Games Industry Veteran Jim Merrick Named President and CEO of Mobliss,

Mobile Entertainment Publisher

SEATTLE, June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobliss, an Index Group Company, known for

powering American Idol SMS voting and bringing entertainment brands like

Family Feud(TM) and the New York Times Crossword(TM) to mobile, today

announces a new president and CEO. Jim Merrick, a 12-year entertainment

industry veteran hits the ground running with firm plans on expanding the

company's space in creative mobile entertainment, including beefing up the

company's focus in the mobile-phone gaming arena which is one of the fastest

growing segments of the $27.5 billion global interactive entertainment

industry.

Merrick joins Mobliss after a long history with Nintendo. His diverse roles

have included head of software, hardware and brand marketing across Europe,

as well as technical director for Nintendo in the US, developing new

technologies and leading a support team dedicated to helping licensees

develop games for Nintendo systems.

Merrick will oversee all Mobliss operations, which include game licensing

and development, mobile messaging and Mobliss' proprietary SMS voting

platform.

"Jim's years of experience at one of the world's biggest gaming companies,

where he oversaw initiatives in the areas of technology, development and

marketing, make him the clear choice to lead Mobliss into the future," said

Yoshimi Ogawa, President of Index Holdings.

"Mobile phones are a part of everyday life for millions of consumers. That

number just keeps growing," notes Jim Merrick. "Mobliss is a pioneer and

already has proven people want to do more than just use phones to chat.

They love to play video games and they love to communicate instantly in many

different and edgy ways. Growing this is my sole focus."

"Jim's deep and virtually unique background in both technical and marketing

expertise should benefit Mobliss greatly," notes well-known industry analyst

P.J. McNealy, Senior Analyst at American Technology Research. "The field of

mobile gaming and entertainment is a growing market, and the timing of this

move looks solid."

Mobliss develops some of the most creative concepts in wireless gaming that

incorporate the latest in wireless technology. This includes the first

multiplayer cross-carrier game, Family Feud(TM), as well as mobile access to

the daily New York Times Crossword. With an experienced track record

developing and publishing BREW, J2ME, SMS, MMS, and WAP games, Mobliss

connects carriers, game developers and brands.