The company is working with communications firm Sprint to develop the new service, called Disney Mobile. It will aim to deliver a wireless voice service, handsets and entertainment content over Sprint’s network.
Disney said it will hold responsibility for product development, distribution, sales and marketing, customer relations and billing. The Disney Mobile business will be led by Disney’s general manager George Grobar.
Sprint believes that leveraging the Disney name will generate greater consumer demand for data services within the wireless communications market.
Disney first entered the mobile arena in 2000 with the launch of its branded content including graphics, ring tones, games and utilities on Japan’s NTT DoCoMo service. It said it will continue to distribute its mobile content through carriers and distributors globally.
Last year, Disney’s ESPN unit announced it would launch the first US wireless phone service specifically targeted to sports fans.
Disney Mobile is expected to launch next year. The company expects to achieve solid financial returns after an initial period of investment.
