Mobile Cohesion is investing £2.7 million to develop software technology for the global mobile telecommunications industry.

Invest NI Chairman, Prof Fabian Monds, accompanied by Denis Murphy, Mobile Cohesion’s Managing Director, announced the substantial venture capital and Invest NI-backed investment at the Weaver's Court site in Belfast.

Prof Monds said: “This is an innovative R&D-led project focusing on very exciting next generation technology that will result in mobile telecom companies being able to offer customers a wider range of internet-based multi-media services. It will provide excellent opportunities for local graduates to contribute to the development of cutting-edge, world-class technology."

The Invest NI Chairman said that the new venture would serve to enhance Northern Ireland’s reputation as a global software engineering centre.

Mobile Cohesion has been offered Selective Financial Assistance of £645,000 from Invest NI.

Mobile Cohesion's Managing Director Denis Murphy said: “We looked at a number of potential locations for the project but opted for Belfast because the city offered access to a pool of people with experience in developing software for mobile telecoms and two universities with world-class technology centres.

“We’ve already recruited 15 highly skilled people whose expertise and knowledge will enable us to bring our products to market fast. We plan to recruit a further five staff in the coming year."

Mr Murphy said the company’s first product, the ‘Hydra Multi-Media Access Gateway’ “will make it easier for mobile phone users to access services which contain exciting multi-media content such as pictures, video, animated graphics and audio”.

He said that the product was "very well received" at one of the industry’s most important shows, the recent 3GSM World Congress in Cannes.

Mobile Cohesion is a leading vendor of MMS (Multi-media Messaging Services) access gateways to mobile networks operators worldwide.

(SP)