Ringtone Middlemen For IPO?

I’m being slightly sensationalist with this headline, but it is fun to think about…if Chinese ringtone and mobile content companies can have IPOs, why can’t U.S. vendors like Ztango go public. That’s not my suggestion, that’s this story’s line. Ztango’s CEO Vern Poyner said his firm, which is private, was profitable last year and expects to make money in 2004 as well.

But then, will these middlemen survive as biggies like Sony and other labels come in, either with their own units or through acquisitions? InfoSpace (which own Moviso) CEO Jim Voelker said that the music industry, looking for any money it can find these days, is more than happy to license songs to several ring tone providers.

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