Disney Mobile To End Service - 9/27/2007

[Monorail Man]

Disney Mobile To End Service

Disney Mobile will be offically ending it's service on December 31st, 2007, after an announcement by MVNO (Disney Mobile operator) CEO, Thomas Staggs. Current mobile customers are encouraged to end their service by November, to allow for an easy move of their mobile numbers. Many experts claim the closure was due to the service's competition between larger service providers, and their parent features.

Source: Engadget

[Mr. Yeti]

Wow! That's so surprising!

I really wanted their service, but I guess it was a good thing I didn't get it.

[BigPigletFan]

Wow. This surprises me. Maybe their 'new plans' will be stronger and more successful?

[HSM Fan]

Disney Mobile was a good idea for parents because you were able to check where your kids were. And also when they could use the phone.

[IMAGINE]

Eh they tried....strike 2 in the phone market

[MasterGracey]

I'm not surprised, really.

[misterp102778]

I can tell you one of the reasons why. My credit is not that good. Like all other cell phone companys if you credit sucks like mine you can put a deposit down. Disney mobile doesnt. They were as I sould say now the only major cell phone company that didnt. I really wanted that mikey phone too.

[Diznyfan]

They couldnt get their prices down low enough they were way too overpriced compared to the big cell companies.

[disneytim]

This change is not surprising. It's very difficult for a new mobile phone company (even one as big as Disney) to break into an existing market where most customers are already bound by contracts to other carriers. ESPN Mobile ran into the same problem last year. Like ESPN, Disney Mobile will morph into a content-only provider, which in the long run promises to be more lucrative.

Disney's press release:

Disney to End U.S.-Based MVNO Operations; Explore New Business Model for Popular Family Centric Suite of Services and Content for Mobile

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG), which has received both critical and customer acclaim for its Disney-branded mobile phone offering, will cease operations of its U.S.-based mobile virtual network (MVNO) phone service later this year and will instead explore a new business model for its content and services that might include offering its popular Family Center product through a partnership with a major U.S. carrier. The Family Center suite allows users the ability to display the location of a child’s handset on a map, to limit when and how the child’s phone is used, and to set limits on expenditures in terms of voice and data.

“It’s been clear since we launched the MVNO that we were offering something both unique and useful for families that wanted to provide their kids with a mobile phone with suitable content and features while retaining a measure of control on how and when it would be used,” said Steve Wadsworth, president of the Walt Disney Internet Group. “Our feedback from customers and critics from the beginning has been that we exceeded the mark in that respect. However, the MVNO model has proven, as we’ve seen with other companies this past year, to be a difficult proposition in the hyper-competitive U.S. mobile phone market. In assessing our business model, we decided that changing strategies was a better alternative to pursue profitable growth in the mobile services area.”

WDIG, a worldwide leader in the mobile content business, is exploring opportunities with major U.S. carriers with regard to a new business model for the Family Center features.

Current Disney MVNO customers will continue to receive service and support until Dec. 31, 2007. Customers who have questions should see www.DisneyMobile.com or call Guest Services at 1-866-DISNEY2 for more information.

Disney will offer a reimbursement program for eligible customers. Additional details surrounding the reimbursement program will be available on the aforementioned Web site no later than Oct. 8, 2007.

[PrinceBlue]

From Disney Mobile's Website

Disney Mobile has announced that it will cease its wireless operations as of December 31, 2007. It has been our privilege to serve as your wireless service provider and we want to thank you for your support of Disney Mobile.
We will continue to provide voice, messaging and the Family Center services through December 31, 2007. In addition, billing and care support will be available during that time. As of September 27, 2007, content and applications will no longer be available for purchase.


The Disney Mobile web site will remain in operation to service our existing customers through December 31, 2007.

In recognition of any inconvenience this may cause you, Disney Mobile will be providing a reimbursement program covering handsets as well as accessories and content purchased directly through Disney Mobile (please note: reimbursements will be processed upon final receipt of full payment and termination of your account). Complete details surrounding this reimbursement program will be communicated via this web site by October 8, 2007.
You will continue to be billed for service through December 31, 2007, unless you call Guest Services to terminate prior to that date. Disney Mobile will waive early termination fees provided your account is paid in full.


If you want to retain your wireless phone number and transfer it to another wireless carrier, we encourage you to sign up for service with the other carrier before November 30, 2007. This will ensure there is adequate time to transfer your phone number. You should not terminate your Disney Mobile account until your new carrier successfully transfers your wireless phone number (See http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/NumberPortability/ to learn more about porting your number to a new carrier).


We at Disney Mobile have truly valued your business and apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause.


Further information is provided in the following page.

[merlinjones]

Whenever Disney strays from content, theme and emotion into branded hardware schemes they tend to fail.

[Crazy Legs]

wow so soon after opening

[DisneylandorBust]

I'm so sad. I just purchased service from them last month!! I had to cancel today to be within my 30 day introduction period. I'm going to miss my blue bayou banjo ringtone. sniff.

[gutmach]

If there are any ex-Disney Mobile employees looking for employment, Microsoft has some great career opportunities in its growing mobile division. Please send your resume to vcf [at] microsoft {dot} com. Apologies if anyone tried this email when it was originally posted a couple of days ago: The vcf@microsoft.com email is correct, but I learned afterwards that it had not yet been enabled to accept external email at the time. That has been remedied, so laid off Disney Mobile personnel can now send resumes for Microsoft mobile division career opportunities.

[garbear]

They now have something where you can get a free verizon phone!