Handango Appoints Wireless Content Veteran Alex Bloom as New CEO to Lead Original App Store

LAS COLINAS, Texas, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ — Handango Inc., the leading provider of multi-platform smartphone content globally, today announced the promotion of Alex Bloom from vice president of content and international to CEO and president, succeeding current CEO and president Bill Stone, effective February 1, 2009.

“Alex is a true wireless veteran with a vast amount of experience in the industry. From leading Verizon’s content and programming to cutting the first WAP deals at GTE to running Motricity’s smartphone business, Alex is the perfect leader for Handango during this period of unprecedented smartphone market growth,” states Sandy Miller, General Partner, Institutional Venture Partners and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Handango.

“At a time when the smartphone market is the fastest growing segment in telecomm, Handango finds itself in the center of an eco-system primed for expansion,” states Alex Bloom. “This is a terrific opportunity for me to combine my background and passion for the wireless content industry and take Handango to the next level.”

Bloom will take over for current CEO Bill Stone who will remain an active member of the Board of Directors as he transitions to the position of SVP and president of Qualcomm’s FLO TV(TM).

This year, Handango celebrates its 10th anniversary boasting the largest catalog of smartphone apps and a refreshed website (Handango.com) making it easier for users to search and download content. With more than 100 million downloads with an average ‘paid’ order value of more than $20 per application and 140,000 applications for over 1,000 devices from over 23,000 content partners to choose from, Handango is the unparalleled original app store. Handango’s consummate content expertise has attracted numerous mobile industry partners including Microsoft, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Alltel, Nokia, Research In Motion, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, AOL, The Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy among others.

Handango was founded in 1999 as PalmCentral.com, to provide third-party software for personal digital assistants. Once smartphone devices emerged, the name was changed to Handango. Over the last decade, Handango has welcomed applications from all operating systems including Windows Mobile Smartphone and Pocket PC, Palm, Symbian S60 and UIQ, BlackBerry and most recently for the Android.

Since its launch, Handango has gone from a single distribution channel (the Web) to reaching millions of customers through Handango’s InHand on device portal, via the mobile Web and through its affiliates and channel partners. In the first half of 2008, Handango added more than 370 developer partners to its roster of more than 23,000. Handango’s catalog now exceeds 140,000 apps spanning numerous categories including Entertainment, Games, Productivity, Business & Professional, Utilities, Travel, Health & Fitness and more.

About Handango

Handango is the leading provider of smartphone applications globally for the BlackBerry(R), Palm(R), Windows Mobile(R), Symbian OS(R), and Linux platforms. Leveraging its 140,000+ apps, network of 23,000+ content partners, and vast distribution network, Handango delivers top-selling mobile applications including games, business and entertainment apps and productivity tools to millions of consumers. Applications can be downloaded via www.handango.com, partner Web sites, SD cards and Handango’s proprietary on-device catalog, InHand, the industry’s leading content delivery platform that allows consumers to purchase mobile apps directly from their smartphone and download them over the air. Handango’s unparalleled content expertise has attracted numerous mobile industry partners including Microsoft, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, Alltel, AT&T, and AOL. For more information, visit http://corp.handango.com.

Handango is a registered trademark of Handango, Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved. Subject to change without prior notice.

SOURCE Handango, Inc.