One for Two Way -- Interactive TV and mobile applications provider Two Way TV Australia Limited today finalized a five-year agreement with Asian media and entertainment company Star Group to deliver Two Way's mobile-to-TV technology, Simcast, to 300 million people in 53 Asian countries. Simcast will enable Star viewers to use mobile phones to participate in a number of programs such as game shows, comedy shows, music videos, sports, entertainment, news and current affairs programs. The system has already been successfully deployed in China and India.
Two for Orbis -- British I-gaming solutions provider Orbis Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of open end-to-end digital pay TV solutions company NDS Group Plc, announced today the addition of two gaming companies to its roster of clients. Australian bookmaker Centrebet and British bookmaker Totesport will use Orbis' newly expanded OpenBet gambling software, which now integrates multiple forms of gambling across multiple platforms. The product is an open games engine that enables players to choose from Orbis' games or third-party gaming applications. Totesport will use the new technology to re-launch its Web portal, Totesport.com.
Four for Betfair -- Online betting powerhouse Betfair landed at No. 4 on the recently released seventh annual Sunday Times PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track 100. Unveiled Sunday, the list features the top 100 British private companies with the fastest growing profits over a three-year period and credits Betfair with growing profits by 146 percent from £1.6 million in 2002 to £23.2 million in 2005.
70 Million for Man U? -- Online poker company Mansion abruptly terminated talks of a £70 million sponsorship deal with Manchester United today after learning last night the football club had been in secret talks with another company and had decided to award the contract to the unnamed bidder. "We are very disappointed at the manner in which Manchester United have concluded these contract negotiations and are very surprised that the discussions were terminated at this late stage, in what we consider to be an unprofessional manner," said David Kinsman, Mansion chief operating officer.
Mahjong Mesh -- Online sports betting and gaming operator Interactive Gaming Holdings PLC (IGH) has entered into an agreement with Dynasty Gaming Inc. to install Dynasty's Mahjong Mania gaming software on IGH's recently re-branded Premier Bet Web site. IGH Chairman and Chief Executive Thomas Taule said his company intends to have the game integrated and ready to go live within the next month.
Polish Cherry -- Swedish gaming company Cherryforetagen AB announced Thursday that its subsidiary Betsson has launched its Internet gaming service in Poland and that the company has established an office in the country.