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Software Company's Strategy Pays Off
Mobile Firm on the Move
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When D.P Venkatesh came to Northern Virginia after working in Hong Kong in 2000, he realized how much Americans' cellphone use lagged behind that of people in Asia and Europe. He started his company, mPortal, to help mobile providers distribute content to cellphones, but built his business in India, where people were already more reliant on wireless devices.
Now he thinks the U.S. market is mature enough to expand the company's presence. Starting with 40 employees in 2000, mPortal now employs 100 people worldwide and this week moved into a larger office in McLean to hold the 15 to 20 people he plans to hire this year.
The firm has signed deals with Disney Mobile, Mobile ESPN, TV Guide, Verizon Wireless and AOL. Venkatesh sees more domestic companies jumping on the mobile bandwagon in the next two years.
"Nontraditional telecom companies are entering the market and looking for help launching mobile content," he said. "We haven't really changed our focus, but our time has come, because the market is shifting."
Cable providers, such as Cox Communications and Comcast, as well as media companies are boosting their mobile offerings -- nearly doubling mPortal's customer base, he said.
"During the first three years, the markets were down, and it was tough finding business," he said. "In the last three years, we've seen tremendous growth in wireless."
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