China to Get Push to Talk

The Push to Talk software vendor, fastmobile has signed an agreement for marketing, sales and operations in China. This agreement with UP Technologies is the first of its kind bringing fastchat to China's GSM-GPRS networks.

Planned for launch later this year on a range of handsets including the Nokia 6600 Smartphone and an embedded handset from a soon to be announced partner, fastmobile's fastchat instant communications service gives mobile phones the combined power of push2talk (aka voice instant messaging) and multimedia communications. Driven by a presence-based contact list, fastchat seamlessly integrates these messaging mediums into a powerfully simple service that also links the mobile and PC worlds via Instant Messaging and email.

Adam Sewall, SVP of fastmobile, said: "Bringing fastchat to the world's largest mobile phone market represents a significant step for the company. We're very pleased to achieve this milestone with our partner UP Technologies, who deliver a unique ability to distribute our service and work with various handset manufacturers to bring fastchat to an ever growing number of mobile phones."

Sewall added: "The value fastchat offers carriers goes beyond just fueling an increase in person-to-person interactions. fastchat extends its 'push-to' experience to provide consumers instant access to request and share personalized Internet-based content such as enterprise applications, games, simple entertainment and information, all driving carriers' revenues."

Julian Gao, VP at UP Technologies, said: "fastchat's ability to create incremental revenue for the carriers was a critical factor in UP's decision to move forward. After extensive testing of multiple vendors' solutions we chose fastmobile based on the strength of their technology, the anticipated market appeal of their differentiated service and their commitment to the Chinese market."

Mr. Gao added: "fastchat is enabling us to add multiple types of interactive content to our service offerings. This allows us to bring all types of media to multiple users on various handsets and networks. fastchat is now enabling our VIM (Voice Instant Messaging) and other applications to our U-Communicator and U-Pad devices, bringing tremendous value to our enterprise customers."

Gao concluded: "Additionally, the Chinese consumer mobile market will now have an inexpensive and compelling means of multi-modal communications with a vast quantity of content that previously was not practical to deliver."

The commercial contract includes jointly agreed customer commitment goals as well as an undisclosed sum of marketing and promotional investment committed by UP Technologies upon the launch of fastchat in several key provinces."

Posted to the site on 16th February 2004