press clips : : visual quest india

	Visual Quest Joins Nokia Developers' Club, Financial Express, May 6, 2002 In yet another example of recognition of Indian companies' progress in the development of wireless technology solutions, telecom major Nokia has endorsed Hyderabad-based Visual Quest India (VQI) as one of its preferred mobile application developers. VQI; the only Indian company to join the elite Nokia group comprising Computer Associates, Sybase, Oracle, Cable & Wireless at the Nokia Mobile City, has successfully implemented its latest product Visual Mail, a person-to-person animated picture messaging application for Nokia's network, said Visual Quest CEO and managing director Birad Yajnik. Visual Mail is compatible With both GSM and WLL services, Mr. Yajnik added. "Nokia will help VQI publicize and promote the new application in the global market through its Website and will offer these value added services to its customers, " Mr. Yajnik ;told eFE. Commenting on the product, Mr. Yajnik said that Visual Mail would allow users to create, send, receive and monitor animated picture messages from-and-to other wireless and Internet-enabled devices. As part of the Visual Move Application Server, Visual Mail is a, software that enables the delivery, management and viewing of interactive media content over wireless networks. Mr. Yajnik said, "A picture speaks a 1,000 words, and in the present mobile environment of small screens and compact devices the effect of an animated picture multiplied exponentially." "Visual Move server version 1.0 is based on a unique implementation and combination of extensible markup Language (XML), video encoding and compression technologies. It also utilizes an integrated delivery mechanism, using both short messaging service (SMS) and wireless application protocol (WAP) as required and applicable)" Mr. Yajnik said. "The 'Nokia OK' stamp is the mark of mobility, which enables customers to enjoy exciting third-party products and applications that add new dimension to the1r Nokia products." Mr. Yajnik pointed out. "The 'Nokia OK certification has come at the right time, when the market for data applications in India and South East Asian countries including Dubai and UAE is poised for an explosion," he said. The Indian market, in particular, is set to undergo a sea-change in the next one year's time with the introduction of GPRS and other 3G technologies in the mobile segment. "We expect that the customers will be allowed to use picture messaging under both WLL, CDMA, and GSM networks," he said.	back
	........................... .....................................................
	Nokia backs VisualQuest product, Financial Express, December 27, 2001 Visual Quest India Private Lmited (VQI), a wireless solution provider, has been chosen as one of the preferred mobile applications developers by Finland-based mobile phone major Nokia for the latter's network. VQI has joined the Nokia's elite group comprising Computer Associates, Sybase, Oracle, Cable & Wireless at the Nokia Mobile City, thanks to the successful implementation of Visual IM (Instant Messenger) with a Nokia product recently. Mobile City is the home for companies working with Nokia for the future mobile technologies. Nokia is set to approve two more VQI products - VisualMail and Visual Script with its 'Nokia OK' stamp in a week's time, Birad Yajnik, managing director, Visual Quest, told The Financial Express. Japan's NTT DoCoMo is said to be only company which offers these kind of applications under iMode, which is limited to Japanese markets only, he said. Apart from this, Nokia would assist VQI in publicizing and promoting these applications in the global market through its website and would offer these value added services to its US and European customers soon, Yajnik said. The 'Nokia OK' is the mark of mobility given to third party products and applications, which have been tested with a Nokia product, he said. While Visual Mail is an interactive animated messaging over Internet-enabled phones, the Visual Script would enable to receive contents in different languages, Yajnik said. All these three applications have been developed under VisualMove-an application server that enables wireless service providers (WSPs) to provide applications with interactive media and content which will work both on GSM and CDMA networks, he said. "This is a major recognition to Visual Quest, which has spent more than 18 months to develop these applications under Visual Move - an application server for the wireless service providers to offer applications with interactive media contents," Yajnik said.	back
	........................... .....................................................	back
	Nokia okays Visual Quest's Messenger, Business Standard, December 6, 2001 Visual Quest India, a city-based wireless solution provider, has announced that its Visual Instant Messenger (Visual IM) has been awarded the Nokia OK certification. The certification enables the mobile customers to enjoy third party products and applications that add new dimension to their Nokia products. Visual IM is a messaging application that will enable person-to-person graphic messaging. It will enable mobile users to send and receive graphic messaging on a cellular network with an Internet-enabled handset. Users can communicate with others by keying in simple text and pre-defined commands, which will be translated into graphical representations and delivered instantaneously. Visual IM was announced in June and subsequently submitted for the Nokia OK certification. With this certification, Visual Quest joins an elite group that consists of companies like Computer Associates, Sybase, Oracle at the Nokia Mobile city, which Is a home for companies working together with Nokia for the mobile future. "Visual IM has become the first product from India to be awarded this certification, which will increase awareness of our brand and profit from adding value to Nokia products," Birad Yajnik, the Chief Executive of the company, said in a release. "Since the product can be used both on the GSM and the WiLL (CDMA) networks and 'since multiple players are expected to enter the CDMA arena, we expect good potential for the product," he said.
