BANGALORE, INDIA: Watching live TV, mobile video conference, video messages are soon set to become a reality in India. With private telecom operators starting to roll out 3G services, there is a new enthusiasm among the companies that bring these value-added services (VAS) on the cell phones.

Leading the pack is OnMobile that launched some of these 3G VAS on BSNL network about a year ago and has since acquired Dilithium, a technology company. In an interview with CIOL, Dilithium’s CTO and co-founder Marwan Jabri talks about the company's technology expertise and India strategy. Excerpts:

CIOL: What will be the 3G VAS line-up from OnMobile through private telecom operators in India?

Marwan Jabri: We are video enabling all Onmobile VAS deployed for voice. We already have Live TV product for BSNL 3G customers which uses Packet Switch and Video on Demand and this will be extended to the 3G subscribers. There are many new innovative products that are currently being tested on the operators' networks. So we will be bringing a bunch of services for the Indian customers and announcement regarding the same will be made in the coming weeks.

Also read: OnMobile acquires Dilithium Networks's 3G Video technology

CIOL: What is your India market strategy?

Marwan Jabri: There has been a mixed response to video products or services on mobile around the world. The tailoring of services to the geography is very important. So our approach has been to introduce services that are culturally and socially significant to India.

In order to deliver a better experience to the customers we are bringing Circuit Switch Services and Packet Switch Video which are the  two ways of communicating video. Our services will bring not only the traditional video calling ability to mobile phone users but also enable a group of subscribers to connect to live content on demand.

Also read: Video a failed application for 3G

CIOL: What is the technology gain to OnMobile post Dilithium Technologies acquisition?

Marwan Jabri: We have a total of 175 patents and among them are most advanced video technologies. Dilithium’s technology enables the delivery of novel 3G value-added services by offering superior quality and scale to different types of multimedia assets.

We have patents that cover a variety of video technologies some of which have been standardized. We have a powerful patent on Video Gateway which reduces core connection time from 10 seconds to second. The technology has been licensed to 10 leading handset manufacturers. As the spectrum is sensitive in India we are also introducing Video Optimization feature that would help reduce network congestion and improve video experience.

Also read: Telesoft to create new VAS business model

CIOL: Are you extending the Managed VAS services for the telecom operators?

Marwan Jabri: Operators are increasingly turning to managed VAS to drive efficiencies and improve the mobile user experience. We are extending the Managed Service business model and Dilithium’s market-leading technology to our partners in India too.

The Dilithium acquisition enables OnMobile to deploy Dilithium’s technology in  the rapidly expanding mobile video solutions space, piggybacking on OnMobile’s  2G and 2.5G VAS platforms embedded into the world’s leading telecom operators, and hence accelerating the launch of 3G VAS services.

CIOL: What leap do you expect in revenue generation from 3G VAS services?

Marwan Jabri: OnMobile is in a position to offer novel and cutting-edge revenue-generating video services powered by the Dilithium video technologies. Our tested and proven technology is validated by leading global customers like China Mobile, China Unicom, Vodafone, Yahoo, BSNL, France Telecom, Etisalat, Zain, HTC and Qualcomm.