Community chat channel launched

Chikka Asia Inc., the company that opened the popular gateway to texting any mobile phone in the Philippines from the Internet, has given its name to the new SMS-interactive TV platform – ChikkaTV.

Launched recently at the Philippine Cable TV Association’s International Convention in Manila, ChikkaTV is a "do-it-yourself," customizable and upgradable TV chat and entertainment platform.

It is designed precisely for any cable system operator (CSO) anywhere in the country, no matter how large or small its subscriber base. CSOs may even decide to merge their communities so that they can chat with each other on ChikkaTV.

"First with PC communities and now with cable TV, our mission has always been to bring wired and wireless communities, which may be separated by geographical barriers or differences in technological platforms, together," said Dennis Mendiola, Chikka Asia chief executive officer. "ChikkaTV is yet another step toward fulfilling this mission."

Operators who have signed up for ChikkaTV enjoy the advantages of a unified access code (the number people "text" to post their messages on a TV screen) for all major GSM networks.

CSOs also control local advertisements together with any ticker and text sections that scroll through the TV screen. ChikkaTV can even filter any foul and offensive expressions, in any language or dialect.

Chikka Asia Inc. developed the world’s first mobile instant messaging system – Chikka Txt Messenger – that runs on SMS (Short Messaging Service on GSM networks) and launched it successively with Philippine mobile operators which account for over 15 percent of all text messages sent worldwide.

Chikka affiliates, meanwhile, also launched SMS-enabled auctions (Bidshot), mobile matchmaking (Crushcow) and a pioneering SMS-interactive cable channel (LinkTV).

The different platforms employ patented technologies and processes that have allowed Chikka and its affiliates unsurpassed creativity with plain SMS, making it highly interactive.

For ChikkaTV, these patented processes translate into simple mobile registration and actual posting of messages. "Suffixing," or the attachment of alphanumeric indices to the access codes, is key to these processes.

"ChikkaTV forms part of a whole interactive TV product line and already, we have its evolution in mind. Think richer content and dynamic video elements. Think ChikkaTV for specialized TV game or talk show productions," Mendiola said.

"SMS is truly nothing short of ‘a way of life’ for Filipinos, and the Philippines is now a global hub for excellent wireless applications development. The international delegates to the PCTA convention probably realize this, especially with ChikkaTV," he added.

Last year, Chikka Asia Inc. received ISO 9001:2000 certification for its quality management systems from SGS (Societe Generale de Surveillance), becoming the first mobile data enabler in the country and possibly in the world, to achieve certification in ISO’s latest series.