Kodiak Takes Aim At Mobile Apps For Groups

Kodiak Networks said Tuesday that a suite of new clientless applications will allow enterprises to assign a telephone number to a group of individuals that they can use for conferencing, text messaging, or voice messaging, directly from their mobile contact list.

Kodiak's new group text and voice messaging applications allow recipients to reply to the originator or reply to all message recipients, directly from the message. A new client-based scheduled conferencing application also allows users to set up meetings directly from their mobile handsets.

The new mobile applications converge wireless and landline calling functionality, addressing end-user demand for integrated group communications while helping service providers increase revenue and retain customers, the vendor said.

"Kodiak Networks is the only mobile vendor to offer this combination of clientless and client-based conferencing and messaging applications," said Andrew Seybold, president of consultancy Andrew Seybold Inc., in a statement. "We view this development as positive for both carriers and end users who are looking to improve the convenience of group communications."

Kodiak said its mobile conference feature allows instant, simultaneous dial-out conferencing as well as one-touch mobile call origination from the contact list to any dial-able number in the world. Its scheduled conference capability schedules calls directly from the handset, with auto SMS notification; attendees can join/rejoin with a single click and get auto-authenticated without PINs

The company's Visual Voice SMS service sends voice messages to an individual or a group on any network without ringing the recipient's phone; similarly, replies or reply-to-all directly can be done without a voice callback. Kodiak's group manager also enables creation of groups using Web, mobile Internet, and SMS interfaces.

According to research from Market in View cited by Kodiak, 76% of business decision-makers said mobile conferencing applications would be useful for their employees. And more than 70% view group voice and text messaging services as valuable.