LongBoard News
June 1, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 2005--LongBoard, Inc. announced today that it has changed its corporate name to Persona Software, Inc., effective immediately.
The new name reflects the company's strategic focus on open, SIP-based "Personal Mobility Applications" (PMAs), an exciting new category of mobility software that adds value to Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC). PMAs revolutionize the mobile user experience and enable carriers and service providers to increase revenues, combat churn, build differentiation, and lower costs.
Persona Software's flagship PMA is Persona OnePhone™, the industry's leading solution for Fixed-Mobile Convergence. Persona OnePhone enables mobile users for the first time to access advanced voice features plus compelling PMAs using one phone and one phone number that works seamlessly across cellular and WiFi networks. Persona OnePhone is currently in trials with major carriers and service providers worldwide.
Persona Software's approach to the FMC market is unique for two compelling reasons: first, it uses industry-standard SIP protocols, not proprietary technologies, to achieve seamless roaming between cellular and WiFi networks, and second, it adds value to Fixed-Mobile Convergence by providing a portfolio of PMAs.
"With Persona OnePhone, we are leading the market for PMAs," said JD Howard, Persona Software's President and CEO. "Over the coming weeks and months, we will be making several announcements that will provide further evidence of our PMA market leadership."
According to industry experts, the number of mobile users with "dual mode" mobile phones that operate across cellular and WiFi networks is growing rapidly and will reach over 250 million by 2010. Early adopters are expected to be industries with a high concentration of mobile users, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services, as well as highly mobile consumers. Carriers and service providers have a compelling opportunity to provide revenue-generating PMAs for this profitable subscriber base.
Persona Software announced in April that it had strengthened its leadership team, enabling it to continue to target the global mobility market and the fast-growing Fixed-Mobile Convergence opportunity. In addition to naming Howard President and CEO, the company also announced the appointment of industry veterans Rob Fuggetta as VP of Marketing and Chief Marketing Officer, and Hari Haran as Senior Vice President of Global Sales.
About Persona Software, Inc.
Persona Software, Inc., formerly LongBoard, Inc., develops open, SIP-based "Personal Mobility Applications" for leading carriers and service providers worldwide that drive Fixed Mobile Convergence. Persona Software is the world's only company that has demonstrated seamless roaming between cellular and WiFi networks using industry-standard SIP protocols and that also provides a compelling portfolio of revenue-generating "Personal Mobility Applications." Leading venture capital firms including Enterprise Partners and Storm Ventures are key investors in Persona Software. Persona Software is headquartered at 3121 Jay Street, Santa Clara, Calif., 95054 with offices in Raleigh, NC (RTP) and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, phone (408) 571-3300, email: pr@personasoft.com or visit the company's website at http://www.personasoft.com.