Reading Comics on your Cell Phone Independent Cartoonists Move Full Tilt to Smartphones



Full Tilt Features, a group of independent cartoonists, is distributing their comic strips and cartoon panels to cell phones around the world via their newly launched web site, www.fulltiltmobile.com.

Full Tilt's President, Dawn Douglass, believes the potential for cartoonists to make "mobile money" is great, as demand for cell phone content is booming worldwide thanks to what are known as "smartphones" -- a combined cell phone, digital organizer and entertainment device which supports multiple forms of input.

Nokia, the global leader in mobile communications, has reported selling 6.7 million smartphones in the second quarter of this year, compared to 2.1 million units in the same period in 2004. Nokia has forecast that smartphone shipments worldwide will increase to 238 million units by 2008.

Nokia's Series 60 is the industry-leading smartphone platform and is what Full Tilt cartoonists are banking on to trigger a growing means for cartoonists to make a living wage via mobile publication. "We're on the ground floor of what we hope to be a comics renewal," said Douglass. "History has proven that when cartoonists can afford to put their time, talent and artistic freedom into this unique art form, readers are well rewarded. Great comics and the ability to make a fair, independent living go hand in hand."

Because of new technologies like smartphones and Bluetooth, users may download content to their phones themselves, cutting out expensive middlemen and allowing cartoonists to sell their content directly to readers.

Full Tilt Mobile is using a Series 60 application called mComic, developed by Barefoot Software, Inc., to package their comics for select smartphones. Though just releasing to the public, mComic has won acclaim in industry shows across Europe and Asia, with murmurs of this "killer ap" becoming the de facto comics reader for cell phones.

"We were impressed with Full Tilt comics immediately," said Barefoot's CEO, Mark Hillsdon. "Full Tilt has an exciting group of top-notch cartoonists, and their work looks terrific in mComic."

Comics are especially popular in Asia, but Europe, Australia, South America and even Africa have countless comic fans. Besides having their comics translated for foreign markets, Full Tilt hopes to also obtain translations of popular foreign comics for readers in the U.S., including one from France and another from Russia.

"The best comics are funny because they're true," says Douglass. "What better way for cultures to learn about each other than through the universal appeal of comics"

Full Tilt currently has 16 artists from three countries and is in pursuit of other established professionals, adding at least two comic book artists soon.

Initially, "books" of 17 or more gags by four cartoonists in four different categories are being offered at www.fulltiltmobile.com with a new issue released each week for just $2 each.

The collections are: ANIMALS featuring "Kevin & Kell" by Bill Holbrook, "Wild Unknown" by Kellie Lewis, "4 on the Floor" by Ted Nunes, and "Check Please" by Matthew Meskel. REALITY with "Medium Large" by Francesco Marciuliano, "Surrounded" by Mark Hill, "'Round the Bend" by Annie Taylor-Lebel, and "Was ist das" by Karsten Schley. The GEEK category with "Unemployed" by Matthew Steen, "In Johnny's Opinion (IJO)" by Eric Burke, "Hip Shot" by Andy White, and "Stranger Things" by Keefe Chamberlain. And FAMILY featuring "Effie & Lil" by Sue Houston, "The Norm" by Michael Jantze, "Red Chile Moon" by Eric Gignac, and "Neighbors" by Steve Phelps.





Reading Comics on your Cell Phone Independent Cartoonists Move Full Tilt to Smartphones