Its high time our IT service providers moved into Product development (especially for Web & Mobile) and creating IP for themselves rather than just servicing clients. These are the companies best suited to take the risk creating cutting edge products (Why does it have to be Google all the time :) – and what better domain to target than fast growing Indian Telecom Market.
Infosys Technologies has done just that !
Infosys has launched Flypp –a white labeled, ready-to-launch application platform for mobile operators that enables monetization through ready-to-use experiential applications across devices.
The initiative as summed up by the Sales and Marketing Head at Infosys,
“Smart applications are now making it possible to deliver a personalized and interactive user experience. Mobile service providers are seeing a steady shift in value from providing connectivity to monetizing digital demand. Flypp™ from Infosys enables this capability for mobile operators through a plug-and-play model. This is part of our continued thrust to provide platforms and products to help our clients rapidly capitalize on evolving business opportunities.”
The product is targeted at the bludgeoning mobile applications market and providing service providers with an option to monetize digital content. The detailed product features are not out as yet , but the premise looks interesting and in tune with the market.
Telecom and Digital Media is taking the world by storm. With the pricing wars in Mobile Communications market upping the affordability factor by a few notches and the 3G launch in the near future, Flypp looks well positioned to facilitate the Enterprise/Business process on the go.
Infosys is already a market leader with its Banking Solution – Finacle. So much so, that Finacle is listed in the Leaders Quadrant by Gartner. Flypp is another addition to the IP of Infosys. It is interesting to see a hardcore service provider investing in the development of its IP which transcends the service industry and lays focus on developing products.
Call it the need of the hour with tightening revenues and shrinking margins , it is heartening that large corporations are working towards contributing as Product Makers too.I am not too sure if Infosys intends to use Flypp as an Intellectual property and intends to use the application platform for its clients much like Finacle. May be with time, things will change and we will see these products available for all to use much like Oracle, SAP or even Google etc.
These baby steps towards building on the intellectual property by developing products will go a long way in shrugging off the Outsourcing/Service Provider image from the Indian IT industry. If each of the top 10 IT companies in India start rolling out products for the technology market, I have no doubt that India could very well enjoy a good slice of cake in the IT Product space too.
What is your take on this? Is the increasing focus on building IP a welcome move by the IT giant and would it provide the impetus for others to join the foray.