Integra5, which sells "next-generation communication experiences" across TVs, PCs, mobile and DECT (News - Alert) phones, and Sybase 365, a subsidiary of mobile messaging services vendor Sybase, have announced a partnership to "allow mobile operators to extend their reach" by putting social, SMS-centric applications across multiple devices using Integra5's new MediaFriends application suite.

According to CTIA (News - Alert), American SMS traffic grew to more than 75 billion messages per month in 2008, up from 7.2 billion per month in 2005. Boy, if that were the basis of the American economy we wouldn't be worrying 'bout no stinkin' recession. Combining Integra5's ability to deliver communications with Sybase 365's (News - Alert) mobile messaging technology is an effort on the part of both firms to respond to the evolving communications patterns, and to give mobile operators more ways to drive consumer usage and increase SMS messaging traffic -- "at an even greater rate than today."

Deployed in the mobile operator's network, Integra5's (News - Alert) platform routes SMS messages between the Sybase 365 mobile messaging platform and users' mobile phones, TVs, PCs and DECT phones. In addition to mobile operators, the partnership lets video providers and programmers deploy TV-based services that incorporate SMS, such as Integra5's MediaFriends TV Chat, with no wireless network requirements.

Gregory Dunn, vice president, Americas, Sybase 365, said his company "plans to continue innovation in integrated mobile messaging, and realizes the synergy between social media networking and SMS as a fertile bed for continued development."

In December TMC's Divya Narain reported that Boston-based Integra5 announced that Westman Communications Group selected their i5 Converged Services Platform and TV Caller ID application.

Western Manitoba-based Westman will offer the application as a part of its Westman Home Phone telephony service, Narain said, "as well as its triple play bundle overall. With the addition of the application, Westman hopes to boost the subscription of its offerings. The company has deployed i5 CSP (News - Alert) in its video head end."

Integra5's MediaFriends is a suite of social media applications that allows users to participate in real-time group or one-on-one chats using mobile phones, TVs, PCs and DECT phones. The first phase of the suite, MediaFriends TV Chat, lets viewers, using a remote control, invite friends to watch TV programming together and engage in chats by sending text messages via their mobile phone and view the conversation directly on the TV. The next phase -- MediaFriends PC Chat -- lets users view and participate in multi-device chats directly from their PCs.