Sega.com

From Sega Retro

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Sega.com
Founded: 2000-04[1]
Defunct: 2003-08[2]
Merged into: Nokia
Headquarters:
San Francisco, California, United States

Sega.com, Inc. (not to be confused with Sega's official website) was a company owned by Sega of America established to handle Sega's online presence in the United States. It was established in April 2000[1].

Sega.com was responsible for many online and communications projects during the early 2000s. It had a hand in maintaining the Sega Dreamcast Web Browser[3].

The company was initially established to manage SegaNet; a Sega-manged internet service provider tailored for use with the Sega Dreamcast. SegaNet was designed to provide responsive online gaming low bandwidth internet connections (typically users hooked up to 56kb/s dial-up modems) - Sega.com would later use this technology to develop Sega Network Application Package (SNAP), bringing the benefits to other platforms (including the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube[4]).

In December 2000 Sega.com acquired online entertainment company FamilyWonder, Inc.[5]. Sega.com also found itself establishing a mobile device division, Sega Mobile in 2002. From 2001-2003, Sega.com also operated SEGA's official website.

While its operations were based predominantly in the US, it was quick to establish an Asian division in Hong Kong[6] which attempted to bring online Dreamcast services to non-Japanese markets in the region.

Sega.com was acquired by Nokia in August 2003[2], with its SNAP technology being integrated into the N-Gage. Sega Mobile continued to operate as a separate venture within Sega, and operations of the SEGA website went to Sega of America itself.

List of staff

References


Timeline of Sega of America research and development divisions