Spotlight

MobiApps eyeing China and Australia

MobiApps sees huge potential in the integration of communication technology in vehicles, says Vinutha V

Amitabh Satyam Country Head, India MobiApps

Mobile technology is proving to be the next major revolution after the Internet boom. Mobile handsets are just a part of the mobility. Applications such as data connectivity are waiting to be unearthed, while others are in the testing phase.

Driven by belief in this potential, Sanjay Chakrabarty (now Chief Executive Officer of MobiApps Holdings) founded MobiApps, a terrestrial and satellite communication technologies provider, in the US in July 2000. Four months later, it established its Indian subsidiary at Bangalore that focusses on the technology development and production of vehicle tracking products.

Says Amitabh Satyam, Country Head, India, MobiApps, “The US is on the threshold of cutting-edge technology, but due to India’s advantages such as the availability of top-class engineering skills, rapid turn-around time and lower costs, we decided to have our development operations over here.”

In 2002, telematics became the main focus of the company as there was tremendous opportunity in the field. Describing the initial hiccups of the company Satyam says, “Selling mobile application was a challenge in itself. Establishing the business model did not seem rosy, but with our good engineering team we could demonstrate our success.”

MobiApps has built the business infrastructure right from scratch to offer a total solution to its customers that includes process, concept design, validation of concept, design cycle, system design, development and field-testing. The company is in a position to offer data centre capability for its major customers. By partnering with firms such as Omni Track in Malaysia, Al Futtaim in the Middle East and TMT in India, MobiApps can offer better services to all its customers.

Recently, it has joined hands with Tata AutoComp Systems (TACO). The joint venture aims to sell hardware and software solutions to allow companies to manage their fleets and track their vehicles. The new venture plans to develop and market mobile technologies to keep track of vehicles. Through GPS technology, the information is conveyed via SMS or GPRS data transfer or CDMA. The system sends out alerts in case of emergency and uses voice mail. MobiApps holds a 42 percent stake in TACO. Another plan in the pipeline is to have 2.5 lakh vehicles equipped with vehicle tracking solutions by 2008.

Some of the company's customers include Safex, Praxair, First Flight Couriers and the Bangalore Metropo-litan Transport Corporation (BMTC). BPO customers include Progeon and Intelli Global.

MobiApps provided a GPS-based solution to BMTC to track the corporation’s 1,400 buses. The company established a control centre and installed radio transmitters in BMTC vehicles whose signals are tracked by the GPS system.

In Dubai, Hertz, a car rental company, uses MobiApps’ devices in its 5,000 vehicles.

From physical products to end-to-end solutions

Through its range of products such as m-Trak 100, m-Trak 75, m-Trak 50, m-Trak 25 and m100 monitor, MobiApps has been offering solutions to assist fleet managers to have better control over operations while enhancing service to their customers. These solutions help its customers to track vehicles’ performance including logging speed, number of stops, duration of stops and journey records for all vehicles for easy planning, tracking and scheduling.

For verticals in manufacturing, logistics, asset management and fleet management, the solutions help customers track and manage their fixed and mobile assets around the world.

The company also has a product in marine applications that makes tasks simpler and eases emergency situations. It’s an anytime, any help online communication system that provides satellite connectivity whenever and wherever required, adding the ultimate in convenience by providing instant communication 24x7.

Footprints in high-end vehicle tracking solutions

Transportation, which includes fleet management, logistics and customer transportation, is increasingly looking at productivity, safety and security as requirements. “We expect more demand to come from the areas of vehicle immobilisation and sensor integration. Using sound and light parameters, we are working on products that help in detection of fuel levels, door opening, and monitoring remote AC,” reveals Satyam.

Further, it aims to standardise and internalise these solutions in the vehicles. The company is exploring opportunities with original auto manufacturers to integrate communication technology in the vehicles that are fitted with MobiApps’ devices.

Besides, the company also plans to develop products that are independent of vehicles. To cater to this segment, MobiApps needs much more miniaturised and low-power chipsets.

The company believes that the potential for telematics is huge in China and Australia, and aims to make its footprints in these two locations in 18 months. In 2005, venture capital companies In tel Capital and UOB Venture Management together announced an investment of $10 million in MobiApps. The funds will be used to develop next-generation products.

vinutha@expresscomputeronline.com