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Synchronica's SyncML (OMA DS) industry standard-based solution works with the vastmajority of feature phones being used by consumers today, making it an ideal optionfor operators and service providers in Middle East and Africa (MEA). Subscribers inthe region increasingly often rely on their mobile phones as the primary repositoryfor vital contact information, so a backup and restore facility will allow them toguard against losing this data, should their phones be lost or stolen.
In 2004, Zelos research group found that 15 to 20 percent of mobile subscribersexpressed a strong need for a mechanism to backup data, with 66 percent rankingcontact data as the top priority - a service for which consumers were willing to payup to USD 6 per month. This need has probably increased substantially over the pastthree years, as the mobile phone continues to play an ever larger part in dailylife.
"Mobile operators are always looking for new revenue streams, and an over-the-airbackup and restore service may be the first mobile data application beyond SMS to besuccessful in the mass market. As well as providing an additional revenue stream foroperators and service providers, the service can also reduce churn and maintainARPU", said Synchronica CEO Carsten Brinkschulte.
Brinkschulte added: "For many consumers, the mobile phone has become their maincommunication channel, and they often use only the phone's address book to storephone numbers. If they lose their phone, they lose contact with their socialnetwork. Think of our Mobile Manager Backup & Restore as an insurance policy foryour personal data."
As well as providing a safety net for consumers who lose their phones, a backup andrestore service also makes upgrading to a new phone easier. Customers can use thebackup and restore facility to transfer their personal information over the air(OTA) to their new phone. Mobile Manager Backup & Restore provides users with aneasy to use, web-based interface for setting up and configuring their phone and forrestoring data.
One of the first customers using Synchronica's backup and restore solution is theNorwegian mobile operator NetCom. NetCom has 1.4 million subscribers and is a whollyowned subsidiary of the TeliaSonera group.
"We wanted to be able to offer our customers an OTA backup and restore facility fortheir personal data which would mean that a change of phone - either due to loss orupgrading - would not mean losing all important information", said Arne Igesund,Manager of Data Services at NetCom. "With the Synchronica solution, we can provideour customers with seamless data migration from one device to another, quickly andeasily. We also liked the fact that Synchronica's software is based on the SyncMLopen standard, meaning it works on a wide range of devices."
Synchronica's Mobile Manager backup and restore module is based entirely on thedominant SyncML / OMA DS industry standard supported by the majority of featurephones and smartphones from all leading vendors. Unlike other solutions, it does notrequire a client to be installed on the device, but instead uses the built-in SyncMLclient on the device. Since it does not require an additional client, it works withmass market feature phones - a clear requirement for a successful productintroduction in the consumer market. According to a recent study from Visiongain,more than 1.3 billion devices in the market already have a built-in SyncML client.
The solution includes built-in connectors to carrier-grade personal informationmanagement (PIM) systems, such as Sun Java System Communications Suite, providing aweb interface for end-users to view and edit their data. Alternatively, it can beintegrated with existing address books and PIM systems, using its flexible pluginarchitecture.
About Synchronica
Synchronica plc develops and markets synchronization and device management solutionsfor mobile operators, device manufacturers, and enterprises. Its product portfolioranges from data synchronization (DS) to device management (DM) and firmware updatesover the air (FOTA). Products include the mobile device management product setMobile Manager Suite and the push email and synchronization solution Mobile Gateway.Headquartered in the U.K., with a development center in Germany and offices in theUSA, Hong Kong, and Dubai, Synchronica plc is a public company traded on the AIMlist of the London Stock Exchange (SYNC.LN). More information is available athttp://www.synchronica.com
For more information, please contact:
Nicole MeissnerChief Marketing OfficerTel.: +44 1892 552 780Mobile: +44 7977 256 412Fax: +44 1892 552 721nicole.meissner@synchronic a.com
