Group Talk Magic

Idea Cellular and Kodiak Networks have announced the introduction of Group Talk - a compilation of innovative group-oriented voice applications, for customers in the Maharashtra and Goa circles. Idea intends to make Group Talk available to the company's 7.3-million odd prepaid and postpaid wireless subscribers in subsequent months.

Kodiak's Real-Time Exchange (RTX) system has been deployed by Idea for enabling the voice services applications that use SIM cards as delivery mechanism. The applications are enabled through Kodiak SIMpower - a smart thin client providing premium voice service functionality on existing GSM handsets.
The Group Talk application suite includes the following voice services: Voice Bridge, an instant group conferencing application that offers quick setting-up of full-duplex and mobile-originated conference calls, accommodating up to ten participants; Instant Availability that is similar to instant messaging applications; Walkie-Talkie that is push-to-talk calling along with other Group Talk users; Group SMS that complements existing voice services, by enabling discreet text communications in the event of unavailability of recipients; Quick Groups; and Contact and Groups Management.

Vikram Mehmi, chief executive officer, Idea Cellular, said, "We selected Kodiak Networks because they could help us address the voice services requirements for group communication of the corporate and SME customers who are predominantly on postpaid, and the youth segment who are largely on prepaid. By utilizing the SIM and the Symbian Applet as the delivery mechanism for these enhanced voice services, we have obviated the need for custom handsets, thus enabling the entire customer base to avail of the services. With Group Talk, our customers can quickly and efficiently access the best group communications experience possible."

Kris Patel, executive vice president - products and customer support, and chief technology officer, Kodiak Networks, said, "Idea Cellular is leading the industry by offering these advanced voice services to their prepaid and postpaid customer base of over 7.3 million users. As these applications are group-oriented, they require that end users can easily create communities of friends, family, and colleagues at the touch of a button. Leveraging the SIM to deploy these applications should expedite service adoption and rapidly increase usage among customers."