The National Portrait Gallery has launched a new service whereby Lee Miller photographs can be downloaded to mobile phones...

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The National Portrait Gallery has flung open its doors in more ways than one with its latest exhibition of Lee Miller's famous photographic works. Fans of Miller can personalise their mobile phones by downloading wallpapers of some of her best known images including portraits of Picasso and Alec Guinness along with famous photographs such as Self-Portrait, Floating Head, Nimet Eloui Bey and Solarised Portrait.
 
This is the first time that the National Portrait Gallery has used new mobile internet technology to get art to the masses. Maxus Art created the mobile virtual gallery site using technology from Cambridge-based Bango.

The Bango technology makes it quick and simple for art enthusiasts to access and pay for the photographs they want to download. All they need to do is to send the text message 'go leemiller' to the shortcode number 83055 and they are taken to the virtual gallery to browse the photographs before selecting the one they want. The image is downloaded to their mobile phone and the £5.00 fee billed to their phone bill or paid for using other methods including credit or debit cards. The Lee Miller exhibition runs until the end of May 2005.

Lee Miller (1907-77) was one of the most extraordinary photographers of the 20th century. A legendary beauty and fashion model, Miller soon became an acclaimed photographer in her own right.  This exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery presents more than120 black-and-white portraits from Miller's life, including intimate studies of friends and lovers as well as memorable portraits from her time as Vogue's war correspondent during the Second World War. For more information, visit: http://www.npg.org.uk/live/womiller.asp

"My mother would be delighted that her work was the first to be shown using this new, innovative technology," said Antony Penrose, the son of Lee Miller and her husband Roland Penrose. "It is a great way for more people to experience and enjoy art every day when they use their mobile phones."

"People carry their phones with them all the time and want to personalise them, but not everyone wants a picture of a pop star, footballer or modern design," commented Anil Malhotra, co-founder of Bango.  "Maxus Art has done a great job in delivering the excellent quality photographs from Lee Miller for mobile phones and I am sure this is the start of further promotions."

Maggie Pettigrew of Maxus Art said:  "The National Portrait Gallery's decision to embrace the latest mobile Internet technology to get art to the masses reflects the increasing demand for a more diverse range of mobile content."
 
About Bango:

Bango has developed and deployed an open, global, infrastructure platform that enables content providers to market, sell and deliver their products and services directly to mobile phone users on all mobile networks using the mobile internet. This "off-portal" approach operates alongside the mobile operator's mobile content portals. Leading mobile operators including Vodafone, Orange, Telefonica and O2 work with Bango to accelerate the growth of their "off-portal" business. Leading content brands are now adopting the Bango Service to engage with all of their existing and potential mobile customers directly - irrespective of mobile operator. For further information, go to www.bango.com.