mStage Tech Briefing

Steven George
COM 435, Technology Briefing

Ditech’s mStage for Mobile Web Users

What is it and Who makes it?

· mStage is a mobile phone platform that is designed to save users time and hassle searching for information online without having to hang up on a current phone call.

· It operates through the human voice with a verbal command (keyword mode) followed by an item, place, or event that activates an online search. Example: “Find: Pizza Hut”

· The voice activated search engine then pulls up the information while during a phone call. The user can continue the verbal process if he or she wishes. Example: “Find: Prices for Large Pizza (Pizza Hut)”

· mStage is not just for looking up information. It can also involve other activities like checking email and communicating with social networks.

· A good example of this is the “whisper message.” This allows users to communicate by sending verbal reminders to each other within a phone call.

· mStage will tell you if the person you sent a “whisper message” to received it during a phone call. Through social network sites like Facebook or instant messengers like AIM, mStage will let you know if they are online via mobile device and in the middle of a call.

· Ditech Networks has been testing this platform within the month of February 2009 and believe that it will be made available for users in Fall 2009.

Who is the Target Audience?

· Ditech has originally created the mStage platform for those who are business oriented.

· This platform also applies to those who are very social and would like to communicate with two or more people at once.

Why is it Important?

· The service keeps people updated on what’s going on in both business and social settings. If people need to get a hold of multiple people at the same time to update them on plans rather than just the person they are currently talking to, this service takes care of that.

· If a person prefers to stay productive, they can definitely do so with this platform. Checking e-mail while talking to your friend on where you should meet up will definitely create some productivity in a less amount of time.

Other Positive and Negative Implications on Society

· Positive: The service can work with the following customers: Verizon, Sprint/Nextel, Orascom Telecom, AT&T, Telus, Global Crossing and West Corporation.

· Positive: Face it, most of us communicate on cell phones while behind the wheel of a car. With mStage, you can activate a search engine to get information that does not require you take your eyes off the road.

· Positive: The service can be activated or deactivated at any time. This can be useful because “whisper messages” have the tendency to interrupt a current conversation. If you know you are about to jump into an important conversation, turn the service off.

· Negative: People you are talking with may lose respect for you if your focus is on the mStage features rather than the current conversation. Make sure that you tell the person you are on the phone with when you are utilizing its features.

· Negative: While it is a voice operated service, mStage needs the click of a button in order to become activate. You can “hot key” the service to any button then press and hold to activate or deactivate the service.

· Negative: The keyword mode is sensitive. If you say something that you did not mean to say, you might have to start the process all over again after clearing what you just started.

Additional Links for Your Convenience

· Press Release: http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=033000KRV9H3&full_skip=1

· Ditech Product Information: http://www.ditechnetworks.com/products/mstage.html

· The Technology Review’s Article: http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/22166/?a=f