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Integra5 Partners with Sybase 365 to Expand Mobile Operator Market Opportunity with Multi-Device Mobile Messaging

Posted on: Monday, 23 March 2009, 08:00 CDT

Integra5 Converged Services Platform leverages Sybase 365(TM) mobile messaging technology to increase endpoints for SMS messaging beyond mobile handsets

WOBURN, Mass., March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Integra5, the leader in delivering next-generation communication experiences across TVs, PCs, mobile and DECT phones, and Sybase 365, a subsidiary of Sybase, Inc. (NYSE: SY), the global leader in mobile messaging services, today announced a partnership to allow mobile operators to extend their reach with the delivery of social, SMS-centric applications to multiple devices -- based on Integra5's new MediaFriends(R) application suite.

According to CTIA, U.S. SMS traffic grew to more than 75 billion messages per month in 2008 from 7.2 billion per month in 2005. By combining Integra5's ability to deliver converged communications across multiple devices with Sybase 365 mobile messaging technology, the partnership addresses today's evolving communications patterns and provides mobile operators with new opportunities to drive consumer usage and increase SMS messaging traffic at an even greater rate than today.

Deployed in the mobile operator's network, Integra5's platform is uniquely able to route SMS messages between the Sybase 365 mobile messaging platform and users' mobile phones, TVs, PCs and DECT phones. In addition to mobile operators, the partnership also benefits video providers and programmers, enabling the deployment of new TV-based services that incorporate SMS -- such as Integra5's MediaFriends(R) TV Chat -- with no wireless network requirements.

"Our partnership with Integra5 expands the reach of SMS messaging to a new realm of devices including TVs and PCs, ultimately driving a better communication experience for the end user while opening up new revenue streams for mobile operators," said Gregory Dunn, vice president, Americas, Sybase 365. "We plan to continue innovation in integrated mobile messaging, and realize the synergy between social media networking and SMS as a fertile bed for continued development."

Integra5's MediaFriends(R) is a new suite of social media applications that allows users to participate in real-time group or one-on-one chats using mobile phones, TVs, PCs and DECT phones. The first phase of the suite, MediaFriends(R) TV Chat, delivers a social entertainment experience on the TV. Using a remote control, viewers can invite friends to watch TV programming together and engage in chats by sending text messages via their mobile phone and view the conversation directly on the TV. The next phase -- MediaFriends(R) PC Chat -- expands the experience by allowing users to view and participate in multi-device chats directly from their PCs.

"With more than 40 Integra5 deployments across seven countries, the partnership with Sybase 365 further extends our leadership in multi-device converged communications by bringing SMS into the mix," said Meredith Flynn-Ripley, president and CEO of Integra5. "The relationship is an important step in creating new revenue opportunities for mobile operators, video programmers and video providers worldwide."

Integra5 will showcase MediaFriends(R) TV Chat at CTIA Wireless 2009 on April 1-3 in Las Vegas in Sybase 365 Booth #8644 and at The Cable Show 2009 on April 1-3 in Washington, D.C. in the itaas Booth #1401.

About Integra5

Integra5 is the leader in delivering real-time communications and social media experiences that span TVs, PCs and mobile and DECT phones. The company's MediaFriends(R) application suite helps mobile operators, video providers and video programmers build subscriber loyalty and generate new revenues by bringing social entertainment and community capabilities to multiple devices simultaneously. Integra5 is headquartered near Boston, Mass. For more information, visit www.integra5.com.

About Sybase 365

Sybase 365, a subsidiary of Sybase, Inc. (NYSE: SY), is the global leader in SMS, MMS and GRX mobile messaging interoperability, the delivery and settlement of SMS and MMS content, mobile commerce and enterprise-class messaging services. Processing more than 200 billion messages per year, Sybase 365 reaches more than 700 mobile operators and 3 billion subscribers around the world. For more information, visit: www.sybase.com/365. Read Sybase Blogs: http://blogs.sybase.com.

Sybase and Sybase 365 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sybase, Inc. All other company and product names mentioned may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. (R) indicates registration n the United States.

Statements concerning Sybase 365's future prospects, products and business relationships are forward-looking statements that involve a number of uncertainties and risks and cannot be guaranteed. Such statements are intended to reflect Sybase's current views with respect to future events and may ultimately prove to be incorrect or false. Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially include shifts in customer demand, rapid technology changes, competitive factors and unanticipated delays in scheduled product availability. These and other risks are detailed from time to time in Sybase's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q (copies of which can be viewed on Sybase's Web site).

SOURCE Integra5

Source: PR Newswire

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