Contact Information: Media Contacts: Michael Volpatt Oddcast 415-994-8864 Email Contact Neil Vineberg Jaduka 631-871-0044 Email Contact
Oddcast and Jaduka Take User-Generated Media to the Next Level With Collaborative Storytelling
New Application Allows Users to Collaboratively Generate Stories Using Talking Avatars
| Source: Oddcast
NEW YORK, NY and DALLAS, TX -- (MARKET WIRE) -- November 14, 2006 -- User-Generated Media (UGM)
technologies are giving consumers the power to creatively express
themselves through sight and sound. Oddcast, the avatar technology company,
and Jaduka, a voice-enabled Internet technology provider, are taking UGM
one step further with the launch of JadukaTV.com, a user-generated
collaborative storytelling application. The application lets consumers
work together to create stories by providing a tool to record dialogue for
each avatar-based character in a story. Completed story lines can be
emailed to friends or added to MySpace pages.
The storyline recording function is enabled using Jaduka's
Click-and-Connect® web-initiated calling service. Click-and-Connect
allows site visitors to simply click a button and trigger a phone call to
contact a website, or email an author.
"We felt it critical to the success of our product introduction that
prospective customers actually interact with the technology to fully
appreciate its value," said Bill Binnig, Jaduka's Vice President of
Marketing. "That's why we looked for a vehicle that would showcase
Click-and-Connect while, at the same time, entertaining and educating
consumers. Oddcast's avatar product fits the bill precisely."
Users who register will also be offered the opportunity to receive a free
Click-and-Connect account loaded with 60 minutes of utility for use in
emails, blogs, and websites.
"Collaboration is another layer of functionality on top of our
User-Generated Media & self-expression tools," said Adi Sideman, CEO of
Oddcast. "With our collaborative storytelling applications, consumers
create meaningful and entertaining media through a game-like experience.
The fact that several people participate in creating a story will make the
application much more valuable, fun and viral."
The application is very simple to use. Users log on to www.JadukaTV.com
and select from four programs, including: the sporty "Locker Room Trash
Talk," a political "Presidential Turkey Pardon," the celebrity gossip mill
"Red Carpet," and a reality show spoof "American Oddball."
Within each vignette, participants choose a character utilizing Oddcast's
avatar technology and add dialogue with Jaduka's Click-and-Connect product.
Users are encouraged to send the creation to friends who can also choose a
character and continue to create the story. Potential storylines are
endless and the best are chosen by JadukaTV's audience community and
displayed prominently at www.JadukaTV.com.
According to Jack Rynes, Jaduka's president, "We believe that the
innovation of collaborative storytelling, as facilitated by Oddcast's
engaging avatar technology, combined with the popularity of User-Generated
Media will create a blockbuster viral campaign."
About Oddcast
Oddcast develops and distributes talking avatar products. Oddcast's avatar
platform enables companies to improve business results, and consumers to
personalize online communications and self-expression. Oddcast's technology
is the industry-leading solution, serving over 6,500 business customers
worldwide and millions of consumers. Oddcast's products are Web-based,
ASP-hosted and can be delivered to any device including browsers, mobile
devices, TV and CD-ROMs.
About Jaduka
Jaduka provides communication tools and technology that empowers businesses
to acquire, delight, and retain customers. The company's web-integrated,
telecommunications services -- including Click-and-Connect and
MyPrivateLine -- enable customers and online community members to simply
click a button to conveniently talk on the phone or privately exchange
information. For more information, please visit: www.Jaduka.com.