Start up launches multiple mobile platform content delivery system
A new company has designed a mobile system which allows content to be read by any device using any platform, including WAP and i-Mode
(11/20/2000)
Argogroup has won a third round in funding and received technical backing from both Lucent’s wireless Internet division and Logica, which aims to bring i-Mode to Europe.
Argogroup’s solution can be integrated into content providers’ and operators’ existing mobile sites to provide a seamless migration to the easier way of content design working the technology provides.
The company has filed 12 patents around the world to cover its technology. Argogroup chief technical officer Richard Jelbert said: “We have used ‘extreme programming’ for our pipeline architecture.”
Jelbert said Argogroup’s solution can support content to any handset in WML, CHTML, HTML, HDML and MML mobile languages. The C++ architecture developed by Argogroup is designed to sit alongside the mobile Internet gateway, and convert the house content of the operator or content provider into a different format when required by a handset.
Jelbert said Argogroup continually logs the personal characteristics of each handset on the market to enable its software to stay on top of the game. This is necessary, said Jelbert, because even within the WAP market in Europe, different phones read sites in slightly different ways, leading to errors.
These errors, usually involving spurious characters, can be eliminated using Argogroup’s solution. Jelbert said the technology will also help alleviate the worsening skills crisis in the mobile Internet market. With a shortage of programmers with basic WML skills, the European market does not have the capacity to cope with different technologies like i-Mode in CHTML.
Even with the expected growth of straight HTML to mobile devices, thanks to the widespread introduction of GPRS in Europe next year, Argogroup should be in a position to support the mixed mobile language markets which are expected to prevail.
In data-advanced Japan, WML, CHTML, HDML and MML are all used to a lesser or greater degree, so if Europe is to expand in different directions, it will need some integration help.
Logica wireless Internet solutions manager John Doyle said: “This technology enables content providers to offer ‘write once, publish to all’ wireless solutions, whilst preserving the original data quality.
“Argogroup is focused on a key component in the mobile Internet value chain and is addressing an immediate market need.”
Lucent has agreed to work jointly with Argogroup’s developers, to integrate the solution within its wireless Internet solutions. Argogroup will present a full run down of the so far nameless product at the end of the month, including cost details.
Jelbert said the cost model will be flexible, but will probably involve either per user or per transaction charges.
Argogroup has just received an extra $20m in funding to bring its total financial backing to $30m. Its backers include Apax and 3i, which have been involved for the last two years
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