	........................... .....................................................	back
	Visual Quest tool gets Nokia stamp, Deccan Chronicle, December 6, 2001 Visual Quest India, a wireless solutions provider here, said on Wednesday that Nokia had approved its Visual IM application, a company statement said. Visual IM is part of the VisualMove Application Server, a software that enables the delivery, management and viewing of interactive media content over wireless n the privately-held company's VisualMove platform that provides graphic person-to-person messaging, it said. Visual IM will enable customers and mobIle phone users to send and receive graphic messaging on a cellular network with an Internet-enabled handset. "The Nokia OK stamp, given to third party products and applications gives Visual Quest immense credibility. This will also help us market the product in the Middle Eastern and South Eastern markets. Besides, since the application is based on CDMA technology, there will be a market for it in India as well." Birad Yajnik, Visual Quest India's managing director, told Business Chronicle. Visual IM is stated to be the first product from India to be awarded the Nokia OK certification, joining a select group that includes Computer Associates, Sybase, Oracle, Cable & Wireless and Sonera at the Nokia Mobile City he said.
	........................... .....................................................	back
	Nokia okays VisuallM, Times of India, December 6, 2001 Visual IM, an application based on the VisualMove platform of the city-based Visual QUest India, has been awarded the Nokia OK certification. "Visual IM becomes the first product from India to be awarded this certification. It will increase awareness of the company's brand," Visual Quest CEO Birad Yajnik said.
	........................... .....................................................	back
	VQI eyes SE Asia to market wireless apps, Times of india, July 9, 2001 Visual Quest India (VQI), a city-based Wireless solutions company, is planning to foray into the South East Asian markets for tapping the potential for Wireless applications. The company has already initiated talks with wireless service providers in these markets and would finalise agreements in about four to five months, VQI managing director Birad Yajnik told The Times of India. The company currently has five wireless applications and is planning to take two applications to the South East Asian markets. "Including Malaysia, South East Asia offers a huge market for companies like ours. Wireless applications based on local language are the killer applications in the market," Yajnik said. The company is not planning to target other developed markets like the US, since its apps would attract more demand in non-English markets. VQI's two applications - Visual Script and Visual Messenger are expected to bring in significant revenues for the company, once the agreements are finalised. VisualScript is a content management application on the Visualmove platform, which provides regional language interface for mobile phones. The application will enable mobile users to receive content in their regional language on a 9.6 kbps GSM network with an Internet-enabled handset. The application is part of the Visualmove application server, which enables the management, delivery and viewing of interactive media content over wireless networks. "In the South East Asian markets, there is need (or an application which will minimise the usage of English and offer local language interface. The application finds a better market," he said. Visual Messenger – another application -will enable person-to-person graphic messaging. This application will enable mobile users to send and receive graphic messaging through the GSM bandwidth. Though the company is working on a time frame of over four months to make a dent into the overseas markets, Yajnik said it would take about 24 months for the revenue stream to really become visible. "We are targeting 20 wireless service providers and 10 million wireless subscribers. This would take about 24 months to cover and that is where our revenue lies, " he said. On the potential for wireless applications in India, he said "this (Indian market) is an interesting lab for us. Minimum mobile or wireless penetration and high costs of WAP handsets make Indian market less attractive in terms of revenue. But all our applications are widely tested here on whatever user level is available." The company is also working on developing apps on Palm OS and Windows CE.
	........................... .....................................................	back
	Language Software for mobile users Times of India, July 9, 2001 VisualQuest India, wireless solutions provider, has developed a content management application VisualScript that enables mobile phones to receive content in Indian languages. The Hyderabad-based company's managing director, Mr. Birad Yajnik, said the product would enable wireless service providers to offer content in regional languages. VisualScript will enable mobile users to receive content in Hindi and other regional languages on 9 .6 kbps GSM network with an Internet-enabled handset, Mr. Yajnik said. The application is in line with Visual Quest's commitment to develop unique applications that provide the best user experience in today's environment of limited wireless bandwidth and first generation handsets. Using this application, users can access content in regional languages. The application provides an interface for 12 Indian languages and four global languages. The wireless service provider or the content provider can select the language based on the user profile of the region and serve encoded content. Visual Script is a part of the Visual move Application Server, a software that enables the management, delivery and viewing of interactive media content over wireless networks. Mr. Yajnik said local content is probably the single-most important variable when it came to applications for wireless Internet and that the latest application added a new dimension to it. He added that the product had the potential to be a true mass media service as it broke the monopoly of English on mobile phones and opened up markets like rural India and parts of South East Asia.
