Gizmondo creator touts smart phone scheme

Acquires enterprise app firm to tackle RIM

By Tony Smith • Get more from this author

Posted in Mobile, 5th November 2004 13:01 GMT

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It's only just started shipping its Gizmondo handheld games console but Tiger Telematics has already said it plans to challenge the likes of Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, HTC, PalmOne and Research in Motion with a smart phone product.

Dubbed 'Bizmondo', the unit is essentially an enterprise-oriented version of the Gizmondo, incorporating that machine's GPS support, GSM/GPRS and Bluetooth connectivity, along with its MP3 audio and MPEG 4 video playback features.

The announcement follows Tiger's acquisition of UK-based corporate-oriented real-time application delivery software developer Integra SP. Integra's AltioLive product essentially provided a way of connecting clients to enterprise applications through a browser-launched Java client. Such a system would naturally form the foundation for Bizmondo's push email/PIM functionality and provide the ability to tie the handheld into enterprise applications and data.

Integra will continue to develop, support and offer AltioLive. And presumably it will in due course promote Bizmondo to its corporate customers, among whom it counts heavyweights in the financial services sectors, including Nasdaq, Deutsche Borse, HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Coutts, Bank of America and ABN Amro. Other customers include Reuters, Bloomberg and Sun Microsystems.

The acquisition requires Integra shareholder approval but if that is granted, the deal will be completed by the end of the month. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Earlier this week, Tiger announced its acquisition of troubled UK games developer Warthog for $8m. ®