eVentures Fuels MessageMedia Expansion to UK and Australia

E-mail marketing firm MessageMedia on Tuesday said it’s establishing beachheads in the United Kingdom and in Australia, as part of a joint venture between the company and eVentures, the News Corp. and SOFTBANK-funded venture firm.

eVentures UK will help establish the MessageMedia (MESG) operation in London, and eVentures Holdings Pty Ltd is handling the ydney piece of the puzzle.

“MessageMedia is committed to being the global leader in e-messaging. These deals, coupled with the establishment of MessageMedia Europe in Paris, continue to advance our program of international expansion,” said Larry Jones, president and chief executive officer of MessageMedia.

“These partnerships with eVentures in the UK and Australia present huge opportunities, not only for expanding our core business but also for gaining experience with new technologies, such as WAP that will spread to all of our global markets.”

Wireless will be an important part of what MessageMedia does, both in Australia and in the UK. The Asia-Pacific region and Europe are both considered to be ahead of the United States in adoption of wireless technology.

eVentures was established to help companies with proven business models, such as MessageMedia, establish themselves in new markets by helping them adapt their business to local conditions. The firm has also helped buy.com (BUYC) establish itself in the UK.