	........................... .....................................................	back
	Visual Quest's new offering Business Standard, July 4, 2001 Visual Quest India has developed a content management application, Visual Script, that will enable wireless service providers and wireless content providers to offer content in regional languages. The application will enable mobile users to receive content in Hindi and 11 other regional languages on a 9.6 kbps GSM network with an Internet-enabled handset. It also provides interface for four international languages. The wireless service provider or the content provider can select the language based on the user profile of the region and serve encoded content in the appropriate language. "Local content is probably the single most important factor that will determine the killer application on wireless Internet and Visual Script adds a unique dimension to if. It has the potential to be a true mass media service as it breaks the monopoly of English on mobile phones and throws open markets like rural India and parts of South-East Asia," Birad Yajnik, Chief Executive of the company, commented in a release. Visual Script is a part of the Visual Move application server, which enables the management, delivery and viewing of interactive media content over wireless networks. Visual move version 1.0 is based on a unique implementation and combination of extensible mark-up languages, video encoding and compression technologies. It also utilizes an integrated delivery mechanism using both Short Message Service (SMS) and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) as required and, applicable.
	........................... .....................................................	back
	Mobile messages in Local lingo Business Express, July 4, 2001 Decks have been cleared for flashing messages in local lingo on mobile instruments. Thanks to the script application written by the city-based Visual Quest, wireless service providers and wireless content providers can now offer content in 12 Indian and four international languages. The Visual Script will enable mobile users to receive content in Hindi and other regional languages on a 9.6-Kbps GS network with a Net-enabled handset." Local content is probably the single most important fact that is going to determine the killer app on wireless Internet and our latest application adds a unique dimension to it," Birad Yajnik, the chief executive officer of the WAP technology company, said. The service providers can select the language based on the user profile of the region and serve encoded content in the language concerned. "The application has the potential to be a true mass media service as its breaks the monopoly of English on mobile phones and enable people in the rural areas to log onto the information superhighway!" Yajnik said. TECHNOLOGY: Visualmove Application Server version 1.0 is based on a unique implementation and combination of extensible Markup Language, video encoding and compression technologies. It also utilizes an integrated delivery mechanism, using both Short Message Service (SMS) and wireless application protocol as required and applicable.
	........................... .....................................................	back
	Visual Quest develops content management application ciol.com, July 4, 2001 Visual Quest India Pvt. Ltd., a Hyderabad-based wireless solution provider has developed a content management application. Christened as -VisualScript - the application will be aimed at wireless service providers and content providers to offer content in regional languages. The application will enable mobile users to receive content in regional languages like Hindi, Telugu, Kannada etc on a 9.6 Kbps GSM network with an Internet enabled handset, said Visual Quest’s managing director Birad Yajnik. Presently, the application provides interface to 12 Indian languages and 4 international languages. "We have designed the application in such a manner that it could support any language and when required, one can add any language to the portfolio of the product," he said. The wireless providers could select the language based on the user profile of the region and serve encoded content in the appropriate language. VisualScript, part of the Visualmove application Server, will enable management, delivery and viewing of interactive media content over wireless networks. The server is based on a unique implementation and combination of extensible Markup languages, video encoding and compression technologies. It also utilizes an integrated delivery mechanism, using SMS and WAP as required and applicable. Initially the firm will look at the Indian market for the sale of its applications. "We have already entered into a tie-up with Tata Cellular for Beta testing of our applications, that is expected to end within six months. Ideally, we would like to have our presence felt in the South East Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore and some part of Middle East," he explained. On the revenue model, he said that the company would follow a model where revenue would be shared with the wireless service provider on the basis of its subscription base.
