Mobio dials India

By Vivek | April 2nd, 2007 at 04:27 pm ET         

Mobio Networks today announced that it is partnering with the digital wing of India’s largest newsprint/media companies Times Internet Limited (TIL) to distribute new mobile mashup applications. Besides TIL, Mobio is also partnering with nine mobile operators to distribution of these mashups. So, what do users get out of these partnerships? Well to start with Mobio has developed new applications centered around 2007 Cricket World Cup-themed services such as Indiatimes Cricket Station for live scores and Howzzat!!! for fantasy cricket. You can checkout the mashup at GetMobio/Cricket. Mobio’s cricket applications will be prominently featured “on-deck” with Airtel, one of India’s largest wireless operator. In addition, eight other operators including BPL Mobile, MTNL Mumbai, MTNL Delhi, Aircell, Spice Karnataka, Idea Cellular, BSNL and Hutch will offer the applications. Both applications are currently available on some of the most popular phone models for a one-time download price of $4.99 in the US or Rs. 99 India.

Aside from that Mobio is looking into launching mashups for gaming, shopping, restaurant reservations and entertainment, deployed right on the mobile phone. Mobio’s functional play in regards to TIL will be to provide technical and operational support for successfully build and deployment of customized mobile applications on top of Indiatimes’ Web content and resources. I think this a right strategy for Mobio or any other mobile app developer to take right now since India’s mobile network are not as policy entrenched as in US, while the market is also growing a torrid pace. India is forecasted to have the world’s 3rd largest mobile population with over 100 million mobile in the hands of people by the end of 2007.

Links:
Mobio India
Mobio Cricket