Fastap Hindi Language Platform

A new technology, “Fastap,” is set to become a major force in the Indian mobile market. Digit Wireless (www.digitwireless.com) has developed Fastap enabling keypad technology, which is at the foundation of the Fastap Hindi Language Platform. This new platform allows a multi-level keypad to contain the full Latin and character-rich Hindi alphabets, in addition to a numeric dialpad, on a mainstream form factor mobile phone for the Indian mobile user. The result is a mobile device with a keypad that significantly simplifies text entry in Indian languages resulting in simple discovery, access and use of messaging and mobile data services when compared to traditional mobile phones.

“India’s mobility is rising at an unprecedented rate, and with its adoption in non-English speaking locations outside metro cities growing steadily, mobile operators and device manufacturers are challenged by the increase in demand for functionality to support non-English-speaking people in these regions,” said CEO Robert Blumenthal of Digit Wireless. “Fastap Enabling Keypad Technology and our Hindi Language Platform is a critical evolution of the existing interface that will empower Indian mobile users within these specific locations to utilize messaging and mobile data services in their preferred language.”

Virgin Mobile’s Indian Venture

With India now the second largest mobile market in the world it seems only natural that all the big players want to get a piece of the action. Virgin Mobile (www.virginmobile.in) becomes India’s first nationwide youth-focused mobile service. As virtual operators are not allowed in India, the deal does not follow Virgin’s typical 50/50 joint venture mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) strategy. Instead, Virgin Mobile’ CDMA services are being offered to consumers by Tata Teleservices (TTL) through a brand franchise with the Virgin Group.

At the service’s launch, Richard Branson, Chairman and Founder of the Virgin Group stated, “At Virgin Mobile we believe that the existing operators are all pursuing the same strategy: to get as many subscribers as quickly as possible. Virgin Mobile’s strategy is different. We want to deliver a more tailored, more relevant offering for a single, distinct segment.”

TTL’s Virgin Mobile offers India’s youth several industry “Firsts” that include “Get Paid to Receive Calls,” “One-touch VAS access from every Virgin Mobile-branded handset,” “Call More for Less,” “True Care” and a value-for-money handset range. The company launched with six handsets, with prices starting as low as Rs.1,800 and going up to Rs.5,500 – all color and FM enabled.

“There are more than 215 million Indians aged between 14 -25 years old. Over the next three years, we expect this segment to be adding over 50 million new youth subscribers and to have mobile service revenues of over Rs.350 billion,” said Jamie Heywood, Deputy CEO, Virgin Mobile India. “We believe Virgin Mobile can capture more than 10 percent of this incremental market within 3 years of launch.”

MySpace India Launched

The social network MySpace (http://www.myspace.com), has launched MySpace India (http://in.myspace.com), a new dedicated community designed for Indian users. MySpace India will focus on delivering the best possible experience of content and culture through a range of industry partnerships and product innovations including an alliance with Star TV, India’s largest television network, to create an original network television program “Campus Star” featured on Channel V (http://www.myspace.com/channelv). The new show, currently airing on television in India, is a nationwide college talent competition featuring celebrity judges and the voting MySpace audience. Additionally, MySpace is committed to working with local developers across India and empowering them with the necessary tools to build applications for the site’s more than 250 million registers users worldwide.