Javna launches social networking via mobile service

Javna, the leading Arab company in the field of software solutions and wireless applications, has launched the first phase of Javi network, the first Arab social networking service via mobile phones, which allows subscribers to interact socially and culturally through exchanging SMSs: both text and photo, along with international visual communication.

Javna's CEO Mansour Mansour said: "The development of Javi Network comes to meet the need of youth to optimally utilize the potential of mobile phones and the technologies it supports, especially free services, regardless of the geographical distances separating them."

Technically, Javi technology is a simulation of chat programs on the Internet. It also adopts standards similar to web-based social networks such as Facebook, allowing members to link their web pages to Javi network to keep up with any developments on these sites.

Mansour added: "We have lately dedicated our efforts to develop the uses of GPRS as a flexible, less-costly communication technology that supports web services and the various messaging services."

For his part, Javna's Business Development Manager Sammy Tuffaha said the first phase of Javi network will include exchange of instant and deferred (scheduled to be sent later) SMSs and a link to Facebook, which will keep subscribers to the network abreast of new updates and incoming messages directly on Javi interface.

The company will later announce a wide range of various services, including MMS, interaction with blogs, visual communication and photo capturing and uploading on the application's interface.

To build a Javi network on mobile phones, users should first download the software on their mobile phones, either through the application's official website (www.myjavi.com) or by accepting invitations from Javi members. After that, the user build his/her own network and can send invitations for others to join the network, with the possibility of obtaining the contact list from the phone memory to Javi interface and send invitations to all to join his/her own network.

Social networking via cellphones is a new application that is gaining more and more popularity in most western countries. Total number of subscribers stands now at 50 million. The figure is expected to grow by 300% by 2012, according a report by Informa Telecoms & Media, an international firm specialized in this kind of applications.