements, including the registration and personalization process and group invite procedure, will be available through the mobile device.

"As we planned for the launch of SORA, which was originally scheduled for early this year, we listened to our beta participants," said Tomo co-founder and CEO Jason McDowall. "They have universally responded that they love the game, but a large percentage were interested in the possibility of having all elements available through their mobile device. While incredibly challenging from a technical standpoint, we agree that this kind of functionality on the mobile device is not only unique but compelling, so we're accomplishing that directive from our users."

In order to accomplish their ambitious, market-driven goals, Tomo intends to officially launch the product as a mobile-only application in mid-2005.

"From a business standpoint, we have a product right now which we could bring to market and I'm certain do quite well," said McDowall. "SORA, as it looks today, is quite unique, but we have bigger goals and plan to officially market this product as a complete mobile experience."

While continuing their Beta program and the refining of SORA as a mobile-only application, Tomo is exploring additional unique applications of their patent-pending platform. The company has identified multiple entertainment properties and leading destinations and attractions who provide content ideally suited to the creation of a 'virtual world' with technical structure similar to the SORA model.

"Entertainment properties are striving to promote community, build awareness, and extend their brand into the exciting mobile space," said McDowall. "The mobile arena is a hot topic with studios, television production companies and networks, and our enterprise-class client-server architecture is the vehicle to bring their storylines and messages to the pockets of millions of mobile phone users in an entertaining and desirable social gaming application."

Through choices made by users about their interests, activities, clothing, friends and more, individuals will have an opportunity to shape their own character within these virtual entertainment properties. These activities will allow for the formulation and following of storylines and activities, provide a platform for establishing virtual and real world relationships and "alliances" and prepare the users to compete in scheduled events and competitions.

"As we looked at the applications touting community for the mobile market, we really found that what they lacked was a compelling reason for people to be a part of the interaction and, even more importantly to this audience, the opportunity for personalization," said McDowall. "Our platform and initial application are the result of analysis of the most popular community sites, blogs and role playing games, more than a year of development work and a significant investment in technology, and it is definitely one that takes the mobile community to an entirely new level and can take entertainment properties beyond their use of simple text messaging as their key mobile offering."

"One of the most compelling aspects of creating a virtual world is the flexibility it provides in theming and activity," said McDowall. "With the phone as our platform, we can take advantage of the 'always with you' aspect of the device to do things that web or console based applications cannot, and our research has shown that this is the type of activity this demographic is anxious to make their own and share with their friends."

ABOUT TOMO

Tomo is a privately funded company, based in Los Angeles with contributing experts throughout the world. Tomo's creative technology team is focused on leveraging social networks and promoting community and collaboration through intelligent, intuitive software. SORA is the first product to be built on the company's patent pending software platform, which offers a cutting edge solution to delivering community, narrative, and personalization to the mobile device within an intelligent and entertaining simulation environment. The company is involved in the creation of Tomo branded gaming and productivity applications, partnerships with producers of content brands and the licensing of their technology for third party uses. Visit www.tomosoftware.com to learn more about this emerging company or www.soracity.com to explore the beta version of SORA.

For further information, please contact Kevin Mortesen of Remote Control, +1-310-850-3244, kevin@remconmc.com, for Tomo.


Source: Tomo

CONTACT: Kevin Mortesen of Remote Control, +1-310-850-3244,
kevin@remconmc.com, for Tomo

Web site: http://www.tomosoftware.com/
http://www.soracity.com/


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