Camera phone users on all major US wireless networks can now find and
browse relevant information by 'clicking' on any text in their environment
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- 23half Inc., a pioneer
of technologies that extend the functionality of camera phones, announced
the availability of Thrrum MMS Search to T-Mobile and Verizon wireless
subscribers. Thrrum MMS Search enables camera phone users to find and
browse information related to their physical environment using the MMS
service integrated into their phones. Users can capture a picture of any
text with their auto-focus or macro mode equipped camera phone and send the
picture as a MMS to m@thrrum.com. Relevant search results are then sent to
the users' phones. The Thrrum MMS Search service is presently in beta and
is available free of charge to T-Mobile and Verizon wireless subscribers in
the United States.
"The Thrrum MMS Search service was introduced earlier this year for
AT&T and Sprint wireless subscribers," said K. Gopalakrishnan, CEO of
23half. "Now, T-Mobile and Verizon wireless subscribers also can point
their camera phone at a book, a product label or any printed material, take
a picture and send a picture message to get relevant information right on
their phone. With Thrrum, any text that you see around you becomes a
hyperlink that can be 'clicked' upon with your camera phone."
With annual camera phones sales expected to exceed 1 billion by 2010,
ABI Research estimates camera functionality as the most preferred feature
on mobile phones. Combined with ever increasing adoption of MMS usage, the
connected camera in phones presents a new platform for innovation.
Thrrum MMS Search brings together visual recognition technologies and
information search in the context of camera phones. Based on technology
first demonstrated by 23half in 2005 in the "nThrum" technology
demonstrator, Thrrum MMS Search presents a unique approach to hyperlinking
the physical world with related information. The MMS Search technology is
protected by an extensive suite of patents pending worldwide.
About 23half Inc.
23half Inc. is a Mountain View, CA based provider of wireless
information services. 23half's contextual information services for camera
phones, Thrrum Cameraphone Search and Thrrum MMS Search transform camera
phones into visual information portals for the physical environment.
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