Social networks are driving the mobile internet boom and having already signed a major distribution agreement with StudiVZ in Germany, Nimbuzz enters Italy with a bang by partnering with Banzai Group’s Giovani.it, the biggest, in Europe’s hottest market, to lead the charge and make it big.

Banzai Group will promote the new features to members across the social network Giovani.it (2 million users), and sister portals Studenti.it and Girlpower.it., via on-site advertising, links to a bespoke download page, newsletters and blogs.

Italy Facts (according to Comscore, see below) :

• SMS: highest usage in Europe – 86.3%
• 3G: highest penetration in Europe – 39.2%
• Smartphone: highest penetration in Europe – 25.7%

The revenue sharing deal will see Nimbuzz powering the web and mobile chat for Banzai Group site Giovani.it and strengthens an important part of Nimbuzz’s commercial distribution model of partnering with online communities.

After successful beta testing, web and mobile chat is now available for all Giovani.it members. Nimbuzz branded webchat, hosted on Giovani.it, enables IM conversations among all community members. The full Nimbuzz portfolio including VoIP calls and file-sharing across popular instant messaging communities will soon follow.

Nimbuzz CEO Evert Jaap Lugt: “Partnering with Giovani.it is the perfect way for Nimbuzz to achieve a strong Italian brand and quickly generate new users. Strategic deals such as this also strengthen our advertising proposition as we become an integral part of an active and social community.”

Banzai is an Italian group focused on internet market and media market, e-commerce and web services. Founded in 2006 by Paul Ainio, one of the pioneers of internet Italian, and Andrea Di Camillo, Banzai controls more than 20 companies. With over 7 million unique users ranks among the top players in the Italian web, along with Telecom Italia, Wind, Gruppo L’Espresso and RCS (Nielsen Online –February 2009).