InnoPath Powers Android Updates for KDDI

Over-the-Air technology fixes bugs, enhances features on new Android Device

Sunnyvale, CA, June 23, 2010 - InnoPath Software, the leader in over the air customer care, today announced that its over-the-air update software is being deployed on KDDI’s first Android device, the IS01 from Sharp. The client will be used to add features and services in addition to fixing bugs on the phone, delivering a premium on-device experience. InnoPath provides an end-to-end solution for OTA Android updates, consisting of an on-device client as well as a server, which is deployed at the service provider.

In the past, over the air updates, in particular Firmware Over The Air (FOTA) updates have been focused primarily on fixing bugs. This approach has proven wildly successful and popular, saving service providers millions of dollars in avoided recalls and support calls while providing the subscriber with a better end user experience. Issues such as dropped calls, corrupted contacts, device crashes and other problems have all been fixed over the air. Every return avoided saves the service provider upwards of $100 in real savings and engenders a better user experience by ensuring that services actually work the way they are intended. This helps keep subscribers on high ARPU plans instead of dropping plans or churning.

Beyond bug fixes, Android marks a paradigm shift, where new features and functionality are delivered with OTA updates. While there is little debate about the desirability of these updates, there is considerable concern with regards to who actually delivers the updates, with various models having the platform provider, the device maker or the service provider doing updates. While there are advantages and disadvantages to each approach, many service providers want to take control of their own destinies by performing their own updates, thus being in a position to control timing, pacing and exact nature of updates delivered to subscribers, particularly in markets with operator specific or subsidized handsets. InnoPath facilitates this with best-in-class capabilities including package and bandwidth optimization, handset platform pre-integration, and an intuitive user experience.

“Japanese consumers are very particular about their devices so having OTA updates is a key feature in this market. We are also excited to be able to extend and enhance features on this device. Later this year we will use InnoPath’s client to add our ezweb email service. This ability to launch now and enhance later gives us a powerful advantage in getting advanced new devices onto the market before other service providers and also provides the consumer with some excitement as their device grows more useful over time,” explained Mr. Takashi Shigeno, General Manager, Open Platform department, KDDI.

“It is an honor to be on KDDI’s first Android device. Smartphones finally have traction in Japan and Android could easily comprise half of the ten million expected to be deployed by 2012. This growth implies changes in the support model as Japanese subscribers increasingly adopt such devices, and InnoPath has solutions such as Mobile Update and our ActiveCare Frontline Care products to help service providers like KDDI cope with changing support requirements,” said Shinichi Sawai, President, InnoPath Japan.

About InnoPath

InnoPath is the global leader in Over-the-Air delivery of customer care for service providers, shortening or preventing support calls and driving first call resolution. InnoPath’s ActiveCare is a natural extension to currently deployed CRM solutions, evolving them from just logging issues to solving them. The company’s extensive experience in production Tier-1 networks helps ensure rapid and successful deployments in large, complex environments. With a proven value proposition, the payback time for an operator deploying InnoPath ActiveCare is usually less than one year. Our customers include Verizon, Sprint, Samsung, LG, KDDI, Tata DoCoMo and China Telecom. Discover more at our website, www.innopath.com, and our blog, The CSR, at http://thecsr.blogspot.com/.