One97 Invests In Data Roaming Provider LeapSky Wireless

Mobile VAS company One97 Communications* has made an undisclosed investment in Singapore based LeapSky Wireless, which had developed JumpSurf, a device which provides cheaper international data roaming to customers through bulk data deals with Telecom operators across geographies. One97 MD Vijay Shekhar Sharma informed MediaNama that the company will take a significant minority stake in LeapSky, at a pre-revenue stage. The investment is part of the $100 million Mobility Fund, that it committed, with SAIF partners last year.
How JumpSurf Works
JumpSurf is similar to portable MiFi devices – it converts operator network data connectivity into WiFi, but the value lies in switching from the home-operators International Roaming Tariff’s to local data tariffs through separate arrangements. Sharma points out that at present tariffs, the cost of 1GB data in Singapore can go upto Rs 6 lakh. With JumpSurf, he claims, it will be even cheaper than what the operator charges locally, since the company has bought data in bulk. LeapSky has a patent-pending on its ‘identity management’ technology.
Plans
At the moment, the device is able to convert 3G to Wifi, but going forward it will be upgraded to support LTE/WiMax networks, for higher data transfer speeds.
Data bundling agreements have been finalized in Malaysia and Singapore, as of now, and will be extended to other markets in due course of time. Talks are on with operators in different markets, including India, for more tie-ups. One97, Sharma says, will play a role in marketing and sales, and will facilitate in reaching out to operators that it works with.
Interestingly, the product will be offered through telecom operators. Siva Sai N, the founder of LeapSky Wireless informed that the product will be first introduced to the enterprise segment, and later extended to consumer market.source

One97 Invests In Scottish Mobile Service Firm Ciqual

Mobile value added services firm One97 has invested in Ciqual, a Scotland-based mobile broadband customer service solutions firm along with Google CEO Eric Schmidt'sTomorrow Ventures and current Scottish investors, Par Equity.

One97 has started a $100-million fund with SAIF Partners to invest in mobile services related companies. Though the investment in CIQUAL was not disclosed, the firm invests typically in the range of $500,000 to $5 million.
 
"Mobile broadband and smart phone ecosystem requires whole customer experience to be built from bottom up. We are excited to partner CIQUAL and be part of its success,” Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director of One97 Communications Limited said. The size of the investment was immediately not known. Despite several attempts, the company spokesperson could not be contacted.

This latest round of financing will enable Ciqual to promote and distribute their patented technology, ‘Session Insight’ which delivers the most accurate, real-time, dynamic view of mobile broadband service and user experience.
 
“We are thrilled that multiple investors have come together to recognize and support Ciqual. With our current customers already benefiting from our capabilities, this investment enables Ciqual to promote and deliver our solutions to a larger international user base,” Tom Walls, CEO for Ciqual said.

Ciqual enables Mobile Operators to improve their data services through actual knowledge of the customer experience. CIQUAL combines direct selling with a series of channel partner relationships, including a worldwide channel partner agreement with Nokia Siemens Networks.

Scotland-based Par Equity is a venture capital firm providing financial and intellectual capital to innovative small and medium-sized companies with high growth potential. TomorrowVentures is an opportunistic investment firm with a global focus toward seed and early-stage venture capital investments. 

The deal was advised by the Scottish Investment Bank, a division of Scottish Enterprise which operates Scotland-wide, in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

One97, which has filed for a Rs 120 crore IPO, made more than 2.5 times on its investment in Singapore-based tenCube last year. tenCube is a mobile security services company whose product includes WaveSecure mobile security service. It was acquired by McAfee, Inc for $9.5 million in July whereas One97 had invested in late December '09 in the firm.

One97 has also backed Oorja, a customer analytics firm; Paytm, a mobile commerce platform and Oc2ps, a social networking application.