Beloved 'Talking Tom' smartphone cat eyes Hollywood

SAN FRANCISCO: Smartphone character "Talking Tom" has signed with a top Hollywood talent agency in a sign that "apps" are out to break the bonds of mobile gadgets and hit films and television.

"Talking Tom" has become a global sensation since it was launched by start-up Outfit7 in Slovenia in July of 2010. The digital "pet cat" is an app that responds to touch and repeats what is said to it with a funny voice.

"Outfit7 has quickly established itself as a leader in the mobile entertainment space," said William Morris Endeavor (WME) co-chief Ari Emanuel.

"We see a tremendous opportunity for the company and its characters across multiple entertainment platforms," he continued.

The digital feline was quickly joined by more "Talking Friends" characters that have been downloaded a combined total of more than 135 million times while soaring to mobile gadget popularity.

On Monday, Outfit7 announced that characters "Tom" and "Ben the Dog" are being represented by WME, which has a dazzling client list that includes actress Keira Knightley and pop queen Lady Gaga.

"It's a great validation, not only for our business but more so that apps are becoming a legitimate form of entertainment up there with films, TV, and videogames," Outfit7 chief marketing officer Paul Baldwin told AFP.

"And in some ways they have become more powerful because you can't carry those other ones around in our pocket, touch them and poke them."

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011