Image and Text Optimization Solution for Mobile Devices

IBM Japan Ltd., Itochu Techno-science Corporation (CTC), and PictureIQ Japan K.K. announced today that the three companies will join to provide rich media capabilities based on PictureIQ TransForce® for real-time content delivery to any Internet or mobile networked device. These capabilities will improve both the performance and accessibility of mobile device content being offered by carriers and enterprises.

Under the newly announced collaboration, IBM Japan will incorporate TransForce into its mobile solution for enterprises. IBM Japan is targeting all companies seeking to add a mobile component to their business workflow. Sales will be conducted by IBM, and the product will be provided through EncycloSoft Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned IBM subsidiary, and CTC. CTC possesses a long track record in providing mobile solutions for enterprises as well as telecommunications carriers. CTC initially formed its relationship with PictureIQ in 2001, and since that time has deployed TransForce-based mobile image optimization capabilities integrated with other text conversion and delivery systems for over a dozen companies. Through EncycloSoft Co., Ltd., CTC offers expertise in deploying and maintaining TransForce from PictureIQ.

The integration of TransForce within IBM’s offering minimizes the development and management costs for Web content and applications. Specifically, it eliminates enterprises’ need to create and manage Web page versions for different mobile devices. The resulting solution, for example, allows mobile device users to access enterprise databases supporting their business operations in order to quickly and reliably access rich product information or perform product searches.

“IBM Japan chose to enter into this collaborative relationship after recognizing PictureIQ TransForce’s high-quality image processing and licensed Unisys LZW technology for GIF file output, in addition to the product’s superior ease of use. For our enterprise customers, simple deployment and advanced management features are a key requirement. In the future, we plan to package TransForce with our WebSphere Transcoding Publisher, which is an optimization generation solution for mobile Web content and applications” said Mr. Iwai, General Manager of the IA server & PWS division of IBM Japan.

Kazuto Hama, country manager of PictureIQ Japan, added, “Enterprises are searching for ways to improve the utilization of mobile devices in their business. Our TransForce solution provides a very effective way for enterprises to benefit from a compelling rich media experience and improved content delivery performance.”

PictureIQ TransForce is a plug-and-play server appliance that features a flexible rules-based rendering engine to simplify customization for user and device-specific attributes, such as color or image type preference. The use of TransForce eliminates the need to create and manage customized Web pages for different mobile devices, such as mobile phones and PDAs. TransForce supports more than 200 mobile device models available in Japan. PictureIQ also markets the TransForce Device Profile Subscription Program, which provides a continuously updated set of profiles for mobile data handsets marketed in Japan, Korean, Europe, and the United States.

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