i-mate has made its entry into the South East Asia (SEA) market with the establishment of its regional base office in Singapore and the launch of six of its new smartphones, powered by Windows Mobile.
Founded in 2001, i-mate has secured a place for itself in the Middle East, US, Australasia, Africa and many parts of Europe through partnerships with networks and distributors and is now focusing its attention on key territories across Asia, using Singapore as its gateway.
“ We chose Singapore as our base as we believe it is the nerve center of the South East Asian mobile industry, driving take up of the largest mobile technology throughout the region,” said Jim Morrison, Founder and CEO, i-mate.
“We see enterprise customers increasingly looking to securely mobilize their workforce and enhance productivity on the go.
“Likewise, Singapore’s tech-savvy consumers demand the very best in mobile technology and distinctive design. We believe i-mate has the right offerings to meet their demands especially in terns of data security.”
Spearheading the launch will be mobile devices from both its Ultimate and JAMA ranges namely; Ultimate 6150, Ultimate 8150, Ultimate 8502, Ultimate 9502, JAMA 101 and JAMA 201.
“Windows Mobile enables people to connect with information and others in powerful, yet easy-to-use ways while i-mate is able to offer customized solutions to individuals. We believe this partnership will enhance our overall offering of mobile experience in the region,” said Sandra Goh, Business Group Director, Southeast Asia for Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft.
According to Morrison, i-mate’s competitive edge is not just in its mobile device but the in suite of solutions that comes along with it.
“We are not just another mobile device provider. Apart from offering a full range of Windows Mobile devices…we are able to offer a suite of i-Q solutions exclusive to i-mate customers...,” added Morrison.
Part of the i-Q solution, Custom i-Q allows users to install their preferred settings on their mobile and customize it accordingly. Another aspect of the solution—Secure i-Q—allows users to “lock down” their mobile device and wipe out any personal data in the event that their mobile device is missing. Support is also available online, together with software updates.
During its official launch late last week, i-mate told journalists that plans are already underway for it to branch out to other Asian markets in the next four months. It has its sights set on Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia.
All six mobile device rollouts can be expected to hit stores in Singapore by December 2007. |
