UK wireless expert starts new venture

A millionaire UK businessman has quit his job with software giant Microsoft to form Commtag, a new venture developing personal communication products and services for the mobile phone user.

Ran Mokady, whose mobile phone software company STNC was acquired by Microsoft in July 1999, launched the startup this week, which will be based in Cambridge, England, and will develop software for wireless devices.

According to its founder, the company's products and services will allow mobile networks to adapt to the needs of individual users.

Mokady, who claims he left Microsoft because he prefers to work for a small company, said: "People do not want to use their [mobile] phone to check stock quotes - that can wait until they get home. People buy and use their [mobile] phones to communicate with each other. They need a simple experience."

"Our products will improve interpersonal communication and make the exchange of data between people as easy as making a phone call," he added.

The company will not provide any details about the type of products it will develop, but said it aims to release its first offerings in the first quarter of 2002. It expects to demonstrate some aspects of its services by February next year, however.

Commtag is hoping to recruit 50 software engineers over the next year, and plans to eventually establish an international presence.