Cyworld USA, Part of the Leading Worldwide Social Networking Platform, and Premier In-Game Advertising Provider, Join Forces to Deliver Revolutionary Advertising Model for Fortune 100 Companies
Companies Build First-to-Market Marketing Programs and Tools to Integrate Brand Messages into Powerful Social Networking Environment, Reach and Engage Desirable Audience
SAN FRANCISCO, CA. —November 07, 2006— Transforming the way marketers can communicate with consumers via their social networking experiences, Cyworld USA and Double Fusion have partnered to develop an innovative advertising product that effectively pairs user generated content with brand messages.
Via the partnership, Double Fusion will deploy its proprietary in-game advertising technology within the Cyworld USA community, giving members access to branded décor, furnishings and digital items. The two companies will also create new business opportunities including e-commerce, digital items and dynamic consumer-controlled advertising units and incentive mechanisms to join Cyworld members with other branded offerings. Double Fusion will also draw on its agency expertise building marketing programs for Fortune 100 companies to represent Cyworld USA to advertising partners.
By teaming, the two companies are addressing the challenges faced by advertisers who need to connect with this valuable social networking audience, and the community who relies on brand affinity for self expression and identity.
Both Cyworld USA and Double Fusion are favorably positioned to leverage their respective legacies and expertise blending immersive entertainment with blue-chip advertisers. With more than 20 million members worldwide, Cyworld is a global leader in social networking, with localized versions in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and recently in the United States. By advancing the power of social networking with innovative and interactive tools for member expression, Cyworld offers a rich platform that invites branded messages and product. For example, Cyworld members use Acorns, the site’s currency acquired with real world dollars, to purchase digital items and music to create their customized avatar, or "Minime," and well as personalized homepage, or "Minihomes" and "Minirooms."
“Double Fusion has revolutionized the way that consumers experience, participate and engage with brands. Our audience, the contemporary youth culture, depend on brands as conduits to express, fit in, and play with their sense of self and identity,” said Michael Streefland, vice president of marketing and sales, Cyworld USA. “Working with Jon and his team at Double Fusion, we can all explore a new approach and needed approach that authentically brings immersive entertainment, community and member-generated content together in a way that could actually modernize interactive advertising.”
“Double Fusion is adding Cyworld USA to a tremendously diverse portfolio of new media destinations, including online PC and video games, mobile entertainment, and now a social networking platform,” said Jonathan Epstein, president and CEO, Double Fusion. “Cyworld is an ideal partner for us; the platform is massively successful worldwide and they fundamentally understand the inherent power of their service for marketers.”
Cyworld USA and Double Fusion were brought together by leading talent and literary agency UTA, which represents Cyworld USA.
About Cyworld
Cyworld is the premier online social networking platform for enhancing existing relationships with friends and family. Cyworld’s innovative look, charm and engaging communication tools appeal to a youth culture looking for an authentic, safe destination for interaction and creative expression. Originally launched in 1999 in South Korea to great success, Cyworld is a world leader with recent launches in China, Japan and Taiwan and the U.S. Cyworld is owned by SK Communications, a subsidiary of SK Telecom which is the number one provider of mobile telecommunications in Asia.
About Double Fusion
Founded in 2004, Double Fusion is the leading independent provider of dynamic in game advertising. Going beyond traditional advertising mediums to engage valuable and hard to reach gamer demographics, Double Fusion provides the widest range of in game advertising and marketing programs, from dynamic 3D interactive objects, video, interactive ads, 2D signage and more,all the way up to fully immersive storyline integrations. Double Fusion's sales force and integration teams work directly with advertisers, developers, and content owners to ensure seamless execution of advertising and marketing campaigns, creating an additional revenue source for videogame publishers while protecting the gameplay experience. Double Fusion is privately held and headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Jerusalem, London, and Shanghai. More information on Double Fusion is available at www.doublefusion.com.