Despite major competition from sources like Nokia, Synchronica continues to drive it’s low-tech mobile email solution in developing markets. The provider has just announced a Mid East operator win – and as per usual, it is being hush hush as to who it is.
Synchronica Mobile email:
The Synchronica mobile email service is called Mobile Gateway, and it is deceptively simple and incredibly useful. It is designed to allow users to send emails to people who only have access to SMS on their devices. The way it works is this: I send an email to your phone via Synchronica. You receive a preview SMS with the first 140 characters of the email in it. Based on that preview, you decide whether you want the rest of the mail or not. If you accept it, you’ll receive the entire thing broken down into SMS-sized chunks.
Synchronica has announced a $162,000 contract from a mobile operator in the Middle East for an initial 100,000 user license for Mobile Gateway, plus professional services. It is understood that this is just an initial contract, and that Synchronica is already in talks with the operator about further license purchases.
For some reason, Synchronica has a strict “don’t tell” policy when it comes to new operator deals. What we know is that the network has over six million subscribers, and that the service is expected to be up and running by early October.
What we think?
I’ve been following Synchronica this year, as it has won contracts in Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. I’ve always liked the service because it’s genuinely useful, increases the value of SMS, and is almost always introduced as a free service by operators that sign on to it. This is Synhcronicas first Middle Eastern contract, but if previous experience has shown anything it won’t be its last.
