Aylus Network sets up R&D centre in Bangalore

Aylus Network, a US-based start-up building mobility management switch solutions, has set up its R&D centre in Bangalore.

Aylus, started by Indian-born serial entrepreneur Mahesh Ganmukhi, is aiming to enable service providers to deliver mobile video and TV broadcast and multimedia services across multiple access networks.

The firm, started early this year, has secured $10 million funding from Matrix Partners and North Bridge Venture Partners by divesting close to 50 per cent to the venture capitalists.

Said Ganmukhi: "Wireless operators as well as cable operators are looking into providing mobile TV and content over dedicated mobile TV broadcast networks and over 3G networks to hand held devices. At the same time, convergence between wireless, wireline and cable operators is demanding technology that can span across various access networks such as 2.5G/3G, cable networks, WiFi, WiMax and mobile broadcast TV networks to provide uniform mobile services. The switch we are building will enable the service providers to offer mobile TV, content and multimedia services across all such networks."

Aylus is hoping to start offering this product by late 2006 and plans to hire close to 25 R&D engineers in Bangalore by current year-end.

"Mobile content is the next technology wave. There are three screens available for content to subscribers today - Television, PC and mobile hand held devices. So far that content was available over TV and PC. Now the demand for content on the 'third screen', the screen of a mobile hand held device, is growing rapidly."

He further added that "there are over 1.8 billion mobile phone subscribers worldwide today and this number is expected to grow to 3 billion by 2010. These subscribers would like to have mobile content along with current voice service and this is the market our solutions will enable service providers address."