Scottish companies innovate to secure £103 million turnover from international mobile and wireless opportunities

A group of 21 Scottish companies is attending the world’s largest trade event for mobile and wireless technology in Barcelona this week, with the support of Scottish Development International (SDI).

The GSMA Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona (Monday 25 February to Thursday 28 March 2013) provides the opportunity for companies to showcase their new mobile technology innovations to an expected 70,000 global visitors, and alongside 1500 exhibitors.

The Scottish companies will form the focus of the Scottish Pavilion stand at the event, and they hope their attendance will enable them to pursue new customers, new markets and sectors and new collaborations which will lead to business growth opportunities for them.

It’s estimated that the international business opportunities for the 21 Scottish companies attending the event will help them achieve an expected combined turnover of £16 million over the next year, rising to £103 million over the next three years.

These turnover figures are significantly greater than the estimates for last year’s combined figures, £8 million and £65 million respectively, demonstrating the pace and scope of business growth for Scottish digital media companies from international mobile technology and applications sales.

Some of the companies attending GSMA Mobile World Congress 2013 will launch new products and celebrate recent business growth successes, such as:

• nthWire is launching the beta version of its web-based platform, which helps developers test their work to ensure it gives users the best mobile web experience possible, regardless of which device they are using. The company is looking to sign up beta testers from the global developer community that are already building mobile optimised websites and mobile applications.
• Bytemark Limited has secured an agreement with Scottish football club, Falkirk FC to develop an innovative stadium and fan mobile application. The app is planned to launch for the 2013/14 season and will include ticketing, retail and payment functionality via smartphones.
• Seetok is looking to meet investors and discuss licensing with major networks prior to the general release of Seetok in early summer 2013. Seetok is a video messaging system designed for business and personal use where users can record, send, store and replay Seetok video messages and conversations on desktop, tablet or smartphone, and is simple to use, sends video faster than email and is secure to internet banking standard.
• KeyPoint Technologies recently announced a software licensing agreement with DIOTEK Co Ltd for distribution of KeyPoint’s distinctive Adaptxt^® smart keyboard technology to makers of mobile devices worldwide. Under the multi-year agreement, DIOTEK will integrate KeyPoint’s Adaptxt smart keyboard technology into a range of products sold to OEMs and end users, including smartphones, tablets, TVs and autos.

Scottish Development International, working in partnership with Scottish Enterprise’s Interactive Scotland programme, is leading the delegation of 21 Scottish companies. The companies will have the opportunity to meet with major senior international players in the technology sector such as Qualcomm Ventures, Telecom Italia, Octopus Ventures and Wireless Industry Partnership.

The mission will also encourage companies to locate in Scotland and take advantage of the highly skilled people here, both university graduates and industry workforce.

Mike Shiel, Head of Technologies at Scottish Development International said: "Social media, mobile commerce and social gaming continue to offer Scottish digital media and content companies a rich source of new business growth opportunities.

“Our companies are continually innovating and developing new products to meet customer demand across the world. An event like this offers the chance for these companies to explore exciting new market and sector opportunities, develop new potential collaborations and meet with some of the world’s largest mobile companies to understand their requirements.”