PAYNOVA WINS SEVEN NEW CUSTOMERS IN THE ONLINE GAMING SEGMENT
(NGM: PAY)
Paynova is continuing to strengthen its position in the prioritised segment of online gaming. During October and November, agreements have been signed with seven new customers: GoPets, Ironstar Helsinki, Metaversum, Playdo, Worlds.com, IMVU and FlowPlay.
Online gaming is a priority segment for Paynova, and the company already has a strong market position through well-established relations with such leading gaming companies as Mindark, Sulake Oy, Habbo Hotel and King.com.
INTENSIFIED EFFORTS PRODUCE RESULTS
During the autumn Paynova has intensified its sales and marketing efforts, and in October and November it established seven new partnerships in the online gaming segment. All are based on Paynova’s newly developed payment service specifically tailored for this segment. The new customers represent a step forward in Paynova’s ambition to take a leading role in payments for online gaming and virtual worlds.
SEVEN NEW CUSTOMERS IN ONLINE GAMING
Agreements have been signed with GoPets, Ironstar Helsinki, Metaversum, Playdo, Worlds.com, IMVU and FlowPlay. This is expected to have a positive effect on Paynova’s transaction volumes during the first half of 2008.
GoPets GoPets is a virtual world in which users design their own three-dimensional pets. GoPets launched in 2005 and has shown considerable growth since the start. To communicate with users worldwide, GoPets has a universal picture language called IKU. GoPets also offers services such as e-mail, chatting and a forum. Further information: www.gopetslive.com
Ironstar Helsinki Ironstar Helsinki has launched the world’s first virtual game that can be used across technical platforms. Ironstar Helsinki’s MoiPal game is a virtual world that combines gaming, entertainment and social networking both on computers and mobile phones. Further information: www.ironstarhelsinki.com
Metaversum Metaversum was founded in Berlin in July 2006. Metaversum’s aim is to be a leading innovator in some of the most promising areas of the Internet. Metaversum currently has two products which will be launched later in 2008: the social networking platform Yumondo and virtual world TwinityTM. Further information: www.metaversum.com
Playdo Playdo is a virtual meeting-place which focuses on gaming, entertainment and networking. Playdo was started in 1999 as a student project and now has members from over 150 countries. Playdo has won several awards and has influenced many other virtual meeting-places with its avatar chat and graphics. Further information: www.playdo.com
Worlds.com Worlds.com launched in 1994 and is a ground-breaking platform for three-dimensional social networks. With patented technology, Worlds.com can offer users interactive avatars, rich media graphics, text chat, voice-to-voice chat, video and e-commerce. Further information: www.worlds.net
IMVU IMVU is a 3D messenger service with over a million users. The service launched in 2004 and allows members to buy virtual accessories for the messenger service. Further information: www.imvu.com
FlowPlay FlowPlay is a virtual world that combines social networking, avatars and conventional online gaming. Seattle-based FlowPlay has around 10 employees and targets young players aged 13-17. FlowPlay rewards users with virtual money based on how well they perform in different games. The money can be used to buy virtual items such as clothes, jewellery, tattoos, pets and furniture. Further information: www.flowplay.com
STRONG MARKET GROWTH IN ONLINE GAMING SEGMENT
The market for online gaming and virtual worlds such as Entropia Universe and Second Life is showing very strong market growth. The company’s new customers and planned investments, along with the size of the available markets, mean that Paynova believes the income from the online gaming segment will continue to grow rapidly in future.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Tomas Nörgaard, Sales Director
Phone: +46 (0)708-17 52 80
E-mail: tomas.norgaard@paynova.com
Karl Alberts, Marketing Director
Phone: +46 (0)70-33 55 326
E-mail: karl.alberts@paynova.com
ABOUT PAYNOVA
Paynova offers an international, account-based complete service for payments via the Internet. With Paynova as the only counterpart, e-retailers can get a payment guarantee for 21 payment options with credit cards, debit cards and Internet banks, in 12 languages with 11 currencies in a security-certified interface (PCI). Consumers can open an account, a Paynova Wallet, for free on the Internet to make purchases simpler and more secure, as well as look after transfers between family members, friends and acquaintances. Paynova has agreements with around 1,800 e-retailers. Most are found in the following prioritised segments: travel, retailing and media/network games. The company has been listed on NGM Equity since February 2004. For more information: www.paynova.com