OnMobile, a Bangalore-based telecom value-added services (VAS) provider, is set to enable a search feature on mobile phones.
To expand its voice-based music search
MUMBAI: OnMobile, a Bangalore-based telecom value-added services (VAS) provider, is set to enable a search feature on mobile phones.
Arvind Rao, the co-founder and chief executive officer of OnMobile, said that the company was looking at expanding its existing voice-based music search, called MSearch, and add general search to it. He, however, did not give a timeframe for the roll-out of the new service.
He said the new service has generated great interest among its telecom clients and the company is now working on their demand. Presently, OnMobile handles about 1.5 million searches a day on MSearch, which is available to Vodafone subscribers.
Incidentally, global search giant Google is also testing a Google Phone search feature in Hyderabad, said Shailesh Rao, the managing director of Google India.
OnMobile is also eyeing bigger play in advertisement ring back tone (AdRBT) services where it sees great growth potential.
“The potential of the AdRBT service is tremendous, as it can help merchants place local and targeted ads,” said Arvind Rao.
Under the service, an advertisement is sent with a ringtone to a group of mobile users - the advertiser’s customers - in his neighbourhood. OnMobile is going somewhat slow on the service as it is still studying consumer behaviour and their possible reaction to the service. Arvind Rao said that the company is already in talks with three large telecom players who have showing interest in AdRBT services. OnMobile has tied up with media agency GroupM to approach potential advertisers for this service.
In the April-June quarter, its voice-based search and ringtone services contributed 35% to its total revenue of Rs 86.30 crore.
The missed call alert and ring back tone services accounted for 45% of the revenues while data services, including phone back-up, brought the remaining 20%. OnMobile maintained a profit of Rs 15.2 crore and an operating margin of 17.6%.
India accounts for about 84% of OnMobile’s annual revenues. The company’s revenues in FY08 were at Rs 269.30 crore. It provided a guidance of 65% growth in revenues for FY09.
t_amit@dnaindia.net
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