Betfair on Mobile -- Rapid Mobile, an Edinburgh-based developer of Java-based solutions for mobile devices, has developed and introduced "Mobex," a mobile betting exchange application that's being licensed by Betfair. Scheduled to launch this month, Mobex is a fully transactional mobile client that enables punters to back and lay a full range of markets via mobile devices. Users will pay a small monthly fee for a fully transactional version of Mobex; an information-only version will be available for free.
Paddy Power Poker -- This week Irish bookmaker Paddy Power will soft launch an online poker network for 200 pre-registered players. The company has already added a poker games icon to its Web site, although a link to the poker site is not yet enabled. Paddy Power Poker will target players in Ireland and Britain but will also be accessible to residents in other European countries.
Quoteworthy -- "There is still much more to do but regrettably I do not feel I am in a position to move GamCare forward to the next essential level without ruffling a few feathers and, therefore, after almost two and a half years with GamCare, I have decided it is time for me to look for something new."
--Peter Cox, managing director of British gambling charity GamCare, who is resigning at the end of the month to pursue other interests.
Exchange Evidence -- Based on evidence delivered by the British Horseracing Board Secretary General Tristram Ricketts to the All Party Parliamentary group on betting and gaming, it appears that the BHB no longer opposes the proliferation of betting exchanges. When Ricketts was recently asked by members of Parliament why the BHB had supported a plan to distinguish between recreational and non-recreational layers on betting exchanges, he replied, "I think we have gone beyond that now. There has been a recognition that perhaps that was not the most practical way forward. We are not looking at this stage to go down the recreational/non-recreational route." Furthermore, according to The Telegraph, BHB insiders now willingly acknowledge that betting exchanges are officially welcomed. Even more signs of the acceptance of betting exchanges in England were displayed in the testimonials of the Jockey Club's executive director, Christopher Foster, and its head of security, Paul Scotney. "I use the information from the exchanges almost on a daily basis, and the audit trail they provide us is excellent," Scotney said. "It makes my job a whole lot easier. We do not have that situation with traditional bookmakers."
Credit Card-Free -- Phantom Fiber Corporation, a provider of secure wireless technology and mobile solutions, has formed a strategic partnership with Navaho Networks Inc., a provider of credit card-free payment processing technologies. Under the agreement, Phantom Fiber will integrate Navaho Networks' proprietary credit card-free payment technologies--Phone Billing, eWalletXpress and Navaho Netcard--into the Phantom Framework, thereby reducing the time required to market m-commerce-enabled wireless solutions across several verticals. Enterprise clients will be able to immediately offer m-commerce functionality through their wireless applications and eliminate the need for customers to have multiple m-commerce transaction accounts across several providers. Navaho Networks will also introduce Phantom Fiber's mobile solutions to its own portfolio of clients and partners.
Boss Supplies Littlewoods -- Boss Media will supply a casino and poker system to Littlewoods Gaming under the terms of a deal signed between Boss Media and Littlewoods' parent company, Sportech. The casino will be available in both downloadable and Web-based formats. The poker application will link directly to the Boss Poker Network community.
Gaming Search Engine -- GameAbyss.com, a company whose portal site provides reviews of online gambling services, says it has generated a substantial amount of new traffic since launching a gambling search engine at GameAbyss.net in November. Since the search engine's launch, the company has gained over 100 affiliates and finished the year 2004 with a ranking of 64,6111 according to Web ratings site Alexa.com.