Funding News South Africa

The NXT step with Caxton

As the amount of mobile content available to South Africans rockets, the challenge facing providers is how to get the right content to the right user at the right time, with distribution and marketing remaining problematic. This is the reason behind Caxton CTP Publishers teaming up with mobile technology specialists Digital Ink to form contemporary mobile download service provider NXT Mobile and print publication NXT, which launched on Wednesday, 14 November 2006.

NXT Mobile (www.nxtmobile.co.za) offers a variety of mobile download services offers, while NXT is intended to an easy-to-read traditional print publication designed to make the digital world more accessible to the whole family. The 24-page full-colour monthly publication is distributed via Caxton's community newspapers to 700 000 households across the Witwatersrand.

Bryan Diamond, MD of NXT Mobile, explains, "The publication [provides] original, innovative mobile content and services which will appeal not only to mom and dad but to the kids as well.

"Editorially, it [covers] a broad spectrum of mobile issues - from mobile spam and your children's safety in chat rooms; to the latest business gadgets and which phone is best-suited to your needs.

"Not least, NXT [provides] mobile operators, manufacturers and non-mobile advertisers seeking SMS interaction with customers with a niche traditional print channel in which to advertise," says Diamond.

Bruce Sturgeon, CEO of Caxton Community Newspapers, adds, "NXT will explain what is going on in the mobile world and what is new and hot, in a way that can be easily understood. The gobbledygook beloved by tech geeks goes over the heads of many people, especially the older generation. NXT will demystify mobile technology, but have enough meat in it to be of interest to diehards too."

NXT, says Sturgeon, will not be the only venture into the mobile world. "We know that it is important for readers of community newspapers not only to read news that touches their daily lives, but through votes and polls to be able to voice concerns and opinions about community issues.

"Utilising the services of NXT Mobile, we therefore plan to more actively develop mobile interactivity with our readers, so they can not only better air their views, but even become citizen reporters!"

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