Mobile Action Technology Inc. was established in 1999, to develop and market professional mobile management software. In addition to these solutions, the company now offers USB and infrared mobile phone-PC data cables. Its products work with phones from Motorola, Siemens, Sony Ericsson, Panasonic, Sagem, Sharp, Samsung and LG.

Mobile Action brand manager Fitzwilliam Yang recently shared with Telecom Products his company's vision for 2005.

What is your company's main competitive edge?
We have a wide range of data cables that allow data synchronization between PCs and mobile phones. We can offer both wired and wireless models.

Our wired units support USB. Our wireless models work on either IrDA or Bluetooth. Regardless of the technology, users can sync your PIN functions from your mobile phone to your home PC. You can also personalize your mobile phones by adding graphics, photos, animations, sounds and pictures from the PC.

Which of your products have the biggest growth potential?
Different areas have varying requirements. For example, in Europe, Bluetooth products are doing better than the other products.

In Southeast Asia, infrared models are more popular. In the future, I think Bluetooth will dominate since it allows access to services such as MSN Messenger.

The trend is moving toward mobile phone-PC data cables that can support as many mobile handsets as possible. What direction is your company taking with regard to this?
Actually our products support almost all major brands, including Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG. We agree that the R&D direction is pointing toward 'universal' data cables that will be compatible with more than one handset.

What are your other product development plans for 2005?
One of our priorities for the new year is to improve our software, which is developed in-house. Another key thrust for our company is to introduce new functionalities based on emerging trends in mobile phones. Thirdly, we will enhance the Bluetooth transmission capabilities of our models.

Once a new mobile phone is launched, how soon can you introduce a related product?
Due to our close relationship with mobile phone makers, we know what kind of model they will introduce to the market before these products are launched, so we try to develop products tailored to these upcoming products.

We can introduce a new model about a month after a new phone model is announced.

How often do you introduce new products?
It depends on the development of mobile phones, and the number of mobile phones launched in the market. It also depends on the area. For example, Motorola introduces new products to Southeast Asia first, so we try to capture a market in the same region.

We have products for about 16 to 20 mobile phone models.