MonstorMob to tap potential new phone craze

Ringtones specialist MonsterMob today said it was well-placed to cash in on the latest mobile phone trend as it unveiled plans to launch a music player in time for Christmas.

The group, which also sells java games and colour wallpapers, said users would be able to search, buy and listen to full-length tracks by downloading the player to their handsets.

Although the player will be launched in December, MonsterMob said it believed 2007 would be the “watershed” for the devices.

It came as MonsterMob unveiled pre-tax profits of £3.5m (€5.1m) for the six months to June 30, against £793,000 (€1.2bn) last time, after benefiting from a clutch of acquisitions.

England-based MonsterMob sells services through its website and mobile phone WAP technology as well as through deals with network companies such as Vodafone.

It has been moving into supplying services to mobile network operators such as Vodafone, T-Mobile and O2 by buying Phunky Phones, which supplies the picture messaging and ringtones service Vodafone Live!

The group said it expected Christmas 2005 to mark the start of the evolution of full-length real music downloads.

It said: “It remains our view that full-length music downloaded directly to the mobile phone will become a mass market reality over the coming 18 months.”

During its first half, MonsterMob acquired two content providers operating across South East Asia and in the Philippines, which it said were performing strongly.

Since then, it unveiled a deal worth around $100m (€79.7m) for Chinese counterpart ATOP Century. The group also has a significant presence in the Americas and Europe.

Today’s results included a strong contribution from US business 9 Squared, which has grown four-fold since it was bought in August 2004.

MonsterMob said it would continue to make “selected” acquisitions in existing territories and would consider moving into new regions.

Excluding the impact of acquisitions, operating profits increased to £2.5m (€3.7m) in the first half, from a total of £665,000 (€979,000) last time. The group said trading since the half year had been strong and that it believed it was well-positioned for growth.

Shares rose 2% or 10p to 431p today.