Posted by hgautam
Sony Ericsson signs Maria Sharapova in Landmark Off-Court Deal
11 January 2008
Melbourne, Australia – 14th January 2008 – Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications has announced today that it has signed an exclusive four year sponsorship agreement with female tennis player, Maria Sharapova, to become the company’s first global brand ambassador.
The stunning and talented Russian, who turns 21 in April this year, will undertake a series of innovative new consumer brand campaigns specifically designed to engage Sony Ericsson’s core target audiences and to utilise Maria away from the tennis court.
Maria will also be working with Sony Ericsson’s design team on a range of products and accessories.
The off-court agreement complements Sony Ericsson’s 6 year $88 million global title sponsorship of the WTA Tour which was signed in January 2005 and is the biggest deal in the history of women’s sport. Sony Ericsson’s commitment to women’s tennis has energised the game by bringing fans closer to the experience and taking the sport to new audiences through cutting edge initiatives like night tennis – a fusion of tennis, fashion, music and dance.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Dee Dutta, Corporate Vice President and Head of Marketing at Sony Ericsson, said: “Now in our seventh year as a company, the brand has evolved significantly and securing a global brand ambassador is a natural progression to take our brand to the next level in an increasingly competitive market place.”
“Maria’s iconic status, determination, dynamism, success and charm match strongly with the Sony Ericsson brand, which prides itself on innovative and cool design with substance.”
“Our alignment with Maria’s global iconic status, combined with our brand expertise and innovative thinking aims to provide something new and something different to our customers around the world.”
Maria Sharapova added, “It is really exciting to be working with a cool brand like Sony Ericsson which has such a strong reputation in the entertainment industry”.
“Even though most people know me as a tennis player, I have so many passions beyond the sport like fashion, music, film and design; which Sony Ericsson and I are going to be exploring together through our partnership.”
- Ends –
Official page link:
http://www.sonyericsson.com/c[....]csson%20signs%20Maria-20080113
[ This Message was edited by: hgautam on 2008-01-11 20:13 ]
Posted by MWEB
Maybe if all new SE handsets had her mobile number pre-programmed in, they might shift a few more units.
Posted by NightBlade
Posted by BobaFett
"Maria will also be working with Sony Ericsson’s design team on a range of products and accessories."
whats next? mr komiyama will play on the atp tour?
Posted by hgautam
Posted by plankgatan
he he he...she is so lovely & good tennis player ...nice move
_________________
I
K850, 
W810 & 
T29
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____________________________________
(t610, t630, k700, k750, k800, k810)
[ This Message was edited by: plankgatan on 2008-01-11 22:32 ]
Posted by BobaFett
lately moto launched the sharapova v3, now she changed to se. whats next?
Posted by Mizzle
Was wondering when this would happen
Then I'd expect more phones looking like W580!
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[ This Message was edited by: Mizzle on 2008-01-11 22:46 ]
[ This Message was edited by: Mizzle on 2008-01-12 17:55 ]
Posted by *Jojo*
Yup, I wonder what made HER
jump from Motorola to 
If I am . . . I would rather GET the Williams-sisters . . .
Posted by plankgatan
beatiful girls have allways been the best advertising for selling products
wondering why ??? ________ he he
_________________
I
K850, W810 & T29
------------------------------------
____________________________________
(t610, t630, k700, k750, k800, k810)
[ This Message was edited by: plankgatan on 2008-01-11 22:52 ]
Posted by masseur
seems she has changed her allegiance then as it wasn't that long ago she was supporting Motorola.
Perhaps the
tennis sponsorship money has had an effect here?
Still, I guess anything that brings brand awareness is good for business
MOTOROLA is giving away 50 Special Edition MOTOPEBL phones in White laser-etched with the signature of MOTO's favorite tennis gal,Maria Sharapova. http://www.mariasharapova.com
Click HERE to enter.
To Join this sweepstakes you have to be a US residents age 18 and over.
Posted by senninha
@mizzle
the girl on the right is daniella hantuchova. sharapova was still contracted with motorola at the time the K800 was launched.
Posted by Ranjith
On 2008-01-11 22:21:49, BobaFett wrote:
"Maria will also be working with Sony Ericsson’s design team on a range of products and accessories."
whats next? mr komiyama will play on the atp tour?
maybe a sports or fashion line.....
