Synchronica

Infobox_Company
company_
company_type = Public limited company
foundation = 1995, Bodiam, England (DAT Group), 2004, Berlin, Germany (Synchronica)
location = Tunbridge Wells, England
key_people = Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO, David A. Mason, Chairman
industry = Computer software
homepage = [http://www.synchronica.com/ www.synchronica.com]

Synchronica plc is a public listed AIM: [http://www.londonstockexchange.com/en-gb/pricesnews/prices/system/detailedprices.htm?sym=GB00B041XY36GBGBXAIM%20B041XY3DA SYNC] software vendor headquartered in Tunbridge Wells, UK. Synchronica develops and markets mobile push email and synchronization solutions, primarily targeted at mobile network operators and device manufacturers. Synchronica also has a development centre in Berlin, and a regional sales presence in the US, Hong Kong and Dubai.

Synchronica are one of the industry's principle users of open industry standards, and their products support the relevant standards developed by the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA). In 2004, Synchronica became the first company to deploy a live installation of a SyncML device management (now OMA DM) server in a carrier-grade environment, with Siemens Mobile AG. [http://express-press-release.net/3/Synchronica%20Wins%20Siemens%20Deal%20-%20the%20World's%20First%20SyncML%20Firmware%20Update.php Synchronica Wins Siemens Deal - the World's First SyncML Firmware Update] ]

Products include the mobile push email and synchronization solution Mobile Gateway, and a mobile data back and restore solution, Mobile Backup.

History

Synchronica plc was born out of the acquisition of Berlin-based Synchronica Software GmbH by DAT Group plc on 31st March 2005. DAT Group, based in the village of Bodiam in East Sussex, was founded by David Hayes and Tim Carmichael in 1995, and became a public company in December 2004. DAT was originally an infrastructure consultancy, but later developed into a leading supplier of mobile solutions for enterprises, with a particular emphasis on Microsoft technology. With the acquisition of Synchronica Software GmbH, it gained significant experience in open industry standards based solutions in mobile device management and synchronization. In October 2005, DAT Group underwent a management restructuring and rebranding. Carsten Brinkschulte, founder of Synchroncia Software GmbH, was appointed as CEO and the organization was rebranded as Synchronica plc [http://www.embeddedstar.com/press/content/2005/10/embedded18997.html DAT Group Appoints Chief Executive Officer, Restructures Management] ] . The orientation of the company turned from a project to a product focus, and this strategy remains in place today.

Acquisitions

Synchronica have engaged in several strategic acquisitions, in an effort to bolster their competitive position in the fiercely contested mobile email market.

In November 2007, Synchronica acquired the assets and intellectual property of the US-based mobile email specialist GoodServer, whose email enablement and integration technology was already a key part of Synchronica’s Mobile Gateway product. GoodServer was founded in 1996 by David Rauschenbach. [http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2007/11/02/synchronica-makes-acquisition Synchronica makes sneaky acquisition] ]

Another key acquisition, conditionally agreed in August 2008, was of mobile email solutions provider AxisMobile. Also listed on AIM, AxisMobile was founded in early 2000 and had been focused primarily on providing consumer mobile email to network operators. Headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, they were considered one of Synchronica's main competitors in the consumer mobile email space. [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1c3480c6-6d85-11dd-857b-0000779fd18c.html Synchronica in AxisMobile deal] ]

Ownership

Listed on the AIM, as of September 2008, Synchronica's ownership is principally in the hands of institutional investors, with investment firm Lanstead Partners being the main shareholder with around a fifth of the available shares. [http://www.synchronica.com/syncml-home/number-of-shares-in-issue.html Number of Synchronica AIM shares in issue] ]

Saudi Arabian Prince Hussam bin Saud Abdulaziz is one of the key individual shareholders, owning around an eighth of Synchronica’s shares. He is non-executive chairman of the Saudi division of the Zain Group, a large mobile telecommunications network in the Middle East. [ [http://www.investorschronicle.co.uk/Companies/ByEvent/TradingNews/Inbrief/article/20080416/abaebdf4-0b9f-11dd-96f5-0015171400aa/Saudi-Prince-takes-stake-in-Synchronica.jsp Saudi Prince takes stake in Synchronica] ]

References

External Links

* http://www.synchronica.com/
* http://www.devicemanagementforum.org/
* http://www.openmobilealliance.org/
* http://www.lemonadeformobiles.com/