B'lore tech firm helps iPod get loud

By siliconindia staff writer   |   Monday, 10 May 2004, 19:30 IST
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BANGALORE: Apple's most successful innovation from its R&D stable iPod is making waves as the largest selling MP3 player in the world. While different versions of the iPod are being rolled out, a whole lot of add-ons for the gadget are being developed and riding on the success wave. One such product is the TEN naviPlay, a wireless stereo adapter, exclusively for the iPod launched recently. This add-on helps the iPod to be docked, when not carried in person and amplify its sound by merely fixing it to any speakers. This makes an iPod a gadget, which can store tens of thousands of songs and also play it whenever and wherever you want, at any decibel level. California based TEN Technology, a division of TEN Ventures Inc., is Apple’s authorized accessory provider and has acquired the licenses from ImpulseSoft to sell the product. With about 3 million iPods sold so far and 70 million songs sold from its online music store, Apple is further bullish about iPod selling more. Started in 1999 and headquartered in Bangalore with a branch office in California, Impulsesoft’s first tryst with fame might be an add-on to Apple’s iPod. It could be just a beginning, because, it is in talks with a global mobile handset major to introduce its Bluetooth enabled technology along with the next generation handsets. As per the first hand feel of the technology, the user can pick up calls while listening to music simultaneously and only with a wireless headset, while the handset is elsewhere. It is also engaged with a certain gaming device manufacturer to introduce its technology with the same. With a workforce of 45 innovators, Impulsesoft welcomes 2004-05 as the year of ‘validation’. Impulsesoft, Chairman, M Chandrasekaran, commented, "Since 1999 we have been in the process of identifying the areas, where bluetooth technology can be aptly used and adopted well. We have developed some breakthrough with some popular gadgets and expect our revenue to churn in profits, which we are already witnessing from our royalties received from our OEM partners." Founded by 5 professionals along with investor funding, the company declares that it is open for external funding but is not actively looking to raise any. "Globally entertainment is going to be the biggest campaigner of bluetooth adoption. Home and automotive will also contribute significantly. Gaming would also infuse a certain element of growth. We are poised to enhance the adoption of bluetooth in gadgets and working towards developing innovations," added Baskar S, CTO, Impulsesoft.