Mobile ESPN to launch at Superbowl with Best Buy exclusive
By Marc Perton 
posted Oct 25th 2005 6:30PM
posted Oct 25th 2005 6:30PM
The long-awaited (by someone, we're sure)
ESPN-branded cellphone service is now scheduled to launch
during the Superbowl, next February. Best Buy has been tagged as the exclusive retailer to carry phones for the new
service for its first 60 days, while online signups will be available via the Mobile ESPN web site (the service was
originally branded ESPN Mobile, but the name was flipped last month in order to "truly reflects the service's ultimate
mission: to literally serve avid sports fans with one-touch, real-time access to immersive and personalized sports
content from ESPN."). Mobile ESPN is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), with the actual service to be provided
by Sprint, with the initial handset to be produced by
Sanyo.
This looks so awesome and kick ass.
Can I pre-order?
It looks like there are pre-markets it is available in starting November 1st.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/mobile/release?id=2203651
I got to check one of these out just yesterday. unfortunately we were in a calling hole, so I never got to see the specialized streaming content that is provided. But the ESPN SportCenter Ringtone was pretty cool.
When I first heard about "ESPN Mobile" I was skeptical. I thought to myself, "What is this service’s ultimate mission? Will it literally serve avid sports fans such as myself with one-touch, real-time access to immersive and personalized sports content from ESPN?" Then they changed the name to Mobile ESPN and I knew everything would be ok.
ESPN as a mobile virtual network operator? I still don't get it.
If their mission is truly sports content, why create a whole virtual network. This sounds like some b-school grad's pitch that accidently slipped through ESPN.
I actually played with an early test model last week (I work for the company). Its pretty impressive. The video and data screens look very good. Its surely not for everyone, and I imagine you either need to be a rabid sports fan or a compulsive gambler to make it worthwhile. But for what it is, its pretty nice.