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SINGAPORE: Leading industry mobile software companies have formed an alliance in Singapore to help smaller firms that are planning to expand overseas.
Launched at industry convention CommunicAsia 2009, the grouping will focus on innovations in mobile software application.
Mobile software covers a wide range of applications, from technology such as maps on mobile phones, to the use of email on the go.
In 2007, the industry was estimated to be worth some US$78 billion globally, and this is expected to grow to US$450 billion in the next three years.
The grouping, known as the Mobile Alliance and comprising leading software firms, will help companies in Singapore grab a slice of this rapidly growing pie.
President of Mobile Alliance, Boudewijn Pesch, said: "What we will do is… exchange information with companies that are part of the alliance. So there is a good and solid understanding of who is doing what, and how we can help each other to generate more business... to use Singapore as a knowledge base, and then to generate knowledge and revenues globally."
Mobile Alliance is targeting to position Singapore as a "centre of mobile excellence" in Asia, and will work with a number of industry stakeholders such as IE Singapore and the Mobile Marketing Association.
In the last two weeks, some 40 companies have joined the Mobile Alliance, and with the growth of the software industry here in Singapore, the grouping is targeting to have 100 members by the end of the year.
One of the developers involved in the alliance hopes that it will provide marketing expertise and funding to smaller companies eyeing international markets.
CEO of BAK2U and honorary secretary of Mobile Alliance, Paddy Tan, said: "Singapore is a rather small market compared to the rest of the world. What we hope to do is consolidate all these efforts and launch them overseas as an association itself."
Research Manager at IDC, Aloysius Choong, said: "I think the Mobile Alliance serves a certain purpose, in terms of bringing together different developers and giving them strength in numbers. One of the points that developers have talked to me about is by bringing together multiple developers. They may then be able to go overseas and participate in overseas trade show, and bring out their names."
Members of the group say the exact strategy to achieving its aims has yet to be spelt out, but they say funds received from membership fees will be used to support project development.
Membership fees are S$300 for the first year, and S$500 per year thereafter.
- CNA/yt
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