MXit's 5 million members get audio/video on demand

MXit, the hugely successful mobile messaging service with over 5 million users worldwide, has launched MOBmix — a service providing downloadable audio and video broadcasts delivered to your cellphone at a fraction of a cost of a regular broadcasting, sales or screening. Each content download is priced from 50 Moola (that’s MXit money — i.e. 50 South African cents, I think) for Ringtones, up to 400 Moola (4 SA rand) for music videos and full length tracks.

The service includes;

– Hour-long chat and chart shows featuring presenters like Derek The Bandit or DJ Cleo.
– 20-minute TV segments on lifestyle, new movies and new music [unlike podcasts – a PC or internet access is not required]
– 60-minute radio-casts with top name presenters – new album releases include Infinity on High by Fall Out Boys
– Video casts include EPKs – electronic press kits: multi-media shorts about new bands, footage on upcoming movies, hot gossip etc.
– Feedback, voting and competition mechanic is part of the Mobmix feature
– Universal Music, Musica and Puma are service partners
– Launch package includes mobcasts by Derek The Bandit, hip hop show Studio Dogz & Koni Mazwai, the ZA Show hosted by Glen and Bridgette Verran

I’ve never heard of Glen or Bridgette myself — but keep in mind MXit has a massive, massive South African following who, I’m sure, all know of the ZA Show.

I wonder how MOBmix will perform? I’m willing to bet that it’ll be immediately popular with the MXit user base.

Just in case you’re up for a MXit refresher:

MXit Facts
– MXit is a free mobile instant messaging solution
– The service provides low cost text based communication to mobile users
– 5 million users are currently registered with MXit with the company receiving between 9 – 12 thousand new registrations per day
– 200 – 500 million messages are sent per day
– The application is downloaded to the user’s cell phone free of charge via www.mxit.co.za/wap. The user is then able to send and receive short text messages over the Internet at a very low cost, on both cell phones and personal computers.
– Swist Group Technologies (Pty) Ltd was formed in 1995 and is a major shareholder of MXit Lifestyle.
– In April 2004, the business unit of MXit Lifestyle (formerly Clockspeed Mobile) was separated from Swist Group to form a new company.
– Naspers acquired a 30% stake in MXit in January 2007.

And in case you’re up for more info about MOBmix itself, it was developed by Mel.Vent Communications, a The Mothermix Group company.