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CEBU CITY, Philippines ? Moves to push Cebu as the destination for higher level information and communication technology (ICT) services are getting a boost from homegrown ICT company, Next IX.
The company's recent product, the Next IX INF, was recently awarded as one of the Best Consumer Applications 2009 during the E-Services Awards of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem), the promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry.
?The INF is an open source software and hardware system capable of incorporating computer intelligence into any telephone system. It was developed by Cebu-based programmers,? said Roberto ?Bobby? Suson, president and chief executive officer of Next IX.
The innovation makes a telephone possess the data and processing capabilities of a computer. Suson said it enables the telephone to become ?intelligent.?
?All voice and data transactions such as call history and conversations are indefinitely captured under a single base for real time or future analysis and applications can easily be added to your telephone as the need arises,? Suson said.
?The Internet can be checked via the telephone and can even talk to you and remind you of important details or events. In other words, the telephone virtually becomes a computer,? Suson said.
The developed system is in line with the company?s goal to offer ?Third World pricing for a First World technology.?
He said the INF system is eight times cheaper than products from well-known software companies worldwide.
At present, government agencies, telecommunication companies and corporations are using the product. Some have signed up to use the service.
Clients
Suson said Taguig City in Metro Manila is one of the company's clients.
No local government units in Cebu, however, have availed of the service.
He noted Manila-based companies are more open to open source software. Cebu companies are still hesitant in shifting to open source.
?The fear of the unknown is why some people seem to reject open source. It takes someone innovative to really utilize its potentials,? Suson said in a recent press conference.
Suson said they are also tapping the international market to ?spread the word? that Cebuanos are capable of producing world-class and affordable ICT solutions and services.
The company has started product and service distribution in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China and is setting up office in the country's capital, Beijing.
After China, Suson said the product will be introduced to Australia and the United States.
The company has less than 20 software developers who are mostly fresh graduates from schools such as University of San Carlos, University of Cebu and Cebu Institute of Technology.
Next IX started in 2007 as the ICT arm of the Northern Group of Companies.
Its sister companies are Northern Transcription Works (medical transcription), Northern Telco (call center) and First Aide (local 24-hour medical hotline).
