LONDON, Oct. 24, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ROK Comics, a subsidiary of ROK Entertainment Group Inc. (OTCBB:ROKE), the global mobile entertainment company, announces it has launched ROK Comics as an application on the Apple iPhone.
The ROK Comics application, the first of a planned series of applications currently in development by ROK for the iPhone, enables iPhone-owners to read a selection of strips from the huge and fast-growing ROK Comics portfolio, to include such strips as Anomaly (by Kennedy Rose), Crumb (by David Fletcher), Reddickulous (by David Reddick), sci-fi strip Crazy Mary (by Mike Colbert, Edward Woodward and others) and gothic comic Ligeia (by Rodrigo D. Ricci).
"We felt we should offer variety in our comics offering and this selection reflects the diversity of strips available on ROK Comics to include humour, adventure and sci-fi" ROK Comics Managing Editor John Freeman commented. "We will constantly be evaluating, adapting and looking at new features while adding further strips in future versions of the application."
More information about the new application can be found at: www.rokcomics.com/iphone
"The iPhone is having a far-reaching effect in transforming access to - and use of - mobile entertainment," added ROK's Creative Director Graham Baines, "and we at ROK are focussed on deploying ever-more interesting, engaging and easy-to-use content services and applications into this fast-growing channel."
This week, the New York Times reported that Apple sold 6.9 million iPhones in the last quarter in the U.S. alone and has already surpassed its goal of selling 10 million iPhones during 2008, according to Apple's CEO Steve Jobs.
"This is an exciting development for us," said ROK's Group CEO, Laurence Alexander "and reflects our ongoing commitment to develop and deploy engaging entertainment services to mobile phones globally."
ROK Comics (www.rokcomics.com) provides comic publishers and creators to reach a worldwide audience by delivering comics to mobile phones, either by WAP subscription of Pay Per Download via Multi Media Messaging (MMS) with creators receiving up to 50% of the available revenue on every sale.
For further information contact John Freeman: john.freeman@rokmedialtd.com
Notes to Editors
ABOUT ROK COMICS
ROK Comics on Mobile (www.rokcomics.com) is a mobile comics publishing solution enabling comics' creators and publishers to syndicate their works to mobile phone users worldwide. The service opens up huge worldwide commercial opportunities for all comic creators, artists, writers and publishers. The ROK Comics Creator Tool is also offered as a standalone 'sticky' content feature for a variety of companies and was utilised last year by UK TV network ITV to promote I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here (for more information contact louise.goddard@rokmedialtd.com).
With access to hundred of millions of handsets through existing Mobile Network Operator Agreements, ROK Comics can deliver digital comics straight to mobile handsets and collect revenue for doing so.
ROK Comics is a new opportunity for publishers and creators to reach a worldwide audience who will be able to download the comics via Pay Per Download or subscription via Multi Media Messaging (MMS) and WAP. Creators publishing professionally via ROK Comics will receive up to 50% of the available revenue on every sale, with full access to sales statistics, viewings and more.
In addition to several licensed comics that are being offered via ROK Comics, publishers can also create Free Samples of strips that can be viewed online and on mobile to promote their print editions, and let fans know about them by e-mail, and also provide an "Embed" of a strip, which can be posted on web sites, blog or company site. Publishing partners include King Features, Egmont, the Mirror and Express national UK newspapers and comics publisher Markosia.
ROK Comics, managed by ROK Media Ltd, is part of ROK Entertainment Group, founded in 2004, a global mobile entertainment group. With approximately 200 staff worldwide, ROK has filed more than 40 international patents for its suite of innovative mobile technologies, applications and services.
With 3.3 billion mobile handsets in use worldwide - forecast to grow to 5.8 billion by 2013 - the mobile entertainment industry is a multi-billion dollar business.
ROK TV enables the streaming of live and on-demand TV to mobile phones over mass-market 2.5G, as well as over 3G and Wi-Fi.
The ROK Entertainment Group logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5361
Forward-Looking Statement
The information contained in this new release, other than historical information, consists of forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these statements. Forward-looking statements regarding the timing of developing, testing and releasing existing and new products, of marketing and selling them, of deriving revenues and profits from them, as well as the effects of those revenues and profits on the Group's margins and financial position, are uncertain because many of the factors affecting the timing of those items are beyond the Group's control.