Shape Services Picks Up Warelex For Mobile Video IM
Scrolling through my RSS recently, I came across this post on SMStextnews, announcing that Shape Services had bought Warelex, Inc. Now, to most consumers, those names don’t mean anything. However, when you look at the applications they both offer, something pops out at me, and gets me excited.
Shape Services’ most popular application is easily IM+, the multi-network IM client for S60v3 handsets. With one application, you can connect to AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, Gtalk, and ICQ to chat with your buddies when you’re out and about. Warelex offers the popular Mobiola products, such as Mobiola Web Camera, which allows you to use your mobile phone as a webcam for your computer, to use with - you guessed it - different video IM clients.
My speculation was proved correct when I read the press release, in the opening paragraph:
By uniting the strengths and resources of SHAPE Services and Warelex the integrated company with team of 75+ highly-qualified and gifted people, offices in USA, Europe and Asia will bring new unique mobile Video IM…
The release goes on to list other items on their roadmap, but that’s the one that holds the most promise to me. Mobile video IM. A whole new level of connectivity, and one that doesn’t require anything fancy from your mobile operator. It’s brilliant, I think.
What do you think? Obviously video IM isn’t going to be the killer app that we all leave running constantly, like we do our current IM applications, but I think it’s going to be something that’s really cool.
What lies in the term “Mobile Video IM” I’m not sure of, but operators have long had video calling via 3g. However as I might suspect is that video calls have been expensive.
(At least here in Norway)
Warelex have been providing solutions of mobile connectivity through/accompanied with an PC, while Shape Services have been providing solutions for mainly mobiles.
With the charges of dataplans going down, and wifi networks available through many places the use of “Mobile Video IM” could of course be growing.
The tendency of mobile use have long evolved into more online/internet use and such solutions as mentioned in your post would lower the income from “video calling” for the operators.
It would be interesting to see what kind of new solutions the merged company can provide, but I fear that it could be a repetition of the “video calling” business.
(That because of the high charges are not so popular)
@Cheung - Sure, operators have offered video calling via 3G for some time now, but it’s pricey, requires both users to have compatible handsets *and* an appropriate service plan, only works over 3G (not wifi), AND is only mobile-to-mobile.
Mobile Video IM, on the other hand, separates the carrier from the equation, preventing them from charging outlandish rates (per minute, usually), and allows us to use WiFi, if available. It would also increase the usage, as I could video chat with my mom at her PC from my N95 at a coffee shop, for instance. That’s why I see the potential with this merger.
That is in fact quite true what you’re saying.
Stupid me forgot to think about the fact that video calling is only mobile-to-mobile
No doubt that there is potential on this one, but it’s just that the solutions currently out there haven’t been the most convenient ones.
The Mobiola Webcamera works best when connected via usb although you can connect via Bluetooth. That again requires a PC besides the mobilephone.
The GUI in IM+ is not the best I’ve seen out there of IM clients but it works. (Currently using Slick).
Other than that I think it would be the next application on my wishlist if they now will provide video in their IM client, after merging the two companies.
I would like to know if buy a blackberry could help me use though [metro pcs]thats who i have my cellphone plan with.
Jun 12th, 2008 at 5:00 am
[…] posted before about why I think Video Calling and Video IM is failing now, but has tremendous promise. I myself have used it with a PC and the Nokia Internet Tablet to call […]