Source: Knowledge Technology Solutions
Knowledge Technology Solutions PLC (KTS), providers of market information services in the finance sector, has launched MarketTerminal Mobile Messenger, a new real-time financial information service accessed from a mobile-connected Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).
Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard (HP) and T-Mobile are partnering with KTS to provide an end-to-end mobile application service aimed at equity market professionals who require live market data, news, analytics and email access on the move.
Subscribers to the new MarketTerminal Mobile Messenger service receive a complete "all in one" package of KTS MarketTerminal delivered on HP's latest iPAQ hw6915 Mobile Messenger device at a cost of just £90 a month on a 24 month contract. As part of the package, T-Mobile's web'n'walk professional data tariff offers subscribers unlimited data access to MarketTerminal, other business applications and email, as well as a monthly voice allowance of 250 minutes with T-Mobile's Business 1-Plan.
The new MarketTerminal PDA software requires minimal bandwidth yet still provides maximum resilience and reliability. In combination with Direct Push email functionality available with Windows Mobile 5.0, MarketTerminal Mobile Messenger represents a valuable all-in-one information and communication tool for financial professionals who want to stay connected while on the go.
MarketTerminal Mobile Messenger offers in-depth coverage of essential financial information – real-time prices, news and analytics. It covers 15 exchanges including the London Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, Euronext, and Deutsche Boerse. In addition to information access, MarketTerminal Mobile Messenger offers comprehensive functionality to monitor multiple instruments at the same time as well as setting up live price and news alerts to automatically monitor the markets for events whilst on the move.
By launching the MarketTerminal Mobile Messenger KTS is leading the field among financial market data providers in end-to-end mobile solutions.
Sales of mobile-connected PDA devices have been primarily application driven. According to a recent study by Gartner Dataquest, more than 3.6 million PDAs were shipped worldwide in the first quarter of 2006.
KTS assesses the initial addressable market for its new MarketTerminal Mobile Messenger to consist of around 100,000 relevant City of London professionals.
Initial sales are expected to stem from KTS's existing MarketTerminal client base of 130 client organisations. Current KTS MarketTerminal customers include private client stockbrokers, asset managers, advisers and corporate clients.
Microsoft, HP, T-Mobile and KTS are collaborating on sales and marketing initiatives. Specialist teams are working exclusively on a launch campaign for the new MarketTerminal Mobile Messenger.
Dr Marc Pinter-Krainer, Chief Executive of KTS PLC, said:
"We are delighted to be working with such distinguished partners to offer this convenient MarketTerminal Mobile Messenger solution. Increasingly, City professionals want to access key financial information and email when away from the office. Therefore, PDA access to equity news and data is increasingly essential for traders or advisers who must keep fully up-to-date with live markets."
Todd Warren, Corporate Vice President, Mobile and Embedded Devices Division at Microsoft, commented:
"In the past five years there's been a profound shift in the type of data and services people access on their mobile devices, from multimedia to business applications such as KTS's MarketTerminal. The iPAQ hw6915 combines Microsoft's powerful Windows Mobile 5.0 Direct Push email functionality with continued innovation from HP to give business professionals a compelling all-in-one application access device."
Neil Dagger, Handheld and Wireless Device Business Manager, HP UK and Ireland, commented: "These days people want stock market information at their fingertips, and our new iPAQ hw6915 is the perfect device for getting KTS's MarketTerminal application to busy City professionals with the added benefit of instant email access, camera, WiFi, built in GPS Sat Nav, and pocket internet explorer via WiFi or GPRS. We are delighted to be a part of this Solution."
Derek Williamson, Head of Business Marketing, T-Mobile UK, said:
"Successfully addressing the wireless data demands of today's business market requires a combination of powerful networks and a wide choice of applications. The combination of T-Mobile's web'n'walk professional with Business 1-Plan provides the data and voice requirements to access MarketTerminal and keep in touch. We are pleased to be working with KTS as mobile service provider of choice for the professional finance sector."