SINGAPORE: Mobinil has selected Followap, the leader in mobile instant messaging (IM), presence and interconnect solutions to power its own brand of instant messaging services. Subscribers to Mobinil s operator IM service will be able to enjoy the benefits of real time communications on their mobile device through Followap s Instant Messaging Service Center (IMSC). Market trends indicate that operator branded IM is quickly becoming one of the most important real-time communication services across the globe, and is an important Groupe Spéciale Mobile Association (GSMA) initiative. Mobinil s plans to rollout mobile instant messaging is another example of the growing momentum behind this exciting communications service, said Alex Sinclair, the chief technical officer of the GSMA, the global trade association for mobile phone operators. The GSMA is working with the industry to ensure their technology is fully interoperable so that users can exchange messages across networks and a factor that has been instrumental in the enormous success of text messaging. Mobinil is committed to enable mobile subscribers in Egypt to communicate in a dynamic and friendly manner, and IM is an intuitive and efficient service which will meet our customers needs, said Herve Suquet, vice president and chief operating officer at Mobinil. We selected Followap s IMSC and IM clients to provide the best service to our customers, and we expect IM to become a core part of our service offering, concluded Suquet. Followap s drive for IM and presence interconnectivity builds on Followap s lead in the operator-branded IM market. First launched in 2000, Followap s iFollow IMSC powers over 15 operator-owned communities worldwide. Followap is providing this connectivity using its interconnect platform (ICP). Followap is the leading provider of presence, instant messaging and interconnect solutions to the telecommunications industry. Pioneering in this field, Followap s customer base today consists of over 25 network operators, with a combined user base of about 300 million subscribers. Mobinil representatives were unable for comment at the time of this articles publishing.
