Red Bend Software, provider of a market-leading firmware over-the-air (FOTA) client software for mobile phones, announced today that its vCurrent ® mobile software technology is embedded in 45 million handsets worldwide, up 62 percent from 2Q06’s 28 million.
As of 3Q06, the brand’s reach extends to 91 countries on 41 handset models from five of the world’s 7 largest handset manufacturers. Two more manufacturers, including NEC, have signed license agreements to take effect within the next year, giving Red Bend access to 75 percent of the worldwide handset market.
Red Bend predicts its software will be embedded in between 70 and 100 million handsets by yearend. FOTA allows manufacturers and operators to update firmware and software components of handset phones already in use, delivering updates via wireless, in a process that takes five minutes. Consumers don’t have to visit a retail or service facility or get replacement phones while their units are being serviced. For Red Bend’s customers, the handset carriers, this represents a savings of $35 to $72 per unit, the company says.
