May 10, 2006
Synapse Group goes head-to-head with Kodak and Sony for major telecommunications award in the USA

Synapse Group, a leading provider of innovative contact management and directory platforms for global mobile carriers, has been selected as a finalist for Qualcomm's BREW 2006 "Best Communications Application" award in San Diego with their phone book solution - EasyRoam

The finalists are Synapse Group, KODAK Imaging Network (U.S.), and Sony Corporation/Media Socket Inc. (Japan)

Judging is based on ease of use, originality, "cool" factor, features and "shows likelihood or evidence of commercial success."

EasyRoam addresses the absence of a + code capability in the CDMA networks globally. As mobile customers roam internationally, EasyRoam reconfigures their contacts with the relevant network access and international prefixes in a matter of seconds so that they can make international calls directly from their phone book.

It has been proven by carriers that roaming customers will make more calls if they are able to utilise their phone books when overseas - in turn significantly enhancing the end-user experience.

"EasyRoam significantly increases a carrier's roaming revenues. It is also ideally suited to carriers who are implementing WorldMode™ devices and will allow carriers to secure even greater value from their WorldMode™ implementation," said Mike Heath, Director - Sales & Marketing, Synapse Group.

"To be selected as a final for such an award on the international stage, in what is a very competitive and challenging telecommunications market, further endorses Synapse Group as leaders in the contact management field," he said.

Synapse Group is currently engaged with major mobile operators in South America, North America, and Asia for their respective launches of EasyRoam.

National Business Review - 28 February 2006:
ICT companies off to Sao Paulo
NZTE sponsoring six ICT companies to Telexpo

Six New Zealand ICT companies will participate in Telexpo, Latin America's largest telecommunications trade show and an event that attracts over 40,000 industry professionals from around the world, through a NZTE initiative.

The conference runs from 7 - 10 March.

According to NZTE, participation is being funded through its Enterprise Network programme, but NZTE did not release funding details.

"After several years of frenzied growth in the Brazilian mobile market - subscriber numbers have jumped more than 30 per cent in the last 12 months alone and now number around 90 million connections - the market is consolidating and mobile carriers are focusing on increasing revenues through value added services (VAS)," said Maurice Stilwell, NZTE's ICT sector manager.

"With client base now taking a back seat to profitability the time is right for New Zealand mobile developers to secure business in Brazil. New Zealand mobile developers at Telexpo, like SimWorks, Synapse Group, Navman and Bulletin Wireless, have the expertise to show Brazil's mobile operators how to leverage VAS revenue off their subscriber base."

This is the third consecutive year New Zealand ICT companies have taken part in Telexpo and Mr Stilwell says the previous visits have resulted in good business for New Zealand companies.

Scott Wattie of Latitude Consulting, who will be representing New Zealand companies on the mission to Sao Paulo, says New Zealand's track record as a test bed for the development and deployment of value added services, which have generated real returns for developers and telcos alike, means "we have a real story to tell the Brazilians."

"Brazil is where New Zealand was around two years ago, but it's moving fast. Now is the time to really secure business in this market. Operators know that they don't need to reinvent the wheel, they just need to use the best ideas from other countries and avoid making the same mistakes."

The president of the New Zealand Wireless Forum, Steve Inglis, sees attendance at the Brazil show as an important leveraging opportunity in Latin America for the New Zealand industry.

He said New Zealand has good infrastructure, in depth experience and a nimble, can-do environment.

"It's partly the sheer size of the potential market on the continent along with the drive there to develop new generation wireless networks. Because we have two 3G (3rd Generation) networks in New Zealand working on different standards, Kiwi companies are creating applications across a broad spectrum.

"We can provide the value add that Latin America is looking for."

Christchurch company Blue Water Systems will be exhibiting its capability in ARM based solutions and single board computer modules.

Wellington technology company 4RF will be showcasing its digital radio technology. In a country as vast as Brazil the point to point radio market is worth tens of millions of dollars a year and 4RF established an office in Sao Paulo in 2005 to demonstrate its commitment to the market, NZTE said.

December 2004:
Synapse welcomed into Hi Growth Hall of Fame

Synapse is delighted to announce that it has been welcomed into the New Zealand Hi Growth Hall of Fames in recognition of its rapid rate of growth since its foundation in 2001.

The award is given each year to a handful of New Zealand's most successful hi-tech start ups. These companies must have achieved the following milestones within 2 years of establishment:

• Revenue > $500K
• External capital raised > $500K
• Staff numbers doubled

Mark Loveard, one of Synapse's founding directors said he was delighted to receive the award. "This recognizes the demand for our advanced contact management products by the international telecommunication industry. We are continuing to grow rapidly and wish to thank our customers and staff for their support" said Mark.

For more click here.

June 2004:
What's in a Name?

The laborious manual transfer of phone lists from one cell phone to another may be a thing of the past, thanks to some clever R&s;D currently being carried out by hotshot young company, Synapse.

Now heading into its third year, the company has built on a 2003 year-end sale of its Phone Transfer solution to Telecom and is now on track for a US pilot.

According to Synapse Group CEO Mark Loveard, the solution is a logical extension of the company's existing expertise in wireless, email, diary and directory contact integration and synchronisation.

"Put simply, it enables an almost instantaneous transfer of contact lists from any phone to any phone - typically under a minute," says Loveard. "Clearly it's a major benefit outside the GSM world where users typically have to rekey their entire contact list whenever they change phones."

Synapse has recently signed licence agreements with handset OEM companies including Nokia, Ericsson and Kyocera, with Phone Track offering telcos a product differentiation, and the Telecom sale marks the first within New Zealand.

A number of extra smarts have been built into Phone Tranfer's client/server solution as well as protect the inherent IP. Current enhancements include transferring contact lists using the latest over the air technologies.

"We've built valuable IP and proven it in the market. So I think we are close to moving from early stage to an established business," says Loveard.

Synapse credits its quick start to its home within The ICEHOUSE incubator. According to Loveard, being involved with The ICEHOUSE meant the young company got greater credibility quicker, and their network of global contacts enabled Synapse to leverage introductions into relevant companies.

But despite the undoubted smarts from the kiwi company, the US-centric market is still looking for a localised footprint and Synapse has established a subsidiary in San Diego to establish on the ground relationships with customers and VC's.

"We've got a small handful of US competitors but on close investigation we believe we've hit the market spot on," he says. "One of our competitors has an outdated solution and another is too early for the market. A key driver has been the introduction of number portability in the US, which has become a catalyst for sparking interest in contact portability."

3 November 2005:
Infotech Weekly