Habbo Selected by AlwaysOn as an AO Global 250 Winner
Recognized for game-changing technology and market value
Los Angeles (July 17, 2008) – Habbo, the largest global virtual community for
teens, today announced that it has been chosen by AlwaysOn as one of the AO Global 250
Winners. Inclusion in the AO Global 250 signifies major developments in the creation of new
business opportunities in the global technology industries. Habbo was specially selected by the
AlwaysOn editorial team and other industry experts spanning the globe, based on a set of five
criteria: innovation, market potential, commercialization, stakeholder value, and media buzz.
Habbo and the AlwaysOn Global 250 Top Private Companies will be honored at the AlwaysOn &
STVP Summit at Stanford scheduled to occur on July 22-24, 2008 at Stanford University. This
two-and-a-half day executive event highlights the significant economic, political and commercial
trends disrupting the global technology industries and features the most innovative companies,
eminent technologists, influential investors and journalists in keynote presentations, panel
debates and private company CEO showcases.
Fifty of the top CEOs from the AO Global 250 will present their market strategies to a panel
of industry experts in a “CEO Showcase.”
“The AO Global 250 winners have excelled in key strategic areas in the global technology
markets,” said Tony Perkins, founder and CEO of AlwaysOn. “We congratulate them for their
success in introducing new tools, services, and platforms that are driving the next phase of
innovation and creating real value at an economically uncertain time.”
The AO Global 250 was selected from over hundreds of companies, nominated by a panel of
industry experts in the online technology, media, entertainment, enterprise and greentech sectors
from around the world.
“Habbo is pleased to be included in the AO Global 250 this year and delighted that AlwaysOn
recognizes our industry leadership, achievements and growth over the last year,” said Teemu
Huuhtanen, EVP, marketing, ad sales and business development, Sulake Corporation and president,
North America, Sulake Inc. “Virtual worlds are evolving daily as future-looking brands better
understand the value of online social media and how to best use it as a communications vehicle.
Over the past eight years, Habbo has grown and developed expertise in this arena, and we will
continue to leverage our experience to benefit our partners and users.”
There are currently Habbo communities in 32 countries on six continents. To date, more than
103 million Habbo characters have been created globally and 9.5 million unique users worldwide
visit Habbo each month (source: ComScore).
A full list of all the AO Global 250 winners can be found on the
AlwaysOn Web site.
About AlwaysOn:
AlwaysOn ignited the open-media revolution in early 2003 by being the first media brand to
launch a community blog network. In 2004, AlwaysOn continued to lead the industry in
innovation by engaging its bloggers in a social network. AlwaysOn is also revolutionizing the media
business by applying its open-media principles to its executive event series (Stanford Summit,
OnHollywood, OnMedia, GoingGreen, NordicGreen, and Venture Summit East and West) and quarterly
print “blogozine”. No other media brand has dared to create such open interaction with its readers
and event participants.