Ralph Simon

Ralph Simon is regarded as a founder in the modern Mobile Entertainment Industry.

Simon co-founded the independent Zomba Group of music companies (now a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment) with Clive Calder in the 1970s. In the mid-90s, he was Executive Vice President of Capitol Records and Blue Note Records in Hollywood and started EMI Music's global New Media division. He started Yourmobile (later renamed Moviso), the first ring tone company in the Americas, Europe, UK, Australia and Africa, in 1997.^[1]

In 1998 Simon predicted that, "Mobile phones would become the indispensable voice/social networking and music companion for consumers and their increasing mobile lifestyles." He worked on convincing United States music publishers to grant the very first ring tone rights. This resulted in the dubbing of Simon as "The Father of the Ring Tone."^[1]

Mobile Entertainment magazine has named him as one of the world's Top 50 executives in Mobile Entertainment three times, in 2005, 2006, and 2008. In 2007, he received its special award for Outstanding Contribution to the Global Mobile Entertainment Industry.^[1]

Simon heads the Mobilium Advisory Group. He is the founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Mobile Entertainment Forum – Americas. In 2013 he was appointed Global Ambassador for the CTIA - The Wireless Association of the Americas. CTIA is the Washington DC-based international organisation driving wireless device certification, policy and all aspects of the wireless and mobile industry innovation and development. Over the past 10 years, Simon has also developed a well-deserved reputation for being an excellent public speaker and provocative moderator at major international conferences and conventions, and if often seen speaking in India, Eastern Europe, North America and Africa. Simon is commonly known for popularising the term: "Screenagers" - his exemplification of today's mobile device users now aged from 6 - 90. ^[1]

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