The Greek software company Globo, that is developing a messaging software solutions, says it has signed several MoUs with service providers already, ahead of open Beta launch next year.
CitronGo is a handset and web-based application that provides push email, IM and social networking updates to any device, on the Software as a Service (SaaS) model. Globo says it will enable users to have a consistent user experience across all their devices, regardless of the make, model, or functionality of their mobile phone.
Developed by AIM-listed Globo, which has its background in the enterprise server software market, the Java application can work on nearly all phones, Globo says, including all the main smartphone OS platforms. It is designed to synch desktop and mobile usage of web-based applications, as well as Exchange Server information.
As well as synching contacts, mail and IM across devices, the software also allows users to receive messages direct from their Social Networking accounts directly onto the mobile screen.
The service also comes with a web storage element, as you'd expect of a Cloud based service.
Globo Founder & CEO, Costis Papadimitrakopoulos, told Mobile Europe that the advantage of the SaaS model to operators and service provides is that they can offer services bundled with data tarrifs, or on a pre or postpay basis, with no upfront capital expenditure.
Globo already has signed MoUs with a "few guys" in the service provider and VAS provider space, Papadimitrakopoulos said.
Users can either text for an SMS download, or, in time, the application could even be pre-loaded on the handset.
But with native SIP stacks, IM and email clients, as well as third party clients such as Seven, Visto, and all the rest, out in the market, doesn't the opportunity exist for the handset manufacturers to bypass the need for such a service? Nokia, for instance, has recently invested in OZ as well as Intellisync, and already operates web-based services for users. There have also been high profile Open Source and open OS platforms, intended to provide just this native access to messaging, IM and web-base solutions.
"I think the handset manufacturers are an opportunity as well as a threat," Papadimitrakopoulos said. "It may be we can be successful independently or we may have to collaborate in some way. "
"The time of software being tightly tied to the end device will end. It happened in the PC manufacturers in the early 1980s. This time the mobile industry is actually expanding in the same way. Horizontal applications that are appreciated by the user on any device will take off going forward. The user is distressed if the functionality changes as the device changes."
Globo has the product in "closed Beta" at the moment, and will have available for free test in early 2009.
There is more about CitronGo, including a position paper, here