Islanders will soon be able to watch favorite episodes of the Gemini award winning Doodlez series on their cell phone thanks to a new Wireless Technology Development Fund introduced last year by the Government of Prince Edward Island, in partnership with Rogers Wireless and Ericsson Canada.
Doodlez Wireless Inc., a joint venture of Cellar Door Productions and Trapeze Media, is the first company to be awarded funding from the wireless technology development fund administered by PEI Business Development and Technology PEI.
Under the funding, the company will create a series of exciting new java based wireless applications including Doodlez Game, Weather application and video Greeting Card application all with the sense of humor and entertainment value demonstrated in the award winning television show Doodlez.
“This fund is available to encourage the development of new products and services in this fast growing wireless technology and mobile business,” said Minister of Development and Technology Mike Currie. “This year, we are pleased to announce the funding deadlines have been eliminated and that the request for proposals is now open to Island companies throughout the entire year. We encourage businesses to take advantage of the opportunity to develop innovative ideas into viable business plans through the support of this new wireless technology development fund.”
Rogers Wireless and Ericsson Canada contributes $500,000 to the fund while the Province of Prince Edward Island matches that contribution.
The fund is intended to provide seed investment for a wide range of projects aimed at developing services or products based on wireless technology, including but not restricted to, cellular network technology. Projects should be based on the development of a service or product that will deliver revenue opportunity to the innovative company demonstrated through a business plan.
“Creating a truly global entertainment brand, which we are doing with Doodlez, is very much about finding new and innovative ways to connect the brand to feed hungry consumers,” said Rob Balfour from Trapeze Media. “This is increasingly done with wireless devices and we are very excited about the Doodlez Wireless Project. Having access to programs like the Wireless Technology Fund is a significant benefit, and is an important contributor to us growing our business.”
Ringtones, text messaging and video games are all significant revenue generators for content companies and there will be many other products and services that will be driven through mobile phone.
“We are thrilled to be the pioneer company of this fund,” said Gretha Rose from Cellar Door Productions. “To be on the leading edge of this evolving technology takes us outside the traditional programming model.”
The fund will provide up to 50% of the total development cost to a maximum of $50,000. To be eligible a company must be registered in Prince Edward Island. Companies outside of the Province may apply, but must relocate a portion of their business to the Province or form a joint venture with a local company.
Contributions from the fund are repayable based on a negotiated royalty interest based on the gross sales of the product or service developed from the project.
Advertisements promoting the fund will appear periodically in local media while more information is also available at the Technology PEI website: http://www.techpei.com/.
PEI Business Development Inc. and Technology PEI work with businesses in Prince Edward Island to strengthen and expand the provincial economy though business development. Adding value and generating wealth, PEI Business Development and Technology PEI offer a diverse range of programs and services to Island-based businesses.