Buzzwire is a Denver based mobile startup that streams multimedia content (mostly podcasts) to your mobile phone. They’ve just closed an $8 million series B from Sequel Venture Partners, and exiting investors Matrix Partners and Spark Capital. Earlier they raised an undisclosed A round. Buzzwire is using the round to deploy the service on major carriers in the U.S. and overseas, although the CEO, Andrew MacFarlane, has only said they have “a deal in place with one of the top U.S. carriers.” There are a variety of mobile podcasting services out there Podlinez and Fonpods (deadpool) are two we’ve covered. However, these services have emphasized backwards compatibility by playing podcasts on specific phone numbers. Instead, Buzzwire relies on your dataplan, playing lists of media through your mobile browser. Creation and management of these play lists can be handled through their (somewhat ugly) website on your desktop browser. You can either add in content from their library of exiting podcasts to lists or upload your own. It works well on my iPhone, playing audio and video through the Quicktime player. Keeping account management on the desktop web was a smart move. The mobile web experience on most phones is horrendous, however, that will change over time. Buzzwire is just a mobile customized website away from a lot more competition from other podcasting services. CrunchBase Information Buzzwire Information provided by CrunchBase → Read More
Today Buzzwire, Inc. (formerly 4th Media) announced that its streaming mobile media service is available as a public beta. This upcoming service will let users create their own customized program lineup and access it on their mobile phones. A formal launch with select carriers is scheduled for the fall of 2007. “Consumers are living mobile lifestyles and should have their media readily accessible on-the-go, whenever they want it. There is an amazing world of audio and video content available on the Web, and consumers can’t make sense of how to get it while mobile,” said Andrew MacFarlane, CEO of Buzzwire. “Now Buzzwire will provide a place where consumers can find, add and share audio and video feeds, including their own – with instant, hassle-free access on their mobile phones.” The service will let users create custom playlists via a Web and mobile interface, which does require a client download. The initial library of about 5,000 media sources includes more than 2,000 audio clips with daily news, sports updates and other factoid, along with 1,000 video clips and access to 1,700 live radio stations from around the world. Buzzwire is backed by Matrix Partners and Spark Capital, and during the beta preview the service will be available directly to consumers. Buzzwire → Read More
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