Shotformats launches offline applications store, online digital prepaid wallet

Services to be offered via 10,000 retailers nationwide, Biscoot digital currency to create potential of a billion dollar virtual goods market

Shotformats Digital Productions Pvt Ltd, a digital entertainment and VAS company, has launched the world’s first ‘Offline Application Store’ and India’s first online digital currency, Biscoot Digital Prepaid Wallet.

According to a press release issued by  the company, combined together, the two offerings have the potential to change the way the digital entertainment industry markets its offerings across the rapidly growing Smartphone users’ universe across the country.

Offline Application Stores are being launched in a staggered manner and the initial phase will cover about 20 cities in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, UP, and other states. The content will be available in eight languages – Hindi (Bollywood), Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bhojpuri, Marathi and Assamese.

The Offline App Store will distribute digital content such as movies, music, games and apps across more than 10,000 mobile recharge and telephone accessory stores during the next six months. The company claims this will prove to be a legal, good quality and reliable source of content for consumers in comparison to pirated and low quality content available from unreliable sources in the country currently.

The comapny claims in the release that while low cost, big screen and feature-loaded smartphones are now a craze in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, most users do not know how to operate such phones beyond basic calls and messages. It says surveys reveal that only 15% of smartphone users have ever downloaded one or more apps on their mobiles. This situation is tailor-made for offline app stores where consumers can fully use other features of their phones without the complexity of data usage and app downloads.

For consumers who prefer consuming data online, the apps are available on the Biscoot website and will be offered with the Biscoot Digital Wallet, whicj provides and alternative to those who shy away from using their credit/debit cards for online transactions. The currency will be available at retail mobile recharge and telephone accessory shops at the currency unit of one rupee. The Biscoot currency will be available as scratch cards in denominations of Rs 1,000, Rs 500, Rs 100, Rs 50 and so on.

Niyati Shah, MD & CEO, Shotformats, says the company will bring high quality content based offline apps to the nearest shop of the consumer. Consumers will be able to load a movie for Rs 30 or a song for a price as low as Rs 2. Games and apps can be had for Rs 10. The content applications can be transferred on the consumer’s mobile at the outlet and he can use it for as long as he requires, without internet or data connection on his mobiles.

The application or the content cannot be copied to, or shared with, any other device, thus helping create a stream for content owners to monetize their content better, curb piracy and give the entertainment industry its due share of revenues.  
The digital wallet, on the other hand, facilitates online transactions. Consumers will be able to create a digital wallet called Biscoot Batua with their personal login account. They will simply get Biscoot credits from retailers after paying in rupees, and use them for online transactions.