Public relations agency recognized for successful campaign  in continuing Bejeweled’s dominance as the world’s top game among PDA users

TOPEKA, Kan. (April 13, 2004) - - TalonPR, Inc., a public relations and brand communications agency, has received an Award of Distinction from The Communicator Awards, an international awards competition that recognizes outstanding work in the communications field. The Award of Distinction, in the category of “Marketing/Promotion/Campaign,” recognizes TalonPR for successfully waging a publicity campaign that helped Astraware’s Bejeweled to consistently maintain its position as the world’s most popular game for handheld devices.
     TalonPR began representing Astraware in December 2001, a full seven months after Bejeweled was introduced to the marketplace. The media coverage since the agency began its campaign has been significant, with the product receiving a number of glowing reviews and numerous press mentions. Bejeweled was named as Best Commercial Game co-winner by Handheld Computing Magazine and most importantly, is still ranked as the best selling game at Handango, the number one online store for handheld computing products.
     Howard Tomlinson, Astraware’s CEO, was absolutely delighted with the results of a Bejeweled Birthday promotion designed and implemented by TalonPR, Inc. The company received 10,863 contest entrants, of which nearly 4,000 were not previous Astraware customers. During the time of the promotion, Astraware experienced a 15% sales increase (during a period in which they would have otherwise expected a 5-10% downturn due to general economic conditions).
     “Sales have remained buoyant since then, so the increased traffic and publicity has had a longer effect,” says Mr. Tomlinson.  “TalonPR has helped Astraware move from being a small company to its dominant, well promoted position today.”
     TalonPR has built a successful specialty practice in representing developers of mobile computing technologies, including Beiks LLC, Corsoft, Electric Pocket, SplashData, and StylusCentral, among others. The agency’s services to these companies include coordinating media relations campaigns, general communications consulting, writing & editing, and providing tradeshow support, among other strategic business activities.
     “Our goal has been and always will be to provide an exceptional level of service—both to our clients and the media—enabling our firm in the heartland to build a successful business specializing in the most exciting high-tech sector today,” said Kevin Doel, president of TalonPR, Inc.

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