Colibria supports emerging markets with instant messaging client for low cost handsets
Colibria launches its Colibria 'Lite' client - designed for low cost java handsets
Colibria, the leading new generation provider of mobile instant messaging (MIM) and Presence-enabled solutions, today announced availability of its Colibria Lite client to support growth in emerging markets. By providing this new client for basic and low cost handsets, operators and service providers will be able to support their drive for mass market service adoption in emerging markets with innovative and compelling MIM services.
Mobile device market saturation in many markets means that over 80% of new mobile phone subscribers in the next four years will come from emerging markets[1]. India, China, Eastern Eastern, South America and Africa have all been highlighted as regions that will drive new subscriber growth.
However, the availability of low cost handsets and compelling services will be crucial in ‘connecting the unconnected’ and supporting the social and economic development of many emerging market countries. The relatively high availability of mobile networks, but relatively low penetration of PCs and broadband, makes MIM and Presence services extremely compelling as it provides instantaneous group-based dialogue and reduces barriers to communication for mobile users.
The Colibria Lite client provides basic MIM and Presence functionality for a wide range of low-end handsets. Features include Presence availability, mood, status text and alias within the contact list - enabling users to manage and express their availability to chat according to the context they are in. As with Colibria's other leading solutions, the operator has the ability to brand the client so that it compliments their existing look and feel, while fitting into a complete end-to-end service offering.
"New interactive services and communications are not just for Smartphones and high end devices," comments Lars Kristian Roland, Chief Technology Officer at Colibria. "We are constantly striving to drive take-up of mass market mobile IM by helping operators achieve the widest possible handset support across both developed and emerging markets."
Combined with Colibria's leading end-to-end functionality for user provisioning, silent login, Presence authorization, subscriptions and OTA download support, the Colibria Lite client brings rich MIM and Presence to a much wider market.
About Colibria
Colibria is the leading global provider of new generation mobile IM (MIM) and Presence-enabled solutions. Colibria’s award-winning technology enables operators and service providers to evolve their messaging services for the next phase of growth in interactive communications.
Operators are now deploying MIM and Presence in order to differentiate their services and to unlock new revenue streams. Colibria's server and client product suite provides highly scalable and modular solutions for the deployment, expansion and growth of MIM, Rich IP messaging and new generation Presence services.
Colibria is fast becoming the platform of choice for mobile IM deployments worldwide. Founded in 2000, Colibria has offices in the UK, Norway, Belgium, Spain, Singapore and the Philippines. Colibria powers a growing number of mobile communities throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America with a total addressable subscriber base in excess of 350 million worldwide.
Colibria’s investors are Northzone Ventures (www.northzone.com), Verdane Capital (www.verdanecapital.com) and Ferd Venture (www.ferdventure.no).
[1] Taken from ABI Research’s report on Ultra Low Cost Handsets - Critical Considerations for Device Manufacturers, Semiconductor Vendors and Mobile Operators (Q1, 2007)