Is America Ready for a Virtual Mobile?

American Venture magazine interviewed Scott Driggers, CEO and Co-Founder of Gemini Mobile Technologies, about whether the American market is ready to explore a virtual world on their cell phone. Gemini is preparing to launch its 3D mobile software platform, eXplo, in the UK or the U.S. Currently, eXplo is driving Softbank Mobile’s 3D virtual world, S! Town, in Japan, which has added 100,000 subscribers since launching in November of 2006. In S! Town, subscribers design and dress their avatar and room, using the virtual world’s currency for purchases.

Q - S! Town has done very well in Japan since its launch, particularly with active women between the ages of 18 and 24. How are you going to market eXplo in the U.S., which does not have the advanced cellular market of Japan?

A - You’re right, the market is not as advanced in the U.S. as it is in Japan, however, customers in the U.S. also belong to multiple communities and we expect to find the particular aspects that are attractive to U.S. customers that would encourage them to join and participate in a community. We are obviously seeing the social networking type of communities grow through the fixed Internet and we are really on the cusp of a major revolution as communities move to the mobile device.

We may start with more targeted segments but certainly, people all around the world participate and have their own communities.. and the eXplo platform is really suitable to adapting to the needs of different cultures.

Read the full interview Here.