With less than two weeks to go until the big Euro 2012 kick off, many startups will be eyeing the tournament as an opportunity not be missed. The latest to jump on the soccer bandwagon is Berlin-based zoobe, which allows users to turn voice recordings into funky animated video messages.
And in the run up to the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine, a series of new characters will be available dressed in the kits and flags of the respective countries taking part.
The special Euro 2012 service launches today and is called Jubelsau – which can be loosely translated as Celebration Sow. The startup hopes it will encourage companies to use zoobe as a creative communications tool on their websites, as well as establishing a brand mascot through the characters.
Voice recordings are uploaded on Facebook and are then turned into animated 3D video messages in seconds. zoobe hopes that people will use the service during the tournament for things like arranging to attend public viewings of matches, making bets on the outcome of matches and cheering their teams’ victories.
The V-messaging service is now also available to businesses. There are a selection of personalised 3D characters to choose from, which zoobe can also brand as individual mascots for companies.
“zoobe is ideally suited to product placement or the creation of individual company mascots as main actors and brand ambassadors,” said the startup’s founder and CEO Lenard F. Krawinkel. “In addition, customers are directed to company websites which are thus used as a playful viral brand communications tool.”
The video messages can also be shared on a company’s Facebook page. Using the zoobe service requires neither technical expertise nor special equipment, with the startup claiming the V-messaging can be a creative way of connecting and inspiring customers with brands, products and campaigns.