Vringo Increases Size of Leadership Team and Advisory Board

the pioneer in video-ringtone sharing, is pleased to announce the appointment of three mobile and Internet industry veterans to its team. The New VPs of Marketing and Product Development Join Video-Ringtone Pioneer; Advisory Board Gains Strategic Marketing Expert .

Sharon Goldstein, the newest member of Vringo’s advisory board is a marketing and strategy expert focused on mobile technologies and content services, and founder of the consulting firm SYG LLC. Bringing more than 10 years of experience in the mobile space, Sharon previously served as vice president of the content-provider business for Volantis Systems, focusing on mobile content adaptation for tier one content brands. Prior to that position, Sharon was the director of mobile products at RealNetworks, driving key business relationships, including Vodafone and Nokia, and growing the installed base of mobile RealPlayers to more than 25 million units. Sharon has an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and an industrial-engineering degree from Georgia Tech.

Amir Kirshenboim joins Vringo with more than 10 years’ experience in product definition, project management, and research and development. Most recently he served as vice president of product and R&D for MobiMate Ltd., the maker of "WorldMate," a worldwide bestselling mobile software product for travelers. He also founded the software companies Smart Mobile Applications and DITIO Software Ltd. Amir has an MBA from Tel Aviv University and will work from Vringo’s Israel office.

Josh Shabtai comes to Vringo from Ketchum Public Relations where he led the agency’s Interactive Strategies Group, a marketing think tank that helps blue chip brands like Best Buy’s Geek Squad, Nokia and Dr Pepper Snapple Group develop Web-based community-engagement programming and social media marketing strategies. Josh holds a degree in mass communications from Boston University. In his off hours, he writes for and appears on On Networks’ Play Value, a podcast focusing on the history of videogames. He will be based in Vringo’s New York office.

"As Vringo expands its worldwide visibility, it is critical for us to also expand our leadership team in order to develop critical products and market segments," said Vringo CEO Jon Medved. "Sharon, Amir and Josh each come to us with diverse backgrounds and experience, but what they share is a drive to make Vringo ever more successful with exciting products for our growing global audience. We’re pleased that they are now focusing their exceptional talents on this goal."

Vringo lets users set their own visual or video ringtone and choose the video, avatar, slide show or picture they want their friends to see when they call. Users can browse Vringo's own large collection of premium content licensed from TV, video and music clips. Original Vringos can also be created by using camera phones or downloading pictures or video from existing social networks or other Web sites.

Vringo is available on Nokia Series 40 and Symbian Series 60 devices, J2ME and Windows Mobile platforms across devices from a number of device makers in addition to Nokia, including Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and BlackBerry-maker, RIM. The company continues to increase the number of compatible devices; a complete list is available online.

About Vringo
Vringo is making mobile Personalization 2.0 a reality by enabling users to experience rich media ringtones on a wide variety of mobile devices and for the first time to share that media with others within a community. Vringo is backed by Warburg Pincus and by private investors.
According to a leading US news paper, "Vringo has to be seen to be believed," so to see for yourself.