MMS

The idea of MMS has been around for a while but only recently is the technology's potential being unleashed with the introduction of advanced networks and souped-up handsets. Sure, picture mail was nice, but now that video is eking into the network, the true multimedia that gave MMS its moniker is preparing to take over the messaging networks. Even IM applications are taking route using MMS/SMS protocols to create a real-time presence over Yahoo, MSN and AOL's networks.

M7 Networks

M7 is incorporating simple SMS into every imaginable application, using the push functionality of the technology to initiate services on the network or “wake up” dormant apps on the handset. A SMS or MMS message alerting an eBay user that he has been outbid in auction could automatically launch the auction software, or a user engaged in a mobile-to-mobile chess game could find the chess game's interface pushed to him along with a message stating his opponent has made a move.

Openwave Systems

Openwave has retooled its MMS platform to handle video in all its permutations. Its Video Voicemail and Video Portal products can create customized video outgoing greetings on a user's voicemail, as well as create and maintain a library of video clips ranging from personally recorded messages, to video clips to computer animated avatars.

BellStream

Although not exactly an MMS product, BellStream's Blogia tool allows bloggers to use the multimedia functionality of their handsets to create, manage and view Blog entries, untethering them from their PCs.

UniqMinds

MMS' mass-messaging push has been hampered by the fact that MMS was designed as a one-to-one service, not a one-to-many service. UniqMinds' PeakM MMS Direct server, however, bypasses the overloaded MMS controller, allowing carriers and third parties to offer efficient push services.

LightSurf

LightSurf launched the U.S. market's first video mail service with Sprint, using an open standards-based platform. Its Power Media Processor technology helps overcome the limitations of today's camera phones, providing a server-based solution to optimizing video messages.

UIEvolution

Now owned by game developer Square Enix, UIEvolution has created a development toolset and environment that game and other content companies can use to build a single version of their applications without worrying about it operating on the multitudes of disparate platforms and handsets on the market. The UIEngine middleware acts as a translator between any given handset's operating system, user interface and form factor.

Superscape

Superscape's Swerve Client allows developers to pack normally hefty 3D graphics renderings into very small file sizes, essentially opening up processor- and memory-limited handsets to rich 3D graphics so common on console and PC games today.

MForma Group

Wireless gaming and content distributor MForma has developed a socket-based multiplayer technology that allows for real-time, head-to-head competition over the wireless WAN. In May it released the first four-person game over its MServer platform.

Mobile Professional

There is perhaps no other wireless application area more confusing than that for the enterprise and mobile professional. Web sites and marketing materials toss around claims of productivity increases and phrases such as “leveraging the power of mobile for your business” while not really explaining what their application does. Nobody argues, however, that wireless will be crucial to business, especially as 3G WANs begin emulating the office experience. The ARC Group estimates the mobile enterprise services markets will reach $177 billion in 2009. Don't get too excited, though. The ARC Group predicts that only 40% of that revenue will go to carriers as content providers and systems integrators take their cut.

Orative

Despite their rampant use in the business community, cellphones were never made with the business user in mind. Orative, however, is bringing the cellphone into the PBX, providing the mobile collaboration and screening tools users have come to expect only in their offices.