Colibria keeps hold of SIP/SIMPLE assets
Synchronica has bought Colibria’s IMPS business, plus its social networking gateway, Windows Live Messenger Gateway, and its App Centre.
Synchronica CEO Carsten Brinkschulte told Mobile Europe that the key aspect of the deal is to acquire the operator customer base, as well as future revenues.
The transaction will see Synchronica take over responsibility for Colibria’s 13 operator contracts, as well as 46 people. It is paying $750,000 in cash, plus two tranches of new shares, for the mobile-IM focused business assets of Colibria.
OMA IMPS (Internet Messaging and Presence Server) is a standard protocol used to provide mobile IM and presence-enhanced messaging services. It is specified in the GSMA PIM programme for interoperable mobile IM, meaning that some operators building their own IM communities have used IMPS with a view to interoperating with other communities. But IMPS presence servers and gateways can also be used to open up online communities, such as GoogleTalk, to interoperate with users of “operator” mobile IM communities.
Colibria’s technology will give Synchronica a ready-made and proven mobile IM technology to add to its Mobile Gateway 5 product, which includes push email as well as an OMA IMPS compliant presence server. In time, Brinkshulte said, the two products would be combined.
Colibria will keep hold of its SIP/SIMPLE assets, with which it addresses pre-IMS and IMS opportunities, including support for operators committed to the GSMA’s Rich Communications Suite path.
Brinkschulte said that he saw IMS and SIP/SIMPLE deployments as more geared towards mature markets, whereas Synchronica wants to take its services to the emerging markets. Operators’ “own brand” IM is seen as particularly relevant in emerging markets, though not exclusively in emerging markets. Telecom Italia and Optimus are two European operators with IMPS-based services.
Brinkschulte confirmed that as well as the IMPS assets, Synchronica has bought Colibria’s Windows Live Messenger mobile gateway technology.
“Microsoft has special requirements around the UI and technical protocols,” he said, “and carriers need to know that they are complying with Microsoft’s legal requirements.”
Mobile Europe has been waiting since this morning for a comment or statement from Colibria. When we have that, we will bring it to you.
Here’s Synchronica’s own list of what it has bought:
* Transfer of 13 carrier contracts, including two large carrier groups with an addressable market of more than 320 million subscribers.
* 46 Colibria employees, who will become part of the Synchronica team, ensuring the continuous development of the acquired products and support for transferred contracts.
* Transfer of two reseller agreements with a tier-1 network equipment provider and a leading messaging infrastructure software provider related to the acquired IMPS products.
* Colibria’s Instant Messaging and Presence Service (IMPS), which provides a complete, scalable and OMA standards-compliant mobile operator messaging service.
* Colibria’s Windows Live Messenger Gateway, which allows users to mobilise their Windows Live Messenger service.
* Colibria’s Social Network Gateway, which enables operators to provide an interactive and inclusive mobile social network service as part of an integrated mobile experience.
* Colibria’s dedicated App Centre, a collection of ‘software as a service’ solutions designed to add instant value for the user and boost revenues for the operator through increased traffic, premium services and advertising.