Posted by Bambino
I want to have w960 with her signature. I will never sell it to anyone else
Posted by Residentevil
Oh please...
Posted by deepsme
I'll certainly be watching the ads now
Posted by QVGA
why doesnt other companies like Nokia and iMate do these things too? because sharapova isnt smart enough to advertise a smartphone?
Posted by Ranjith
On 2008-01-12 07:58:40, QVGA wrote:
why doesnt other companies like Nokia and iMate do these things too? because sharapova isnt smart enough to advertise a smartphone?
maybe bcoz nokia isnt smart enough!!!;)
but SE really needs to uplift their adver. campaigns...thts one main thing they lack!
Posted by Ranjith
On 2008-01-12 07:58:40, QVGA wrote:
why doesnt other companies like Nokia and iMate do these things too? because sharapova isnt smart enough to advertise a smartphone?
Posted by PowerLee
On 2008-01-12 17:39:16, Ranjith wrote:
On 2008-01-12 07:58:40, QVGA wrote:
why doesnt other companies like Nokia and iMate do these things too? because sharapova isnt smart enough to advertise a smartphone?
maybe bcoz nokia isnt smart enough!!!;)
but SE really needs to uplift their adver. campaigns...thts one main thing they lack!
Decent cameras, build quality & reliability are another 3 things Sony Ericsson phones now lack.
At least the customer service & warranty repairs are second to none.
Posted by dancingfate
On 2008-01-11 23:45:02, Mizzle wrote:
They've also used her in the "Never Miss A Shot" campaign (K790 and K800)
It's her on the right!
Left to right : Ana Ivanovic, Daniela Hantuchova. Maria Sharapova is not there in that picture.
Posted by Mizzle
On 2008-01-12 02:00:38, senninha wrote:
@mizzle
the girl on the right is daniella hantuchova. sharapova was still contracted with motorola at the time the K800 was launched.
Sorry
Better?
_________________
I'm an
expert
The Unofficial Sony Ericsson Blog | FORUM
Best
dedicated blog ever![ This Message was edited by: Mizzle on 2008-01-12 17:56 ]
Posted by senninha
yes, much better...
Posted by *Jojo*
Nokia, Motorola, Samsung etc should better START looking for those Russian-:g-Tennis-players out there as Sharapova's counterpart . . . they are LIKE mushrooms at present in WTA
!
Posted by Ranjith
On 2008-01-12 18:51:59, PowerLee wrote:
On 2008-01-12 17:39:16, Ranjith wrote:
On 2008-01-12 07:58:40, QVGA wrote:
why doesnt other companies like Nokia and iMate do these things too? because sharapova isnt smart enough to advertise a smartphone?
maybe bcoz nokia isnt smart enough!!!;)
but SE really needs to uplift their adver. campaigns...thts one main thing they lack!
Decent cameras, build quality & reliability are another 3 things Sony Ericsson phones now lack.
At least the customer service & warranty repairs are second to none.
yup i know tht....thts why i said"one main thing"
even if SE start building top notch phones they need proper adver camp. to attract ppl...
coz even when SE started to get popular...with K750 and W800 i felt the lack of proper adver.campaigns affected the sales in the middle east region...
Posted by max_wedge
Anyone recognise this phone:
Posted by Mizzle
That's a W580.
Posted by max_wedge
Ah excellent. I thought it looked like W580 but I've never seen it flip extended from the back!
I want a Maria Sharapova W580! This is my idea of a Maria Sharapova branded phone:
Maria signature engraved on handset, Maria wallpapers and theme, Maria classic "grunt" as ringtone and racket hitting ball as message tone, AND a Maria Sharapova g-string wrist strap...
Posted by Mizzle
@max_wedge
HOT!
Posted by max_wedge
Yes! Unfortunately I don't think we will ever see it
Posted by tranced
@max: that pic looks so tender
Posted by max_wedge
On 2008-01-14 16:06:38, tranced wrote:
@max: that pic looks so tender
She's georgeous isn't she? I think I'm in love...
Posted by mode
On 2008-01-12 18:54:37, Rifqi_Aziz wrote:
On 2008-01-11 23:45:02, Mizzle wrote:
They've also used her in the "Never Miss A Shot" campaign (K790 and K800)
It's her on the right!
Left to right : Ana Ivanovic, Daniela Hantuchova. Maria Sharapova is not there in that picture.
Ana Ivanovic is hot too