Bangalore: The VAS subsidiary of Tech Mahindra and a part of $14.4 billion Mahindra Group, CanvasM Technologies entered into a strategic partnership with Polaris Wireless, a software-based wireless location solutions to introduce the first high-accuracy, network based wireless location solution for the Indian market. CanvasM specializes in developing and deploying utility VAS solutions, applications and platforms for organizations globally.

Ovum, a Mumbai-based market research firm predicts that location-based services in India will grow significantly, bolstered by 80 percent annual growth in 3G connections over the next five years. The interest from high-value early adopters, such as working professionals and the burgeoning youth sector is expected to grow to about 150 million subscribers in 2012.

Founded in 2006, CanvasM focuses on providing solutions that enable consumers and enterprises to take advantage of the mobile ecosystem. One of the top ten players in the mobile VAS space, developing and deploying VAS solutions, applications and platforms for organizations across the globe, it specializes in end-to-end enabling of solutions with managed services which bring together content, technology and device expertise to ensure an enhanced digital experience to the customers of Telecom operators, media houses and enterprises.

Jagdish Mitra, CEO, CanvasM, said “Partnering with Polaris Wireless gives CanvasM the ability to provide customers in India with the most accurate wireless location solution in the market today. Together, the ground-breaking innovation in location technology of Polaris Wireless and the Tech Mahindra legacy of pioneering cutting-edge solutions for the wireless industry are an unbeatable combination.”

The network based wireless location solution enables mobile operators to more easily identify the location of emergency calls made from a mobile phone, and provides increased revenue opportunities for mobile operators who introduce value added services and location-based services to India’s growing base of mobile device users. With successful deployments around the world and field proven results in the Indian market, the partnership is expected to serve multiple wireless operators pan India. Polaris Wireless recently expanded its India ‘Centre of Excellence’ development and operations organization, based in Bangalore.

Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., Polaris Wireless provides high accuracy, software-based wireless location solutions to wireless operators, law enforcement/government agencies and location-based application companies. The company has also deployed high-accuracy location surveillance applications for customers in Asia and EMEA. They have offices in Dubai, U.A.E.; Bangalore, India; Tokyo, Japan; and Santiago, Chile. Polaris Wireless is the recipient of the prestigious Frost & Sullivan “2011 Enabling Technology of the Year” award, recognizing the company’s accomplishments and leadership in developing location solutions.

 Manlio Allegra, CEO and Co-founder, Polaris Wireless, said, “We are very pleased that high-accuracy, network-based wireless location is becoming a reality in India given the high percentage of feature phone penetration. We look forward to working with CanvasM and Tech Mahindra to ensure that wireless operators in India are able to easily and cost-effectively deploy our location solution for emergency call management, enterprise, and other consumer location-based services.”