HP and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) Tuesday signed memorandum of intent to promote the development of wireless applications in Singapore and Japan.
According to a joint statement, the IDA-HP Mobile e-Services Bazaar (MEB) Partnership Program will enable Singapore-based wireless developers to tie up with Japanese technology partners and benefit from direct access to the corporate headquarters of global wireless players.
The partnership program will leverage HP’s Tokyo Bazaar (there are four others in the world — Helsinki, Finland, Silicon Valley and Singapore) to facilitate the access of Singapore-based wireless companies to the technologically advanced Japanese market.
It will support a minimum of five Singapore-based companies expanding into the Japanese wireless market for the first year. Japanese wireless companies will also be supported in the export of their technology into Singapore. Both HP and IDA will screen applicants based on business models and technology value.
“We are committed to helping Singapore-based companies succeed in creating innovative mobile solutions,” said Khoong Hock Yun, IDA’s assistant chief executive. “We value HP’s demonstrated capabilities and success in their Mobile e-Services Bazaars, and welcome them as the first partner in our OBC (Overseas Business Center) initiative of the Wired With Wireless program.”
“Through this partnership, wireless developers in Singapore will be able to gain early access to the Japanese market, as well as benefit from global expertise in wireless applications.”
When Japanese operators launch 3G network services in October 2001, Singapore-based developers of mobile e-service solutions stand to gain tremendously from beta testing their applications on a ‘live’ 3G network, the statement read.
Kelvin Tan, director of HP’s Mobile e-Services Bazaar in Asia Pacific, added, “With the rapid expansion in the mobile space in Asia Pacific, the partnership program serves to provide companies a ‘live’ environment for incubating and promoting wireless applications in the expansion of their Asia-Pacific businesses.”
