October 23, 2007-In keeping with their astounding success, Microimage has launched its latest spin off: Microimage Mobile Media (Pvt) Ltd.
This new company will focus on providing cutting edge innovative software products,
platforms and services to customers in the mobile and media domain.
All existing IP of its already established range of innovative mobile and media
products will be transferred to this new venture for greater focus and visibility.
Some of the key products include localized messaging and browsing applications for
emerging markets, radio automation platforms and other value added applications
for mobile space. All these are award winning products which have been recognized
both locally and internationally.
“We decided on this spin off to be more focussed and to have clear visibility when
we go out into the market.
We realize the importance of focus in this particular
domain especially when we are represented at global events,” said Harsha Purasinghe,
CEO of Microimage. Harsha has been invited by GSM Association to be a panellist
to share views on the topic “innovations place in developing the mobile service
portfolio” at the up coming GSM Asia Congress Innovation Forum which takes place
in Macau this November.
Over the past ten years, Microimage has transformed from just another provider of
desktop language software into a very successful software research and development
company focusing on providing innovative solutions in key product lines such as
Human Capital Management Software Solutions, Enterprise Software Solutions, and
Mobile Solutions/Software Localization. Key products include Microimage Human Capital
Management, mStudio – Radio Automation, Localized mobile applications for emerging
markets and Helawadana, its flagship local language product. Its domain of expertise
includes Human Resource Management, Media Stations/Broadcasting Industry, Mobile
Applications and Software Localization. Bearing testimony to the company’s accomplishments
are the proudly displayed trophies. In 2006, Microimage was awarded the Best Mobile
Application or Content under the GSMA Asia Mobile Innovation Awards at the GSMA
2006 ceremony. This year, Microimage was again shortlisted and commended at the
GSM Associations 2007 Mobile Innovation Awards at the beginning of this year in
Barcelona, Spain. The 2007 Mobile Innovation Awards attracted innovators worldwide
where young start-up companies presented their ideas to leading industry investors
and mobile operators at the world's largest mobile communications event.
More recently, Microimage was again recognised when Purasinghe was selected the
Most Outstanding IT Entrepreneur at the IT/BPO Leadership Awards organised by ICTA.
“It’s for 12 years of hard work in innovation from school days fun club to a globally
recognized software company,” says Purasinghe who has taken up the offer of a scholarship
to follow an executive program at a prestigious international university.
Microimage’s initial foray into the limelight came when they revolutionised the
mobile telecommunications industry with the launch of the Sinhala and Tamil SMS.
“This has the potential to empower millions of people in rural areas for messaging
and content browsing at a low cost,” said Purasinghe. Since then, Microimage has
localized Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, and Thaana, and has been commissioned
by Dialog Telekom, Airtel India, Dhiraagu Maldives and Tigo. “We believe there is
greater potential for niche innovative mobile applications in emerging markets,”
Purasinghe said.
After the 2004 tsunami, Microimage contributed to another groundbreaking solution
with the Disaster and Early Warning Application (DEWN). Partnered and lead by Dialog
Telecom together with University of Moratuwa-Dialog Research Lab, DEWN combines
the innovative use of Cell Broadcast, Location Based Technology and SMS available
on a GSM network with specialized terminal device technologies to render a cost
effective and reliable mass alert system. DEWN encompasses the multiple areas of
specialized GSM handset applications, proto-type wireless alerting devices for domestic
and specialized use and the deployment of cutting edge Sinhala and Tamil interfaces
to deliver a suite of mass alert solutions applicable to the Sri Lankan environment.
Apart from mobile domain, Microimage provides cutting-edge software for the media
industry where two of Sri Lanka’s media giants already use Microimage broadcasting
automation software. Microimage mStudio is one of the most advanced comprehensive
suits, offering station automation which consists of modules for programming, commercial
scheduling, live on-air play, and many other innovative value additions. This product
won the NBQSA Overall Silver and Media/Entertainment Category Gold in 2004. “We
benchmarked our product against overseas products competing at a recent regional
media solutions event and found out we are in par and in some areas we are far more
innovative than others,” Purasinghe said. Microimage plans to market the product
overseas and is presently looking for business partners.
Some of the other key recognitions include winning the National Science Foundation
Innovation Award and the British Computer Society NBQSA Award. The company’s key
clients include Dialog Telekom (Subsidiary of Telekom Malaysia), Lanka Bell, HSBC,
Commercial Bank, DFCC Bank, Dhiraagu Telecom-Maldives, ABC Radio, MBC Radio Networks,
Bank of Maldives and the Government of Sri Lanka