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Synchronica predicts surge in mobile IM use during world cup

11 June, 2010

Synchronica plc, the AIM listed mobile email, instant messaging and data synchronisation provider, announces that it has received a purchase order for a mobile operator (“the Operator”) in Argentina for its award winning product, Mobile Gateway.

Synchronica plc, the company behind the technology used for services such as South Africa’s noknok mobile IM service, is predicting a significant surge in the use of IM chat services as the country hosts the World Cup.

Football fans from both emerging and developed regions will use Mobile IM as a handy way to communicate with friends and family and to access online communities such as themed soccer chatrooms.

Carsten Brinkschulte, Synchronica’s CEO, comments: “As World Cup fever takes hold, even the most ambivalent of football fans will find themselves drawn into discussions on the highs and lows of their team’s performance. Being able to IM with friends and family and on soccer chat rooms from their mobile phone allows people to communicate in real time as goals are scored and matches are won and lost. I’m confident that IM chat services will see a significant rise in popularity during the tournament.”

Synchronica’s Mobile IM solution allows subscribers to send one-to-one messages and pictures to friends, as well as to chat with like-minded fans on themed chatrooms. The service offers a superior user experience while driving up ARPU with features such as the ability to express emotions, set moods and communication contexts, initiate one-to-many communications, facilitate chatrooms and other more bandwidth-intensive file exchanges including picture messaging.

Synchronica’s solution provides an IM client for all major mobile platforms, including those based on Symbian and Java 2 ME platforms. For legacy non-J2ME handsets there is a WAP client, while for basic handsets that cannot download the IM client, IM messages are converted into SMS/MMS messages. There is also a PC client, which extends the usability of the service.

Data plans vary, but for many post-paid subscribers this type of service is offered free as part of a flat monthly data plan.

Synchronica’s mobile IM technology arises from its acquisition of Colibria's IMPS instant messaging business earlier this year. Synchronica will continue to develop, market, and support Colibria's open standards-based IM technology as a stand-alone product. The software will also be integrated into Synchronica's Mobile Gateway messaging suite and will be pre-installed on the recently launched MessagePhone, a low-cost messaging-centric handset powered by Mobile Gateway.

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Synchronica acquires Colibria's IMPS instant messaging business

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