WiderThan Powers Verizon Wireless V CAST Music

WiderThan Powers Verizon Wireless V CAST Music

WiderMusic(TM) Service Platform Enables Verizon Wireless Customers to Download Music on Their Phones

LAS VEGAS and SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- WiderThan (NASDAQ:WTHN), a leading global provider of integrated mobile entertainment solutions for wireless carriers, announced that it has been selected by Verizon Wireless as an application service provider for Verizon Wireless' new V CAST Music service. The WiderMusic(TM) Service Platform (WMSP) enables Verizon Wireless customers to download music instantly, any time and from anywhere in the V CAST service area.

Leveraging WiderThan's music services, Verizon Wireless becomes the first and only U.S. service provider to offer a full-function mobile music service that allows users to download full music tracks over the air and transfer digital music between their wireless phones and PCs. V CAST Music is also currently the largest wireless music service provider in the U.S, offering customers one million unique songs by spring.

Working closely with Verizon Wireless and the leading music labels, WiderThan's WMSP will host, deliver and maintain Verizon Wireless' music content. V CAST Music will be available on January 16, 2006 and will be available throughout 1,900 Verizon Wireless Communication stores, Circuit City locations and online at http://www.verizonwireless.com/.

Jim Straight, vice president of wireless Internet and multimedia services for Verizon Wireless, said, "Our decision to engage WiderThan as a service provider for V CAST Music was easy, as WiderThan continues to be a strategic part of our commitment to stay ahead of wireless trends to meet our customers' needs."

WiderThan has been working with Verizon Wireless since 2001. As a result of the collaboration between the two companies, Verizon Wireless customers enjoy a full spectrum of mobile entertainment solutions, including ringback tones, master ring tones and games.

"As the demand for more comprehensive mobile entertainment services continues to increase in the U.S., we are committed to working closely with Verizon Wireless to expand music capabilities, which are becoming increasingly popular," said Vern Poyner, executive vice president and CEO, WiderThan Americas. "The WiderMusic Service Platform is a comprehensive solution that provides the backbone of V CAST Music and its full function capabilities."

About WiderThan

WiderThan is a leading provider of integrated mobile entertainment solutions for wireless carriers. Our applications, content and services enable wireless carriers to provide a broad range of mobile entertainment, such as ringback tones, music-on-demand, mobile games, ringtones, messaging and information services, to their subscribers. WiderThan currently provides mobile entertainment solutions to 42 wireless carriers in 17 countries, including SK Telecom in Korea, Cingular Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless in the United States, Bharti Airtel in India and Globe Telecom in the Philippines.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 49.3 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, N.J., Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE:VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com/. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

Source: WiderThan; Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Jeffrey Nelson of Verizon Wireless, +1-908-306-4824,
jeffrey.nelson@verizonwireless.com; or Maya Lee of Fleishman-Hillard,
+1-212-453-2317, leemay@fleishman.com, for WiderThan

Web site: http://www.widerthan.com/
http://www.verizonwireless.com/

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