XIAM, a Dublin-based private technology firm specialising in wireless internet software, has signed a multimillion pound deal with UK giant Vodafone for its core software product.
The Xiam information router is a mobile data solution which enables firms to move information quickly from databases, and access this information from any standard wireless device. The Vodafone deal will make Xiam's information router software available to Vodafone's corporate UK customer base of almost 5,000 firms. According to Mr Colm Healy, Xiam chief executive, it will produce a healthy revenue stream and additional sales channel as Vodafone has agreed to promote the deployment of the product in Britain.
"Securing a deal with the largest mobile operator in the world gives us great credibility among other potential customers," he said. "We are in advanced negotiations with another Vodafone subsidiary."
Xiam is one of several mobile wireless companies in the Republic which specialises in designing software compatible with mobile internet protocol such as WAP, i-mode and short messaging.
It recently raised €6.75 million (£5.32 million) in venture capital funding from Enterprise Ireland and London-based Add Partners. This followed a seed funding round in 1999 of £2 million led by Vertex and Delta Partners. Another Dublin-based firm, Jinny Software, which was recently acquired by Italian firm Acotel, signed two deals last week worth $4 million (€4.44 million) to deliver software to the Middle-Eastern markets.