	........................... .....................................................	back
	Visual Quest unveils IM for mobile phones Times of India, 23 June 2001 Visual Quest India, a wireless solution provider has announced the development of a messaging application -Visual IM that will enable person-to-person graphic messaging. The Visual IM will enable mobile users to send and receive graphic messaging on a 9.6 Kbps GSM network With an Internet enabled handset. "This application is in line with Visual Quest India's commitment to provide the best user experience in today's limited wireless bandwidth," the company said. With this application, users can enter areas where other users are logged in and communicate With them in a textual and graphical manner -Emoticons. The user may key in simple text and also predefined commands, these' commands translate in to graphical representations and are delivered instantaneously. Visual IM is a part of the Visual-move applications server which is software that enables the delivery, management and viewing of interactive media content over wireless networks. Visualmove Application Server version 1.0 that is based on a unique implementation and combination of extensible Markup languages, video encoding and compression technologies. It also utilizes an integrated delivery mechanism, using both short message service (SMS) and wireless application protocol (WAP) as required and applicable. Commenting on the application Visual Quest CEO Birad Yajnik said; "The biggest wins in technology have been around communications and we are excited to play in that arena. Visual IM will add a new graphic dimension to person to person messaging in mobile phones. It will provide a unique user experience to the mobile phone user in today's limited environment of low speed networks and first generation handsets." Visual Quest is a city-based firm engaged in solutions, tools & applications over wireless networks.
	........................... .....................................................	back
	Visual Quest develops mobile version of instant messenger Business Standard, June 18, 2001 Are you one of those who keep chatting on the Net? Everytime you want to chat, you have to necessarily reach a PC? While on the move, do you search for a cyber cafe so that you can converse with your buddy? You can put a full stop to all that stuff in the coming days. You can just keep a mobile phone and start chatting with your beloved ones, wherever you are. We're not talking about the Short Messaging Service (SMS) here. As the instant messenger service goes mobile sooner or later, you can bid goodbye to the PC and keep moving, while chatting. One can just send and receive messages in SMS but in the instant messaging service, an application developed by Visual Quest, a city-based wireless solution provider, you can send and receive messages with a lot of animation and graphics to give a visual delight while chatting. The company has developed a database of over 100 images which will express the users' feelings, thoughts and expressions. Visual Quest has developed four applications on its proprietary platform Visualmove, that will enable delivery, management and viewing of full motion video over mobile phone sets. The applications include animated or graphic messaging, script messaging, games and interface with advertisements. The script messaging application facilitates sending and receiving messages in any of the regional languages and the font is not at all any problem, Birad Yajnik, the Managing Director of Visual Quest, told Business Standard. The company is in talks with a couple of service providers to conduct a beta test on the platform. With Tata Cellular, being one of these service providers, the beta test involves testing the platform with a selective group of about 150 subscribers and asking for their feedback. The test is expected to commence by the end of July. The WAP technology is undergoing the cyclical changes as it happens in any of the emerging technologies. Currently, the phase of application development is happening. The WAP-enabled handset prices have also become affordable and the next phase involves content development which win finally result in a mass market service, Yajnik observed. The company also has an offshore development center in the city. It has recently received orders worth Rs 2 crore from Krypton Consulting and Benefit Corporation to deliver insurance-related solutions.
	........................... .....................................................	back
	Visual Quest's server to be ready for Beta test by May The Financial express March 22, 2001 Visual Quest India (P) Limited (VQI), an application development company in interactive media, has slated that the Beta test of Visualmove - an application server that enables wireless service providers (WSPs) to offer applications with interactive media content - will be conducted by May. Claimed to be the first of its kind in Asia, the server allows WSPs to offer applications and content in messaging and entertainment, Birad Yajnik, managing director, VQI, told The Financial Express. The server, which has been under development for almost one year, is ready to be installed as a Beta product. Claimed to be the only company in this space to have a set of applications in the field of interactive media performs over a current wireless network, the application server will be commercialized by August, said Mr Yajnik. The applications are two kinds: One set of applications provide a good user experience in today's environment of low speed wireless networks and mono colour screens. Second are applications for the future - which are high speed networks and large palm top like colour screens, he explained. Since India has problems like poor bandwidth and networks, the company is initially coming out with applications such as Visual messaging (which adds graphic dimension to SMS), Visual multi-script messaging (enables WSP to send messages in different languages), Visual advertising (enables WSP to serve animated and graphical ads to subscribers), and Visual games (simple puzzles to role playing games), he said. The server has been designed to support all major digital wireless telephony standards in use today, as well next generation including applications for global system for mobile (GSM), general packet radio service (GPRS), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), CDMA2000 and thirdgeneration (3G) mobile Internet technology, he claimed. Visual Quest is also readying future applications such as video e-mail, news clips (live or pre-recorded), sports broadcasts, live reports, gaming, security, m-commerce, and entertainment, he said. Targeted at the global market initially, Mr Yajnik said that the strategy is to initiate and extend relationships with WSPs, tie-up up with media companies for contents, and is ready to part with leading manufacturers for hardware. The company has already initiated talks with one Indian company and one company each in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong to market this product. VQI is targeting 20 wireless providers, which translate into 10 million potential end-users by 2004, he said.