02 February 2010
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– ICAP Ocean Tomo, the intellectual property brokerage division of ICAP plc (IAP.L), today announced it will offer for sale a portfolio of patents relating to audio text messaging at their upcoming Live Auction on March 25, 2010 in San Francisco. This Lot includes 11 issued U.S. and non-U.S. patents and patent applications. Usage of text messaging, also known as a short message service (SMS), has grown exponentially from approximately 12 million monthly messages in 2000 to over 135 billion in 2009.1 The overwhelming popularity of text messaging has prompted telecommunication providers to expand their services to include text-to-speech conversion capabilities. The patents of this portfolio describe a method for delivering text messages in an audible format. The assets also provide for the translation of text messages into multiple languages prior to their conversion into speech, thus removing language barriers. Other key benefits of this technology include the ability to deliver messages to devices that are otherwise incapable of receiving SMS, such as landline phones, and perhaps more importantly, the ability of users to listen to incoming messages to avoid the dangerous distraction of reading text messages while driving. “These patents will provide a buyer with entry into fast growing industry,” said Dean Becker, ICAP Ocean Tomo President. “Not only does this technology expand on a globally popular communication phenomenon, it also enables users the unique opportunity to directly and instantly interact with people all over the world.” The assets have the potential to create commercial applications and business opportunities for telecommunication service providers, phone manufacturers, communication device makers, internet service providers, as well as the education system and entertainment industries. Anyone providing mobile service, or is involved with mobile application development or hardware manufacturing should consider this portfolio a valuable asset. “At Braintexter, we are the innovators of audio text messaging technology and much more,” said Riccardo Vieri, Managing Director. “We are pleased to be working with the leader of intellectual property brokerage as these patents touch on one of the fastest growing global markets we all use today, representing an opportunity of billions of dollars.”
To learn more about the patents available for sale in this lot visit http://icapoceantomo.com/item-for-sale/audio-delivery-text-messages. To learn how you can register to attend the upcoming Live Auction, please contact ICAP Ocean Tomo at 1-866-779-8363 or at patent.brokerage@us.icap.com. 1 http://www.ctia.org/media/industry_info/index.cfm/AID/10323 About ICAP Ocean Tomo LLC ICAP Ocean Tomo is the intellectual property brokerage division of ICAP. About ICAP ICAP is the world’s premier interdealer broker and provider of post trade services. The Group matches buyers and sellers in the wholesale markets in interest rates, credit, commodities, foreign exchange, emerging markets, equities and equity derivatives through voice and electronic networks. ICAP is also the source of global market information and research for professionals in the international financial markets. ICAP plc was added to the FTSE 100 Index on 30 June 2006. For more information go to www.icap.com. * Source: BUSINESS WIRE