loInternet software developer BroadVision has released its first suite of mobile e-commerce applications, which it hopes will lift its own business and its dotcom customers. BroadVision, a high-flyer in e-commerce software, recently missed fourth-quarter forecasts by US$400,000, reporting earnings of US$136.9 million. 'About 50 per cent of revenue came from existing customers,' said BroadVision's vice-president of marketing in Asia Pacific, Sandra Vaughan. 'We have launched a lot of new applications, and we could go back and sell those applications to our existing 600 customers.' The company's latest effort is its Mobile Solution, which will sit on existing BroadVision applications. 'We can go back to our existing customer base, and say we have this great new technology that can extend your existing business,' said Miss Vaughan. 'It is about leveraging upon something that you have already invested in.' With Mobile Solutions leading its new push, the firm is hoping for 2001 revenue of US$600 million to $630 million, or 45 per cent to 52 per cent annual growth. The Mobile Solution consists of Mobile Plug-In, Mobile Styling Server, and Mobile Tools, which deliver applications to wireless devices. With the millions of mobile phones, handheld computers and other wireless devices expected to be sold over the next few years, software companies such as Oracle, BEA Systems, Sybase, and iPlanet are moving into the area. 'What BroadVision Mobile Solution is there to do is provide our customers with the opportunity to build high-value services and capabilities to their end-users, reducing difficulty of navigation and improve administration of these services,' said vice-president for business development, Asia-Pacific and Japan, Gerry Tucker. Mr Tucker said BroadVision had been working on mobile products for the past 12 months, but this was the company's first 'official' declaration. 'Our mobile strategy is a natural extension, because now, what we have done is to take the concept and take it further,' said Miss Vaughan. 'Now, it is not just information about you, it is also what device you are using, where you are located. So it really is core to BroadVision's strengths, and our strategy.' The company also is betting on its B-mobile joint venture in Japan with Hambrecht & Quist Asia-Pacific, Itochu and Access to drive its mobile commerce business in the region. B-mobile was set up in October last year to create applications to serve the global market, and recently signed on its first customer. Initial applications are expected to go live this month. 'Japan is the leading mobile Internet market in the world,' said Mr Tucker, who is also B-mobile's chief executive. 'Our plan is to start with Japan, and then roll out the applications to the rest of Asia-Pacific, Europe and, at some point, the US.' The top three industries being targeted are financial services, telecommunications and application service providers, and manufacturing and technology firms. 'Those three really make up the bulk of our revenue, and really our strategic focus, ' said Miss Vaughan. Having been profitable since 1998 - 5 years after its founding - BroadVision said Asia Pacific, including Japan, remained a growth region, having expanded more than 383 per cent last year. 'The region made up about 5 per cent of revenues in 1999, and 7 per cent last year,' she said. 'This year, we are expecting it to make up about 10 per cent.'
