Mobility is by far the biggest growth area for us. Mobile interactivity, which mainly constitutes video, holds major potential. We are determined to maximize our investments in video

VAS in India has to evolve around video applications. Nobody would buy an expensive 3G handset if the services they get are no better than what they would have got on a normal and cheaper handset. The potential is truly immense and can really notch up the service provider's revenues. So, video VAS can help in rectifying the low ARPU situation.

On growth projections for 2010-11

Mobility is by far the biggest growth area for us. Mobile interactivity, which mainly constitutes video, holds major potential and we are determined to maximize our investments in video. Dialogic strongly believes video is the new voice.

On VAS trends

From the applications point of view, all user applications can be ‘visualized'. The new 3G handsets with bigger screens are completely adapted for such video-based applications. The Indian carriers also understand the potential of video applications. With spectrum auctions, the carriers will have to make a massive initial investment for gaining spectrum. Audio alone will not recover that investment. So, the data services will have to involve video data'music videos, video streams, musical greetings, socializing videos, etc. You need video services for 3G penetration to pick up.

On rural VAS

It is potentially a huge potential growth area. We believe that rural areas in India, which do not have PCs and sometimes no television, their only source of access to entertainment may be a 3G handset with a good resolution screen. To offer value to the rural subscriber, you need to offer services, may be on a community basis. And that is where video services are important.

On the latest initiatives

Our approach is to continue to build and invest in our partner ecosystem in a converged communication market. Our new video ecosystem is the key to successfully creating a 'new' community of developers and integrators, who have a superior knowledge of video-technology so that they can develop video applications that are suitable for both the enterprise, and the rural areas.

We are a component and enabling-technology provider and we work very closely with major application developers as well as directly with the carriers. It is a strong collaborative relationship within the ecosystem. Most carriers are deploying our partner's VAS services today. We provide the engine that sits inside the platforms on which our partners deliver their services. The carriers will be taking the services to the rural areas. 3G handset prices have to drop and services have to increase in quality and quantity, for an uptake in mobile video-services.

On advent of MNP

The mobile customer wants quality VAS and at as low a price as possible. The market will become increasingly competitive. The challenge of customer-retention will increase many fold.