Kodiak Network’s rapidly expanding Real-Time Exchange System and accompanying Advanced Voice Services applications received another set of updates, which the company said further advances the platform beyond a push-to-talk offering. The new updates include a BREW client designed to enable faster deployment on CDMA networks and handsets and an Open Mobile Alliance/Push-to-talk over Cellular-compliant client for UMTS/IP Multimedia Subsystems.
The update follows several additions announced last month in connection with the 3GSM World Congress to Kodiak’s RTX System, including its Voice Bridge instant conferencing and Voice Notes voice messaging solution, as well as its SIMpower solution that allows GSM-based operators to add Kodiak’s application suite via Subscriber Identity Module cards.
Kodiak noted the AVS client for BREW will allow carriers using the Qualcomm Inc.-developed platform to provide downloadable access to Kodiak’s range of applications, including Instant Availability functions and recently launched Voice Bridge and Voice Notes service. Carriers can offer the service as an over-the-air download or sell it directly to a customer without requiring a handset upgrade.
A number of domestic carriers currently use the BREW platform, including Verizon Wireless, Alltel Corp. and U.S. Cellular Corp., as well as a number of smaller operators in the United States. Alltel also uses Kodiak’s RTX platform to power its Touch2Talk PTT service, which analysts have claimed to be the only PTT service comparable with Nextel Communications Inc.’s iDEN-based Direct Connect service.
Kodiak President and Chief Executive Officer Craig Farrill did note that the BREW client would not allow users to hook into a call that was already in progress as its other platforms allow, citing issues with the BREW platform that Kodiak is working with Qualcomm to resolve.
Kodiak’s OMA/PoC client provides similar capabilities for next-generation networks based on the UMTS standard that Farrill said would include capabilities expected from the OMA/PoC standard set for introduction later this year, as well as access to Kodiak’s other applications.
“This should end the rumor that we are not working on a PoC-compliant client,” Farrill added.
Farrill noted that Kodiak does not have plans to support non-3G based technologies, noting the lack of quality-of-service capabilities.
“We are not taking a step back,” Farrill said.
With the addition of support for the BREW platform to go along with previous support for a number of GSM-based platforms, Kodiak said its RTX and AVS applications are now available to nearly all of the world’s wireless subscribers.
