Answered my own question about IGS. It's privately held. Here is what they say about themselves. Does anyone have experience with the Neopoint??
The Company
Founded in October 1997, Innovative Global Solution
(IGS) designs, develops and markets advanced,
user-friendly CDMA wireless communication products
with compelling data capabilities for the consumer
market. Its breakthrough brand of NeoPoint handsets
features innovative technology that merges voice, text,
advanced Internet access and graphical communication
capabilities. Its Network Services Group provides
innovative RF engineering and consulting services to
leading wireless equipment vendors, carriers and
infrastructure manufacturers worldwide. Services include
network system performance analyses, optimization and
benchmarking to assist in the design, optimization and
growth of CDMA networks. Based in San Diego, IGS is
a privately held company with 80 employees.
Mission
IGS aims to unify the wireless and computing industries
with intelligent wireless data communications technology
that lets users communicate in a revolutionary way. In a
complex, often cacophonous and information-rich world,
IGS products allow consumers to capture exactly what
they need to enrich their lives and, in parallel, simplify it.
As a part of that mission, the company is prepared to
enable digital wireless networks to become reliable
information exchange mediums. In addition to assisting
wireless service providers in optimizing their current
networks, the IGS service group also supports providers
in the development and deployment of next-generation
digital wireless networks. Through the synergy of its
efforts to advance wireless technology IGS stands to
benefit as it seeks to manage the data capabilities of its
wireless products.
The Market Opportunity: Delivering on the Promise
of Wireless Computing
The concept of wireless computing is not new. In fact, the
promise of instant access to information without being
tethered to a PC has been around since the early 70s.
Today, the confluence of elements exists to make
wireless computing a reality for the first time in
computing history: the Internet with its richness of useful,
compelling information; market popularization of
electronic data communications, e.g., email; wireless
telephony products at affordable prices; and the lynchpin
- wireless data networks that connect portable computer
devices to the Internet.
As sophisticated consumers are becoming more
technologically savvy to the efficiencies of wireless
technology, the demand for new features on their mobile
phones has increased. The Strategis Group estimates
that digital handset sales will reach almost $10 billion in
the U.S. by the year 2000. Jupiter Communications
predicts that by the year 2002, 15 percent of PCS
handsets expected to ship to U.S. consumers will
incorporate a microbrowser and email client.
IGS-compiled research indicates that over 30 percent of
mobile phone users want computing power and nearly
50 percent of portable computer users want voice
capability to complement their mobile computing power.
A propped-up demand, many industry insiders say, is
building.
To date, handset manufacturers have not delivered what
consumers need, and as a result, no one product has
emerged as a clear favorite. No wonder: the industry's
"smartphone" offerings have yet to evolve from being
expensive and cumbersome products (some with
performance shortcomings), while other smartphone
products have stretched the term "smartphone" by
having limited features. Others still have promised but
not delivered the "next generation" of PDA/PIM and
data-capable phones.
The timing couldn't be more right for IGS to deliver on the
promise of wireless data communications. Hence, IGS
has made the NeoPoint phone market-ready in a small,
attractive form and with a wide array of advanced
functions to satisfy a hungry market and appeal to a
cross-section of upscale users.
Creating the First Personal Communications
Assistant (PCA)
IGS handset products are aimed at a broad market,
taking into consideration usage patterns, motivations,
psychographic profiles, lifestyles, and other factors that
influence consumer needs and purchases of handsets.
Knowing that consumers rarely use everything offered in
a technologically-rich product, IGS specifically gleaned
the features most valued and used by consumers in their
portable PCs, PDAs, PIM programs and wireless
phones. With a vision of creating the first Personal
Communications Assistant, IGS went to work on
delivering the NeoPoint brand quickly through a series of
strategic partnerships that offered top quality in
advanced technologies.
To realize their vision of enhancing personal lifestyles
and business communications through a useful PCA,
IGS has made the feature-rich NeoPoint available at
approximately half the price of other full-fledged
smartphones. IGS is launching NeoPoint with marketing
program calling it consumers' "New Point of
Communication" and a "Simply More Intelligent" option
when it comes to a PCS phone. Because of its features,
it is expected that early adopters will do just that with
NeoPoint adopt it. The firm also plans to target busy
Boomers and Brave Young Entrepreneurs in its
campaigns.
Strategic Partnerships
At the core of IGS' business strategy are the key
relationships that helped propel the company to achieve
a rapid development-to-market cycle with NeoPoint and
future products.
Central has been the backing of an engineering and
manufacturing powerhouse to ensure the supply of
quality products to meet large consumer demand. From
its inception, IGS has been closely affiliated with LGIC, a
manufacturing giant based in Seoul, Korea. LGIC is an
integrated information/communication company that
produces wireless handsets (CDMA Cellular, PCS and
WLL handsets), CDMA mobile systems, switching
systems, transmission equipment and network products.
LGIC was the first in the world to develop and
commercialize a CDMA cellular system. Headquartered
in Seoul, Korea, the multi-national firm recorded about
US$2.0 billion in revenues in 1998 and operates
state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Korea, U.S.
and Mexico. LGIC executives currently sit on IGS' board
of directors and the relationship provides a solid base
on which IGS is able to develop and deliver NeoPoint
products.
To ensure the growth of innovative solutions, IGS also
developed a series of key partnerships with firms that
create advanced technologies in their respective fields.
Advanced Recognition Technologies (ART), leaders in
voice recognition, worked with IGS engineers to develop
voice recognition capabilities that go beyond dialing.
IGS' relationship with Tegic Communications, Inc.,
creators of T-9 intuitive text technology, allowed the rapid
development of text input through the phone's keypad
without requiring consumers to learn a new script, as is
needed with the Palm Pilot platform. Unwired Planet,
Inc., innovators of wireless Internet technology, have
worked with the IGS software team to implement a
unique Internet microbrowser and other wireless data
capabilities useful to business and personal users.
IGS Management Team
Moving the vision of future needs in a rapidly evolving
world to the successful products and services that will
satisfy them has been a cornerstone of IGS' dynamic
management and engineering team. IGS talent gathered
from around the world comprise a formidable depth of
experience in CDMA technology and business
experience. An example is IGS Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, William Son. Mr. Son played pivotal
role in launching the world's first commercial wireless
CDMA network in Korea, which led to more than 13
million new subscribers. Under his leadership, total
revenues grew to more than $250 million annually in 2½
years in that region.
With vision and track records all focused on building
strong alliances in the network world and introducing
innovative products, IGS has also attracted important
funding. In addition to LG Information & Communications
(LGIC), IGS has received funding by several significant
equity investors including Transpac Capital.
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