NMS Communications Acquires MessageMachines
NMS Communications has announced the acquisition of privately held MessageMachines, a Boston-based wireless infrastructure software developer of cross-device message switching technology. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The move further advances NMS' initiative to supply wireless service providers with open and complete voice-enabled application systems, integrating applications that enhance revenue opportunities, reduce time to market, and are cost-effective to deploy and operate within current and next-generation networks. MessageMachines' innovative technology brings NMS strong new capabilities in wireless data and messaging. The company's software routes text messages between wireless networks and all types of real-time communications devices mobile phones, pagers, and PDAs and services, such as presence and instant messaging, calendar management, e-mail, Short Message Service (SMS) and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) messages.
MessageMachines software expands the strengths of NMS HearSay, resulting in the market's first open and complete multimodal solution for wireless operators seeking to offer both enhanced voice and data communications services to their subscribers. NMS HearSay is a multi-application, ready-to-deploy system for voice-enabled communications services such as voice-activated dialing, personal information management (calendar, e-mail, address book), personalized voice portals and more. The addition of MessageMachines software will extend NMS HearSay-based applications to include a broad range of messaging applications and mobile devices. "
The addition of the MessageMachines team and its advanced data messaging software brings the multimodal dimension to NMS' portfolio of solutions for wireless service providers around the world," said NMS Chairman and CEO Bob Schechter. "The infusion of cross-device data messaging into NMS HearSay is only the beginning of the added value. Combining voice, data, and multimodal access provides revenue opportunities for mobile operators today, while opening up entirely new possibilities for the future. And that's exactly the kind of pragmatic approach that service providers tell us is essential to success in today's wireless market."
"The addition of MessageMachines' protocol and message switching to NMS HearSay increases the value of this market-ready solution to wireless operators," said MessageMachines founder Imran Qidwai. "For the MessageMachines team, being part of NMS creates new opportunities to apply our software technology to voice and web platforms, and to capture new markets."
"Multimodal" is increasingly used to describe communications services that can be controlled and accessed through multiple methods, such as speaking voice instructions into a mobile phone and then receiving a text message in return. Messaging services are widely considered as key to increasing average revenue per user (ARPU) in growing markets such as Asia and to heading off ARPU erosion in more established wireless markets such as Europe and North America. For example, in one of the world's most mature wireless markets, Europe, analyst firms forecast that voice-enabled services, especially messaging, will sustain mobile services growth in the coming years.