Expert View

October 19, 2005
T9 Predictive Text Input: A direct advantage for carriers

NEW DELHI -- Tegic Communications is a global market leader with a track record of building robust, innovative, embedded software that enhances communications on small mobile devices.

Tegic is a subsidiary of America Online. Headquartered in Seattle, with offices in Bangalore, Beijing, Hong Kong, France, Korea and Tokyo, Tegic offers world-class service and support across a wide range of markets. Tegic’s engineering team combines industry-leading development and QA processes with experts who excel in the art of embedded software and linguistics, to create sophisticated, yet easy-to-use quality communications technologies. Native-language designers and in-region usability research and validation ensure products are appropriate for regional markets.

From its inception, Tegic Communications has developed and invested in its intellectual property rights by copyrighting its software and securing patents from governments around the world. To date, Tegic has been granted 65 patents in Europe, North America, Australia, and Asia.

Convergence Plus met Mridul Srivastava, senior country manager, India, AOL Mobile, to know about the company's recently launched T9 Predictive Text Input on the mobile device in India. Excerpts from the interview.

Convergence Plus: What does it mean to have T9 Predictive Text Input on the mobile device?

Mridul Srivastava: T9 Predictive Text Input on the mobile device means writing SMS easier and faster. By incorporating T9 Text Input into mobile communication products, handset manufacturers are solving the fundamental problem of how to quickly and easily type and send text messages. More than 800 mobile phone models available throughout the world today include T9 Text Input and the technology has been licensed to major cell phone manufacturers worldwide.

Text input software drives increased messaging through its predictive and adaptive capabilities. It not only makes it easier for the users but also results in increased SMS traffic - a direct advantage for carriers.

T9 stands for "Text on 9 keys" and has been used in various mobile phones and PDAs. Every mobile phone keypad actually has letters on each key. The great thing is that its the user will only have to press one single key press to create the required word. The right word will appear on screen because T9 understands the right word or words formed by the sequential pressing of the letters on the keypad.

T9 makes it faster and easier to type on small mobile devices. Pre-loaded with thousands of words, emoticons, and punctuation, T9 predicts what you want to say as you type. If you type in a word T9 doesn't recognise, it will learn it and recognise it the next time you enter the word. It's a text experience that gets faster every time. T9 is a smart SMS feature. It works extremely well. If you enter a word that is not in the language database, you can easily add it to T9 database by using the traditional multi-tap method, i.e. you need to type the exact word letter by letter and then select the word to add it to your user word list. Next time you will get the same word using T9 method.

CP: What have been your recent alliances and partnerships in India and abroad?

MS: We are expanding in India at a healthy rate. Tegic Communications has worked with OEM's and carriers in India to promote T9.

One of the greatest achievements has been to have T9 on fixed wireless phones for the first time. LG Electronics fixed wireless phone model LG LSP 350, currently sold by TATA Tele services and Reliance Infocomm, offer T9 in English as well as in Hindi. Major OEM's like Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and LG have already released Hindi T9 in Indian market and very soon more OEM's will launch Hindi T9 in India. To increase awareness and usage of T9 we conduct joint promotion and customer education program with leading carriers in India.

CP: Tegic recently licensed T9 Text Input software to Alcatel for integration in its new range of handsets. Please update us on the status of this agreement.

MS: TCL & Alcatel Mobile Phones will integrate T9 Text Input into its new range of Alcatel handsets, which will be shipped worldwide for 32 languages.

CP: How do you see wireless industry growing in India?

MS: The wireless industry is growing at a very fast pace in India. This is a healthy sign. Considered by many to be the fastest growing telecom market in the world, mobile services in India are exploding in popularity. While mobile penetration in India is just five percent, or nearly 60 million users, according to the Cellular Operators Association of India, the growth rate in the subcontinent nation of nearly one billion people now tops two million new subscribers per month. New features like value added services will help mobile penetrate deeper into India.

CP: What are the features that drive mobile usage and 3G services?

MS: Good and congestion free network along with lower usage costs are the few key factors that drive mobile usage. At the same time, introduction of new technologies like 3G with improved features that would add value to the customer and answer their needs would drive mobile usage further. New technology will provide superior quality and high-speed data transfer that is the need for corporates. This would allow consumers to connect to the Internet and send and receive data, including digital images, web pages and photographs faster over their mobiles.

CP: What, according to you, are the latest texting trends among Indian mobile phone users?

MS: Speed text entry is fast catching up in India, both with the youth and the executive. While the purpose differs, the driving factor remains the same - easy to use and fast. Predictive text input as a means of sending text messages more quickly and easily actually leads mobile users to send more messages than those who use multi-tap to type messages. The use of SMS has now expanded to banking, billing, television and radio entertainment show, reality show, news and opinion polls etc. After radio, print and television, SMS is now fast becoming the next marketing and advertising medium.

Carriers are focusing on non-voice revenues as a means to strengthen ARPUs - SMS being the most important of them all. SMS will continue to comprise the bulk of non-voice revenues. Potential for vernacular SMS exists more in semi-urban and rural areas. Non-Metro towns are registering higher growth rates. These are potential markets for vernacular SMS.

CP: Please elaborate on your investment and expansion plans in India?

MS: As Tegic promotes T9 in the Indian market, we shall respond to changing conditions, and will invest accordingly for more resources to respond to the needs of carriers, OEMs and subscribers in India. Tegic views India as an important market with unique vernacular texting requirements, and has invested heavily in engineering development (for Indic languages) and marketing programs, including the launching of an office in Bangalore last year.